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there were 45,010 farmers in this state, and four times that 

 number of small house holders ; if all work in concert they 

 may accomplish the object sought. The man who does not 

 pay his full share of taxes cheats his neighbor who does. 

 One-half the buildings in the state are mortgaged, and the 

 lender pays no tax on his mortgaged notes, but the 

 mortgaged property does pay a tax, and because the mortgage 

 note is untaxed, the borrower really pays the tax on that too. 

 Assessors are now required, by law, to have sworn state- 

 ments of property, but as there is no penalty' attached, he 

 fails to do it. 



Mr. Tapley here read the Vermont tax law passed by 

 farmers. Our own state provides that any one who thinks 

 himself overtaxed may apply to the County Commissioners, 

 but this is uncertain and unsatisfactory. In Boston, accord- 

 ing to the best authority, -i^lOO, 000,000 of property is exempt 

 from taxation. He said the tax rate in the state could prob- 

 ably be reduced one-half if all property was taxed. Mr. 

 Amos Hasletine, Jr., of Haverhill, followed Mr. Tapley, and 

 said it was not too strong a statement|to say that one-third of 

 the taxable property in the state is untaxed. The legislative 

 act to prevent what is called " double taxation," is an injus- 

 tice, and works directly against the man who mortgages 

 his property, and in favor of the man holding the note. 

 The state tax is about eleven and one-half mills on one 

 hundred dollars, and the county tax not over one mill more, 

 and the savings bank property, exempted, would pay the 

 state and county tax if it were taxed. The tendency is to 

 put all taxes on real estate. The trouble is the farmers 

 are overthrown by the manufacturing interests. Mr. Ayer, 

 of Methuen, ridiculed double taxation; he said there neither 

 is nor has been double taxation ; all there was to it mortgage 

 notes were exempt and they should be taxed. In addition to 

 that the farmer, whose property is all in sight and taxed, 

 bears the burden of invisible property which escapes taxa- 

 tion. He cited and condemned a certain as-^ociation, in 



