The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-05
For the DiSpatch.l


To the Financial Committees of the Senate
and the House Of Delegates Of Virginia :
The subject of taxation is at present doubt.
lessly receiving full share of your attention.
1t is the one subject with Us taxpayers.
The Democratic victories, the Louisiana
troubles, the vision of the Spanish war, may
interest Us awhile, but our minds, like the
disturbed needle, will soon settle down with
a 6Xedness upon taxation. We look back and
see mountains Of money that we have paid
the collectors. We look ahead, and this
mountain continues. to grow, and yet we are
not breathing the unhealthy atmosphere OF
the valley of despair.
To you, sirs, we look for relief. III the
mean time we think it the duty OF all to give
you the benefit Of such facts and suggestions
as tend to throw spark Of light along your
pathway. "Let him that hath dream tell
a dream"
Two schemes of taxation have been laid
before you-o one by Treasurer Hunter, the
other by Auditor Taylor. 1t is not my pur-
pose to discuss. the merits and dement's
of these two schemes, but to call your atten.
ton to some of the defects Of our present
system. 1t will 0e seen at glance that Mr..
Hunters bill best remedies these defects,
/. There is want of thoroughly uniyer-
sal assessment.
2. There is want of uniformity of assess
ment.
8. There is want Of a closer collection OF
taxes.
/ shall say something under each of these
numerical heads.
/. The experience of dog-tay collector
will throw some light upon this point. lie
called at house and lad to battle bravely
to save bis bacon from 4 pack of fierce dogs.
and yet be found no owner for single dog.
Many pieces Of property 60 unassessed tor
the reasons that shielded these dogs. A
does not list colt because it is nominally
his wife'S. The calf belongs to the baby,
the pen-hog belongs 10 little three-year-od
until killng-time, and SOW and pigs have
not been seen for two weeks because no one
has tried to see them. The calf, pen-hog,
SOW and pigs, therefore, payne taxes. Is
owns $1,000 worth Of bonds. He does not
kno,o that he will ever realize a cent for
them. Therefore, he makes no mention of
them to the assessor, but yet he holds them
as s terror to his debtors, and he will not
take fifty cents dollar for them.
2. The assessor has the right, or takes it,
to hand a form to the property holder to be
hlled up as be WllS. What Is the result!
C values bis cow and calf at $50, d. bis at
$l5, and yet D will not trade with for $40 to
boot. Have 1 not seen this tested? In 1872
E valued bis yoke Of oxen at S45. In 1878
be valued these same oxen and another OK
that cost him S25 at $40. Can you not rem
edy this evil? Say nothing about the oath
on the back of the form. The honest man
has no need of it, and it is temptation to
the dishonest man to be still more dishonest.
1t is the cloak he so much needs. The man
who tells lie will not hesitate to swear to
1t.
8. / need say but little about the delin.
quents. The courthouse door of one of QUIZ
smallest counties is nearly papered over
with the delinquent list. "The amount due
from each man is small" All yes; a flake
of SNOW is a small thing; but the deepest
SHOWS are made up Of these little flakes
Think of these things, my dear sifs. Rem
edy these eVils-cause all of every mans
property to be Ilsted-let thesamespeeieso of
property in the same neighborhood be val.
ued at the same price-drive the delinquent
list from the courthouse doors-and Sou
will hear no more about high taxes.
PENINSULA.
Eobruor7,0 1879