Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-12-09


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Among other subjects. of supple
mentarv taxation, that of church pro
perty is entitled to be fairly considered.
If the law were 80 attended as to limit
the exemption of this property by a
uniform maximum of two thousand
dollars, and to tax the .oyerplus iii each
case, no small revenue would be deriv-
ed from such church wealth as could
Weld it with least inconvenience.
Many deyout men bold that such tax
would tend to awaken and stimulate
into healthy exercise one CT the leading
Christian virtues, and many Of the
churches are said TO favor It's coinposl-
ton Certainly, tie non taxation OF
this wealth increases the taxation OF
those of the laboling masses who have
no share M IL aud 10 ilrectbeneit from
it. - . a.er
W bile the results ot The late assess
,aellts Of lands are no, fully known, it
t is underst God that the previous vaius
atlor.s are mole or less rediced and
that the standards OF reduction are as
diverse as numerous. We all know
that no reduction has taken place III
actual quantity or intrinsic value of the
lands or in their capacity to yield
present revenues, although ordinations
of their cash value have shrunk under
the influence of the financial .pressure
and panic through which the whole
country is passing. The change in the
assessments plainly neccssitates corr
responding change, not in the real and
relative, but in the nominal rate of
taxation, in order to keep up the
present and indispensable amount of
revenues. Such change neither ms
creases nor dimlnishes the actual burs
thens of the present taxation. 1t is
such necessary change of verbiage as
neither alters nor touches the principle
of the tax-law now in force, but simply
prolongs its operation and continues
for the future the taxation of the past
Not to make the change, is to cut down
taxation and so curtail the revenues as
to jeopardize law and order. to destroy
the credit and imperil the existence Of
of the government
1t was to be expected that many and
serious Irregularities would appear in
the new assessments, made by SO great
number of local officers, among whom
no general conference was possible, and
who were unavoidably guided in their
valuations by differing standards. In
order that the burthens of taxation
may be distributed fairly and equally
throughout the State, it is plainly
essential that the assessments shall he
revised and rectlfied by state board of
equalization. It is suggested that such
board might command more confidence
and given greater satisfaction if chosen
by joint vote of the General Assembly.
A rich vein of increased revenue is
to be found by reforming the present
most Intellectual system for assessing
and returning personal property. That
system holds out continual premiums
to frauds on the revenue. Uunder it
the Taxpayers are often virtually the
assessors OF their own personal estates,
and in relation to their property tax
are "a law unto themselves" The re-
suit is, the honest and poorer man
often pays heavier taxes than his richer
but less scrupulous neighbor The evil
like all unchecked evils, is increasing,
and enormous annual losses are charged.
bic to its growth. The public morals
as well as the public finances call for
its eradication. In some of the States
system for equalizing personal pro
perty values, in accordance with general
regulations prescribed by law, is said to
have proved an effectual remedy. |
commend the subject to your careful
consideration.
TIE PUBLIC DEBT AND THE FUNDING BILL
The principal of the debt proper the the 1st of
= October, 1874, ........... S29 95s, OlO rs
The like principal on the 1st of October,
p, 1910, Was.-.. rs, Sl5 426 50