The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-03-02
ERRORS AND EQUALIZATION

NNOiNo atNb HNi AitLa itON
Linotype Larry worked for the Man
chester Journal last week, and made a
previously virtuous Intertype machine
say this:
There should be a state wide ap-
praisal Of real estate by experiences
and imported men"
Whereas the editor started the ar
ticle off with the words experienced
and impartial men," which isn't exact
ly the same thing.
lnasmuch as The Herald reprinted
the article in Mondays issue, the cor
rection should be passed along
Incidentally, too, the problem with
which the article deals is a most inn
portant and insistent problem, but il Ia
question whether any legislature
would ever consent to plan whereby
state board would be authorized to
make up town grand lists without re-
gard to local conditions.
II would be an ideal condition IL an
ideal board could be selected, but is
that just what the situation demands
In commenting further on the prob
lem, The Journal says:
"This calls TO mind one Of the prin-
cipal objections to an appraisal by
State officials which is that man is
not competent to appraise real estate
in town unless he resides in that
town.
I'VE believe the contrary TO be true,
as a rule.
Local listers get into ruts and are
influenced too much by local prejudice
and fear Of mourning the enmity Of
friends and neighbors to be fair APP
praisers.
Eve think that any town lister will
admit the difficulty in making any
radical change in appraisals
can expert appraiser who has never
been in a town, could, after inquiry
and investigation Of the local real es-
tate market and conditions, make
fairer and more equitable appraisal
than now exists in most Of our towns"
There is entirely too much truth in
what the contemporary says about
listers not doing their duty according
TO law. Any experienced lister will
admit that II he actually assessed
property at its true value in money
he would be kicked out" Of Office just
as soon as the voters could get n
chance to vote. That being true-and
il is true in a majority Of cases--the
listers may truthfully say TO the voter:
"You made me what | am today;
! hope you're satisfied"
And, of course, the voter is not sat
isfied; could not be satisfied so long
as he must pay taxes. His ideal sys-
tenn Of taxation is one which imposes
an ample tax on the other fellow and
passes his own property along the
line with a nominal assessment and
So universal is the pressure on list
ers to keep down the grand list, es-
pecially now that the town as a unit
is interested in tine state tax 10 the
extent Of forty cents on the grand list,
that the listers might welcome legis-
lation that would provide for a re-
view Of town grand lists by some
competent and impartial state board
or official. With quadrennial apprais-
al at hand, however, Il seems likely
that the present vicious and inequit-
able system will continue for four
years more.
Furthermore, towns viii very re-
uctantly, perhaps never, agree 70 re-
inquish at least original control over
heir tax lists and tax rates. II is one
II the very few things they have left.
The next legislature will be called
ipon 10 enact some taxation reforms,
md towns like Manchester, which were
by able, experienced and
houghtful men-like Neighbor Ben
,ett, for example-would do well TO
'eturn them. They viii at least give
his problem Of equalizing taxes, town
y town, II not individual BY individ-
Ial. careful and earnest consideration
Taking the maehine-type correction,
r us have experienced and impair
ial" men for town listers, and let as
PRESENTLY have a Law whereby the tax
sta may be reviewed and revised by
he state tax commissioner or some
x-oficio boud Of state ofioera-Rut-
and Herald