Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-21
WOULD TAX ON
APPRAISAL BASIS
Proposed Railroad Tax Bill intro
duced Looking toward ELM
ination of Income Method.

Montpelier, Nov. 15.-Thorc was n sug-
gestlon in the recent message of Gov
ernor Fletcher in regard to the taxa
ton Of railroads relating to the difficuty
or expense of expert examination OF the
accounts Of such corporations, ana THIS
was followed by a recommendation mat
the privilege Of paying a tax based on
the gross receipts be withdrawn ana
taxes levied instead on the appraised
value OF the road. This has been the
subject Of much comment and consi-
Iteration by members. and an attcmp,
has been made to regulate this matter
by the Introduction this morning through
the committee on ways and means OF
n bill relating to railroad taxation OF
which the following IL an abstract:
Railroads operated in this State
under lease or contract, the taxes as
sessed under Sec. 713 of the =. S. as
amended by Sec. of No. 2s of acts of
1908 shall be paid by the lessee and be
charged against and deducted from
any payment due or to become due.
For FIVE years after date lines where
on cars for public traffic, commence
|
Feb, !. 1907. sum equal to 90 per
cent of the tax based on appraisal
thereof for the purpose of taxation Is
hereby annually appropriated In aid
of the company paying such tax.
Taxable property under section lib
of the +. s. shall not include tene-
ments, lands or buildings rented for
commercial purposes, and not used in
the operation of railroad; water
power. electric light and gas plants
nor farming or timber lands owned or
leased Such houses, lands and build
ings shall not be set in the grand list.
Except az otherwise provided, real
and personal estate used in operating
a railroad or steam boat and appraised
under Secs. FOG, 7o7 and 1872 Of the
T. s.. real and personal estate used In
carrying on express, telegraph or tel
ephone business in this State: money.
| stocks. bonds. mortgages and other in
| debtedness belonging to insurance.
surety or guaranty companies AID
shares OF stock in telephone, telegraph.
| insurance, surety. steamboat and trans
portation companies, taxed under
chapter 35 Of the r. s., shall not be
set in the grand list.
The entire subject of taxation Is one
on which the Legislature Is disposed
| to act in manner to improve the
general situation. There have been
two extended hearings on the subject
and one meeting of the Farmers club
| devoted to IT. but the only proposal
| that has yet made much progress is
that of Senator Rabbit, to exempt
from taxation money loaned on real
, estate mortgages in this State at
rate of interest not exceeding five per
cent There Is much sympathy with
the proposal of Senator Laird that all
loans in the state at that rate should
be exempt. but 1t Is feared that this,
even if theoretically correct might be
too long a step to take at this time.
Senator Blanchard Of Windsor intro.
duced this morning a direct primary
bin, which is perhaps the most direct
and simple of any OF the measures Of
that sort that have yet appeared
The bill goes direct to Its purpose
without the Intervention of any con-
ventions Or preferential voting. In
the main it's provisions are as follows ::
A primary election shall be acid on
the second Tuesday OF July in each bi E.
ennial year for the nomination of all
elective State. district and county cam
jidates to be voted for at the Septem-
Der election.
A candidate, to have his name placed
on the official ballot. must file a decla-
ration of his candidacy not less tina n
thirty nor more than sixty Jays prior
to such primary. stating the party to
which he belongs or filing a petition
signed by one per cent. OF tho votes
cast for all such candidates at the last
preceding election.
political party whose nominees re-
ceived ten per cent Of the total votes
at the preceding election may have a
separate primary ticket as a political
party.
Candidates for State office and men,
bers OF Congress must file their dec
larations with the secretary Of state;
for county officers with the county clerk.
, The secretary OF state shall certify these
declarations to the various county
clerks and they shall post notices Of
these nominations.
The ballots are separate for each party
and In most cases the same as ballots
for general election.
, An elector shall be entitled to receive
at the voting booth only the ballot of
. the party Tor which he acts
, In general the regulations for an or
binary election prevail.
, Political parties retain the right to call
conventions, III vacancies. provide for
the nomination of presidential electors
and promulsate party platform. at a
meeting at which the candidates nomi-
mated may be present provide such con-
vention shall have no power to nomi-
nate candidate to be voted upon nj
u primary election.
A plurality shall DO sufficient to MIKE
a nomination.