Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-03-29
TAXATION PROBLEMS.


ment and their applied use for the
benefit of the people of this state, in
volve among other things the following
factors:
O The current use of many millions
of dollars of false offsets for debts
owing, which do not conserve the in
come of the state equality of contribu-
ton to state support as between indi-
vidual citizens or geneAl honesty and
truthfulness.
(2) The repetition of recurring
perjury on the part of those who conceal
personally or intangibles, so called,
upon the argument, self-addressed,
that others do so too and that in any
event the property tax on personally
as it now stands is confscatory.
(3) The actual confiscation of close
to half or more than half of the incomes
of honest citizens and of trust funds
upon which trusts, widows and children
rely for safe support, where conceal
ment cannot be made.
"a An interference with normal Sc
curement and increase of capital for the
development of our natural resources
because of the obsolete and unenforce-
able tax on personally.
(5) Gross discrimination in favor of
those who are permitted to report no
list under the imperfect penalty of
merely doubling what the listers find,
as heretofore, but now, under the
statue of 1910, leaving the lists of such
to the discretion of the listers, without,
however, insuring any genuine reform.
| (6) The doubling and even multi
plying of taxation through taxation of
the same property by two or more
state jurisdictions and through the per-
mission to let some citizen plead debts
in offset, while others under other forms
of debt. like mortgages upon farms or
city real estate, cannot so plead, dis
elimination which ought to be explained
or wiped out entirely.
CD Inequalities in the valuation of
properties, resulting in gross injustice
within the towns and only less so through
the state under the laws requiring the
80 school tax and the 50 highway tax.
(S) Failure to apply upon fair and
graded scale direct inheritance tax, a
bill for which unanimously passed the
House in 1908 but was ANONYMOUSLY
killed in the Senate without special con-
sideration.
(9) A revision of offsets, exemptions
and options so as to insure equality I'M
der the law in the burdens of gov
eminent without interfering with either
credits or business opportunity.
Q0) A just and reasonable taxation
of corporations so as to insure their due
and proper contribution to the support
of the state without suppressing either
their growth or their opportunity for in
crease in number, thus fostering indus
trial expansion and improving the near
by markets for the products of our farms.
QD The restoration to individuals of
the same chance to invest privately, so
far as tax laws are involved, which the
banks now control; and, finally,
C2) An actual reform of taxation
laws in connection with greater economy
and greater efficiency in State admins
tration.
The solution of these questions will
conserve the character of our people,
will increase the grand list of the state,
will more equtably distribute that list,
will induce a more careful creation and
use of all forms of property, will induce
capital to stay at home and invite il
from abroad, will tend to increase pri-
vate investments and enterprise and
J will tend ultimately to unity public ac-
counting, reduce rates of taxation, pro-
duce more economic financing of pub
| lie affairs and in every way increase ano
, foster all those material objects upon
/ which the state relies for it's real pros.
, perity and growth.
1t is recognized of course, that in any
{ reform of tax laws great attention mus
| be given to many details and to close
study of the data pertaining thereto
which phase of the subject cannot be
! covered in this article from lack OF
: space. To assume, however, thai
there can be a great and permanent
: improvement in our agricultural and in
2 dustrial progress without first disposine
: of this great issue of taxation reform il
! a mistake. That and the issue of get
: ting the state government more nearly
5 within the thought and actual actor
and under the direction of the people