Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-26
SCHOOL FOR LISTERS,
Assessors Receive instruction from
COmmIssioncr and Exchange Idcns.

Between and 50 of the tax listers of
Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoile and
Grand Isle counties gathered at he arm
DRY in this city yesterday to receive the
annual instruction impaired to them by
the State tax commissioner. 1t was the
largest meeting ever held in Burlington
of it's kind. The session was of special
Importance in view of the fact that this
is the year of the quadrennial appraisal,
when the grand lists of the towns of the
State are changed to a new basis for
appraisal. state Tax Commissioner
Charles d, Plumley gave a very COM
prehcnsivc explanation of what was re-
CURED of the lister or assessor, and
Amos j. Eaton of South Royalton pointed
out what constituted a legal list. what
the property holder must do and what
the lister Iust do to make the inventory
come within the requirements of the law.
The bulletins Issued by the tax depart
those present.
Among other things, Mr.. Plumey called
attention of the listers to the importance
Of the office which they hold and en-
phas.zed the fact that TO arrive at a fair
valuation of property belonging to an
other for taxation purposes involves the
acquisition by laws of some portion of
that persons property as well some
portion of the property of every tax
pay r, eqLitably or incquitably, depend-
ing upon the fairness and justice Of the
appraisal The task of the lister in maxi
ing the quadrennial appraisal is not an
easy one, but the law of the state of
Vermont authorizes. recognizes and per-
mits but one valuation. namely the true
money value of the property appraised.
Listers are held responsible for the in
equality in assessment and for their nom
compliance with the law and public senti-
ment is genuinely aroused in this regard.
The valuation of real property in the
State has increased from sl1S.547.454 in
1900 to sl5s,675,553 in 1913. or $40 OPS O7a. and
the grand list from sl,76S,3i7 in 1900 to
50, i2l OPS in 1913
Mr.. Plumley urged the importance of
compliance with the law requiring inven-
tories to be subscribed and sworn to-
and called attention To that section OF
the statute relating e the manner IN
which the oath is to he administered and
the formality attending it.
Speaking OF the census of mamie sugar
trees. etc, which the listers have to
make again this year Commissi oner
Plumley told how the secretary of State
had just sent out 30O00 letters to n
selected list Of bankers, the names being
taken Dun and Bradstreets These
letters suggest that II the person ad-
dressed desires to know where he can
obtain genuine Vermont maple sugar and
syrup and would like to receive a pamph.
let describing the manufacture of the
product, he can obtain the necessary in
formation by signing and returning the
enclosed post card Within week after
these lette-S We're sent ont the reply post
cards began to come back at an average
rate Of 145 per day. They are forward ed
to the secretary of the Vermont Maple
Sugar Makers association, who forwards
the official pamphlet of the association
containing a list of names of sugar max.
ers and a story of how sugar is made
from maple trees.
Mr.. Eaton described the making of n
legal inventory from the standpoint OF
a lister and taxpayer and cleaned up
| some of the questions which every lister
has to contend with.
If the attendance at the listers meet
ings to be held at Rutland and Benning-
ton are up to the average in numbers of
those already held. there will have been
| over $50 of the $50 listers of the State
present at the meetings