Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-03-29

tax on personally as it now stands is
confiscatory
$50 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 concealment
cannot be made.
(D An interference with normal Sc
curement and increase of capital for the
development of our natural resources
because of the obsolete and unenforceable
tax on personality.
go 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 hereto
fore, but now, under the statute of 1910
leaving the lists of such to the discretion
of the listers, without, however. insuring
any genuine reform.
CD The doubling and even multiplying
of taxation through taxation of the same
property by two more state jurisdtc-
lions and through the permission to let
some citizen plead debts in onset, while
others under other forms of debt, like
mortgages upon farms or city real estate,
cannot so plead a discrimination which
ought to be explained or wiped out en-
tirely.
CD INEQUALITIES in the valuation or
properties, resulting in gross injustice
within the towns and only less so through
the state under the laws requiring the
8 per cent school tax and the per
cent highway tax.
go Failure to apply upon fair and
graded scale a direct inheritance tax.
bill for which unanimously passed the
House in 1908 but was ANONYMOUSLY
killed in the Senate without special con-
sideration.
90 A revision of offsets, exemptions
and options 80 as to insure equality I'M
httr1 M n
ment without interfering with either
credits or business opportunity
Q0) A just and reasonable taxation
of corpora lions so as to insure their que
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.
GD The restoration to individuals OF
! the same chance to invest privately, so
| far as tax laws are involved, which the
| banks now control; and, hnally,
Q2) 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 euuitably distribute lllat HSt,
| will induce a more careful creation ana
use of all forms of property, VIII induce
| capital to stay at home and invite II
| from abroad, will tend to increase private
| investments and enterprise and Will tend
ultimately to unity public accounting,
| reduce rates of taxation, produce a more
| economic financing of public affairs and
| in every way increase and foster all those
ma teral objects upon which the state
| relies for it's real. prosperity and growth.
1t is recognized of course, that an any
| reform of tax laws great attention must
| 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, that there
| can be a great and permanent improve
ment in our agricultural and Industrial
| progress without first disposing of this
| great issue of taxation reform Is q
| mistake That and the issue of getting
| the state government more nearly within
| the thought and actual action and under
| the direction of the people direct are the
two chief factors finally in the conserva
ton of everything In which the people
| have an interest For government relies
upon taxation for support and conserva
ton depends upon the character and JUS
tce of the law passed and enforced. Tit
tax Is paid by the people and they, II the!
will have II So will control actually, no
nominally or by proxy, the selection o
their officers, the nature or their law
and their application In practice. Flo
that reason taxation and conservation