Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-01-12
STATE TAX WILL
Be IMPERATIVE
Appropriations by Legislature
Too Much for Vermont's In
adequate Revenue.

Montpelier. Jan lo-The probabilities
nre that a state tax Is to he the result
of the appropriations made or likely TO be
made by this session of the General
Assembly 1t is we'll known that for the
past four years the state has been
,etting along from hand TO mouth in the
losire to avoid a direct State tax. so much
20 that two years or so ago two or the
|State officials had to go down into their
pockets and borrow money on their
personal notes to furnish the money to
pay the salaries in one of the departments
Of the state government.
When the Legislature convened the de
,irc of tlc administration to avoid state
tax was made known and at the Instance
Of the Governor the House ways and
means committee submitted to the House
n compre hensive statement showing the
exact financial standing of the state. how
much money was required by fixed ap-
propriations and Just how much would
no available under the present sources
of revenue FOR extraordinary appropria-
toms by the present Legislature.
Under pressure from the adrinistra-
ton about all OF the appropriation bills
have been held up with the idea that in
the end they might be cut to a point
where state tax could be avoided.
Among these bills were those giving
Middlobury College ana the |, V. NJ.
additional money. OF these bills 1t was
known that Gov Mead was particularly
anxious that his alma mater, Mddlebury.
should receive the additional appropra
ton. but with the idea of avoiding the
State tax he hold out against the APP
preparation as long rs he could.
FAvORs A 5-CENT TAX
with the passage last week of thees
two bills together with the big highway
appropriation bill much larger than tho
Governor figured on passing at this SEES
sion the impression has been allowed
to 20 out that the necessity Of a State
tax is now recognized by the admins
tration and that a tax of. say five cents,
will not he opposed.
With apparently no prospect of the di-
rect inheritance tax passing the Senate
and with no other additional sources of
revenue I'm sight, 1t is claimed by those
IN position to know that the State
tax that will be necessary to meet the
appropriations and the expenses of gov
,rnmcnt for the next two years is a great
Zeal more likely to be 10 cents than five
cents.
1t can be readily figured out why this
Iil be necessary when Il Is taken into
consideration that the last Legislature
bad about 100000 to cxpend in appropria-
tons outside Of those necessary for the
Expense of government. Under the pres
Pnt revenue of the State the amount
available for this Legislature to expend
will not greatly exceed that OF this s75
On has gone In one crack in the highway
appropriation bill. Take this with the
extra appropriations for the board or
agriculture and forestry. the new build
'ngS at Waterbury and VergenneS the
extra money for Middeburv College and
the L. V. NJ. the expense of the weights
and measures bill, new municipal courts
tina, are contemplated to say nothing of
5000 or $4,000 for acentral normal school
and it is very easy to see why a state tax
will he necessary.
This IS really the simplest solution of
the problem of meeting deficiency I'm the
revenue and Is welcomed by those who
are sufficiently conversaut with matters
TO realize that in the end all OF the rev.
enue of the State, whether il comes in the
shape Of a corporate TAX or in some
other shape. Is derived directly from the
people Of the State