St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-12-06
state Tax Commissioner.


by The Caledonian that the office
OF commissioner Of state taxes he
abolished and the duties or that Off
cial he placed on the state treasurer
has aroused considerable comment.
Friends OF the present commissioner
claim the suggestion to be a political
move to get the scalp of Charles
Plumley the present incumbent. Such
n statement is entirely wrong. The
possibility that the suggestion may be
seriously considered by the next leg
islature seems to be firmly imbedded
In the mind Of Mr. Plumley and his
friends and has called forth quite n
lengthy editorial in the last issue of
the Mortified News treating the sub
ject in a political way. also a state
ment of the duties of that office. 1t
would seem a fair assumption that
the statement Of duties was prepared
and printed with the knowledge of
Mr. Plumley and is therefore a com
plete statement of his duties. AL
though it is lengthy we are glad to
republish it here in order to give our
readers full information on the sub
iect. This is the statement:
The commissioner of taxes has SUI
pervision of the administration of the
general tax laws, holds meetings for
instruction Of the listers at such times
and places as he may designate for
,f fnnphinp
the requisites of legal tax inventories,
valid grand lists. and the appraisal
and listing of various classes of tax
able property for the purpose of local
taxation: furnishes printed instruc-
tions, and issues bulletins relating
thereto responds to the requests of
listers and tax officials for informa-
ton as to their duties; collects data
and information touching methods Of
taxation, and the work of listers in
various towns; formulates and fur
nishes blank inventories sufficient in
number to meet the requirements of
the law; fCrmulates and furnishes
blank books for the grand list and
quadrennial appraisal conforming to
the provisions of the Statutes relat-
ing thereto; prepares and furnishes
all necessary blanks required to carry
out the provisions of the Public
Statutes relating to general taxation;
examines, corrects. and prepares the
state grand list for state taxes from
the abstracts on file in his office, and
transmits a certified copy thereof to
the secretary of state and state treas
urer; prepares the list for county
taxes from the abstracts on file in his
Office. and transmits a copy thereof
to the county treasurer; examines
corrects and complies from reports
made to his office, and reports to the
general assembly, biennially, the rate
per dollars, and the amount of all
taxes assessed in each and all of the
towns, cores, schools and fire dis
tricts and villages for and during the
two years ending with the 3Oth day of
June preceding; prepares and fur
nishes blanks for returns by officers
of corporations showing the name and
residence of each shareholder therein;
complies the information so received
and certifies each lister and town
clerk the names of all persons residing
in their respective towns who are
shareholders in such corporations
the name of each corporation whose
shares are thus held, the number of
shares standing in the name Of each
shareholder, and the par value of
each share; also the names of all cor
porations organized under the laws of
this state whose principal office or
place OF business is located in their re-
spective towns: the names of all nom
resident shareholders in such cor
porations; the number of shares
standing in the name of each non
resident shareholder, and the par
value thereof.
Subject to the approval of the gov
ernor, he appoints appraisers for the |
unorganized towns and cores, and the
county boards of appraisers to hear
appeals Of taxpayers aggrieved by ac-
ton of the listers He appoints special
deputies to assist boards of listers in
the appraisal of certain classes of
property.
He establishes and collects the col !
lateral inheritance taxes due from es-
tates of resident decedents. and
represents the state in establishing
the value of property belonging to |
estates OF resident decedents in pro-
cess of settlement in probate court, |
subject to the collateral inheritance |
tax.
Once in two years he appraises at
its fair and just value, all property ac- |
quired, constructed or used for rail- |
road business or purposes. held, pos
sessed or owned by a person or cor !
porations operating railroad in this |
state, and biennially on or before the |
3lst day of December. he appraises |
at its fair and just value. the rights. |
property and corporate franchise of |
every person or corporation owning |
or operating a telephone line within |
the state.
In the event that a person or cor |
poration operating n railroad located |
in whole or in part within this state, |
is the owner or possessor of one or
more power plants located in whole |
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