Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-12
TAXATION OF WIDOWS AND OTHER
WOMEN AND THE SUFFRAGE.

WOMEN AND THE SUFFHAuEs
The proposition embodied in tie direct
inheritance tax measure at Montpelier.
that wives as we'll as husbands be taxed
upon what is left each to the other as
we'll as to their children at death. above
any arbitrary sum that may be fixed or
changed by any Legislature az its finan-
cial extravagances may determine. brings
home to every wife in Vermont the need
of being in a position to defend her rights.
her home, her children, her community
by her vote.
1t makes little difference what subter-
fuges may be interposed the principle
for which our forefathers of the Ameri-
can Revolution fought. mo taxation with
out representation" is bound to prevail.
The beginning of woman suffrage under
the legislation passed by the present
Legislature of Vermont and signed by
Governor Graham puts the responsibility
on the women of Vermont themselves.
whether they shall be in a position to de-
fend their own interests by their votes.
Here is the whole matter in nut
shell as the situation now stands. The
women of Vermont have less than two
weeks. or until April 20. in which to get
their names on the taxpaying list so they
can vote in March, 1918. year hence.
Not only women having property but any
woman can vote simply by making out
a tax inventory. entering money on hand
and not in a savings institution, or other
personal taxable property. from IS up
which would mean a tax of twenty-five
cents a year up. BY making out such a
list with the aid of the assessors. IL neces-
sary. before April 20 next. every woman
in Vermont will be able to vote in town.
city and village meetings in March, 1915
We have thus stated the CHIEF things to
be kept in mind by women of Vermont
who desire to vote in town meetings.
Other considerations as to Statewide
and national voting do not need to enter
into the situation at this time. Now as
to some of the details.
The Vermont equal suffrage associa-
ton have sent out an appeal to the wom-
ton to the importance of immediate at
tention TO this matter. Some of these
statements follow
The suffrage bill has been signed by
the Governor and reads thus: "A female
citizen n years Of age, whose list is taken
in a town At the annual assessment pre-
eeding town meeting. and where tax
or taxes due such town were paid prior
to the 18th day Of February preceding d
town meeting. shall while residing In
such town b voter in town meeting.
Women who already have a grand list
and have paid their taxes are now lega
voters.
Under tho new law there is no pol
AK provision.
Women desiring to vote at the mex
March meeting should as soon as possibl,
liter April first procure a blank inven
ory from the listers of town or city. I'll
t out, signing the same and returning u
The listers not later than April 20, maxi
ing sure their names are placed upon thu
check list.
1.-The taxation law provides that per
sons having property, either personal O
real, fill out such inventory for taxation
purposes. We would suggest that the
not enter such articles as watches O
pianos unless they possess more than one
but enter money on hand not in the bank
the amount ranging from one to hve dol
lars and up.
1.-THE same may be listed under para
graph dissection C. or furniture In ex
cess of $500 may be listed under para
graph 1e-ccction C of the blank inven
tory.
1.-THE amount Of tax upon these item
would not prove budensome, fror
twenty-five cents W. according to tn