Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-12-11

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.
Light Broadway-Freeze Vermont.
We are. officially told that Yer
mont's prospects of getting any more
coal are far from bright. Why, may
it be asked, should restrictions on
lighting and other unnecessary coal
consuming features be removed while
any part of the country still has an
insufficient supply of fuel? Is it more
important to light Broadway than it
is to keep homes in Vermont comfort
able? How long after the cessation
of hostilities is Vermont going to be
kept on a war basis anyhow ?-St. AL
bans Messenger.
Canada Adopts Savings Stamps.
Canada was several months behind
the United Sta les in adopting. the saw
ings stamp plan, but she has now
swung into line and adopted system
which is regarded as one of the best.
cents AL fo--- dol1o~s hr1vs a War
Savings Certificate. Ten war savings
certificates kept until January 1, 1924
will be worth $50. It is felt by our
northern neighbor that the bringing
out of these stamps now that the war
is over will be of material assistance
in helping to educate the public to
the great necessity of thrift through
the period of reconstruction.-Hard-
wick Gazette.
Town Tax Collections.
Although every town is familiar
with the problem of uncollected tax
es, reported at the close of each
years business by the collector, it
comes as a surprise that for the
years of 1916, 1917 and 1918, the ag-
gregate of uncollected taxes of all the
towns in the state, averaged as for a
single year, amounted to $230,O00.
Charles A. Plumley, state commits
sioner of taxes, makes this announce
ment. He points out that towns af-
fected have to borrow money and
eventually lose heavily by this de-
fault.
Commissioner Plumley proposes
through his department to attempt
reduction Of this amount by coopera-
ting with the collectors much as the
tax department now cooperates with
listers, advising them as to their du-
ties and UNFOLDING them in their
work, delinquent taxes to be reported
periodically with reasons therfor. If
it develops that there is neglect on
sioner should have authority to apply
for the legal correction thereof; if
there is any defect in the grand list,
steps should be pointed out to legal
ize it. In general, the commissioner
believes the fact that there was CEN
trail supervision and authority would
of itself have beneficial moral effect.
Mr.. Plumley's suggestions seem well
conceived and should receive legisla-
tive attention. Here is state official
who wants more to do-give it to
him!
In this connection we wonder how it
would work, in these days of "cash
and carry" to collect taxes as the
funds are needed. At present most of
the public money in the several towns
and municipalities is spent before it
is paid in. The fiscal year begins
Feb. LIST. From then until late in the
summer or fall the towns have to run
on borrowed money, paying interest.
Why not pay the years taxes earlier
in the year, or have it so arranged
that at the close of business one year
there shall be on hand collected taxes
sufficient to run the following year,
as needed? Two or more INSTALL
ments might be provided for, so as to
ease it up on the taxpayer.
Another benefit would flow from
this plan. Most of the uncollected
taxes are those imposed on persons
listed in the spring, but who before
the tax-paying limit ends, have drift
ed away and cannot be reached. The
sooner they can be reached after be-
ing listed, the better. Taxes lost in
this way are a dead loss, increasing
the burden Of other taxpayers. The
same applies to interest paid on mon
ey borrowed by towns.
The state adjusts it's fiscal schedule
SO that it borrows little money and
commonly has large sums on deposit
Why can't the towns show a measure
of modern business judgment and col
| lect their taxes before they spend
them Randolph Herald and News
Heard on the Street.
That not many of the socialist
gatherings so far as heard from are
singing the "Star Spangled Banner
That with Christmas presents to be
bought, many people are asking for q
30-day armistice with their creditors
That wheat substitutes no longer
being required, we are all at liberty
to eat bread with the most nourishing
part left out if we want to.
| That there seems to be no basis fol
the claim that the war has upset oul
social fabric, as the ball games are tt
be resumed next summer.
That some of the people who
couldn't be spared from their business
to serve in the army, will soon be tax.
ing long tours to inspect the ruins.
That of course the farmers still
claim farming doesn't pay, but it is
noticed that the automobile dealers