The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-29
TAXATION REFORMS
Present Laws Says Hon. ]. A. DeBoer
Make Liars

Montpelier, Jan. 29-When re-
quested by the Morning Journal to
give his views of taxation evils and
needed reforms in Vermont taxation
laws, after he had addressed the
Mems League OF the Church of the
Messiah Wednesday night, Hon. j..
A. DeBoer complied and made this
statement.
"The law OF taxation as we have
II in the United States was formula
ted after the British war You re-
call the geographical condition Of our
states, the most populous being on
the Atlantic. Little was doing in
Vermont. There was not much mon
ey in circulation. There was realty,
of course, in sight but bonds and
mortgages didn't exist to any extent.
"a man might. il he possessed
more money than he needed, lend out
to his neighbors on chattel mortgage.
Vermont hasn't gotten away from the
property tax since 1t was fixed except
to this extent: AS insurance bust
ness and banks and railroads came
into the state, there gradually devel-
oped a division between certain class
es OF property, the state taking the
corporations and leaving to the
towns and cities the realty and per-
sonal property. In one case seven
mills were taxed on deposits, in case
of the railroads, then In power, they
had an option. The insurance com
panies were taxed on almost every
| q -, g,k rvhaf ami
tably in other states. The towns
continue to have nothing but realty
or personal property.
IF | have bond, unless specifical-
| ly excluded, II must be put In the
list. II have a mortgage. my duty
Is to put II in the list. One OF the
first things needed In reforming the
law that makes men liars and Yer
monters perjurers is a change in the
tax on personal property. We can
get along fairly well on realty but In
the matter OF bonds, mortgages and
bills OF account, notes due, etc,
there's where the state comes in and
makes injustice. 1t may be consti-
tutional but II is not, in the highest
sense. lawful"
Citing incidents by which man
might leave to his wife certain bonds
which would be mentioned doubtless
in the will. the speaker said. "the
widows and orphans can be caught If
the listers and courts do their duty,
but If ! buy bond the state may
not learn OF IT, We may keep our
securities in strong boxes and there's
any amount OF that sort OF thing on
the part OF individuals. People send
money to the West that isn't in the
lists. Even though the banks are
avarlcious. II is better to put the
money in the banks and let the banks
invest. We get seven mills then the
individual gets 6 or 7 per cent and
perjures himself before God and
man. This has gone on to such an
alarming extent. is so palpable, so
axiomatical that the people should
not debate It but should rise up In
their majesty and crush II.
where's the honest man in this?
He can't get money from his friends
The State or the town come in and
take too much. II pays the moneyed
man better to get his interest on
money in bank than to lend to a
friend and pay a Sl.75 tax. There
should be such changes In the taxa
ton law that a man can be honest.
in the June. 1910 report OF the
State treasurer. s45,OO0.OO0 was stat
ed to be with savings banks and $780,
000, 900 invested out OF the State. The
economist says II the law OF supply
and demand determines the price
why not. get a lower rate for people
In Vermont.
"The object of the fiat rate on in
tangibles introduced in 1908 contem-
plated the bringing In of capital to
the state for purposes OF investment
by our people to develop water pow
ers. etc.
Again the list should be more
closely supervised. There Is no rea.
son you and should put in our lists
and the next man neglect TO do 1t
and let the listers find what they
can and double on t. The law ought
to make a man put everything into
his list and swear on oath and to
punish him once or twice II he
swore falsely deliberately. Money
would spring into sight in the State
and II we had courage to apply these
principles, the tax rate would bo low
ered I'm Vermont"