Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-07

wish without the permission OF rural legls-
lators in Albany.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE DIRECT TAX
Serious Objections TO the Mode Provided
by the Special Committees Bill.
RICHMOND, Va. February 8, 1884,
To ne Eii'orof The D3spa'ci:
The discussions IN the Senate on the bill
reported by the special committee for the
distribution OF the direct tax refunded by
the United States Government have clearly
demonstrated the crudeness of the COM
mittee's work. the absence of proper safe
guards for the security of the fund. which
IS a trust fund, and the utterly impractical
Die and wasteful character of the measure.
The only feature which il has 10 commend
il j the amount of patronage il would dis
tribute among influential constituents.
The bill, after providing that the fund,
which amounts to S442, 70Z.77, shall be de-
posted III one or more Of the banks OF tho
State designated as State repositories, re-
quires the Governor TO cause abstracts or
copies 70 be made in duplicate of the tax
lists from the treasury or other proper de-
partment in Washington" the cost Of
which IS TO be a charge upon the fund.
The lists are to be made out 10y counties
and copies filed in the clerks offices of the
respective counties. II then proposes TO
make every county treasurer who will ac-
cept the trust and give the required bond
an auditing and dlsbursing officer as TO
this fund, allowing hir commission of
per cent out of the fund. or in tho
event any treasurer refuses or fails TO accept
the trust then the Governor Is authorized
10 appoint commissioner for each county,
6A 90 alcn raDr1Tai IN hnV1 md
allowed the same commission. The prlncl-
ple upon which the bill proceeds is vicious
because 1t unltes the functions OF auditor
and discussing officer in the same person.
IL provides no remedy for any errors OF
Judgment or mistakes made by the officer,
the party aggrevod being presumably rele-
gated 10 his action upon the official bond.
No more wasteful method of distribution
could have been devised nor one more sus-
ceptible of abuse in its administration.
THE TAXPAYER MULCTED.
The taxpayer who thirty years ago paid
his taxes and to whom il is now proposed
TO refund them ,cithOW interest is first
made to pay the costs of procuring the
lists in Washington and then. is mulcted
in the payment of 5 per cent. Of the re-
mainder as commissions TO the treasurer
or commissioner, so that he will receive
the dollar for bis claim, while about
S27 900 of the fund have been absorbed by
treasurers or commissioners.
This fund is large and IL now deposited
in banks. which are State repositories,
and which pay al interest of 3 per cent.
per annum on it, or about 81 100 or $1,000
per month. which would cease TO be paid
so soon as under the bill 1t is distributed
to county treasurers or commissioners.
TO PAY THE ExPENsEs.
If the fund be kept together in bank,
and the distribution made through the re-
gular auditing and disburslng agents Of
the State, the Auditor of Public Accounts
and the State Treasurer, the interest ac-
cruing upon 1t will be sufficient or nearly
sufficient TO pay the expenses of distrlbu-
ton. Nearly two months interest will
have accumulated before the passage of
the act, one or more months will elapSe
before the lists are prepared, copied. and
distributed. and by that time the accrued
interest will amount TO from $4,000 to
$4,000 less the Gums paid for making
the lists. But large part of
II will remain in bank from eighteen
months to two or more years, and
from 90 to % per cent. of 1t will, il is said,
never be claimed. We may therefore with
confidence estimate that the State will
receive an average interest on the fund at
least equal to one years interest, or about
$4,000. This amount judiciously ex-
pended through the regular disbursing
officers of the State will probably be am
ply sufficient to pay the entire cost OF dis
bursement. TO say nothing of the sums re-
naming unclaimed in the Treasury.
NOT AN ADVANTAGE.
The only advantage claimed for the me-
4inl 1f dict rth prnnOqa1 in fha hill q
that it will be more convenient TO those
entitled 10 place the money In the counties
where they can collect IN person of the
treasurers or commissioners, but the
money can be as easily disbursed, aud at
much less cost, through the Auditors
Office, aud on exactly the same evidence
required in the counties, and this can be
done under the immediate supervision of
the Governor. II can be paid out only TO
the persons named IN the lists obtained IN
Washington, or 20 their personal repre-
sentatiyes, aud though the identity
of the claimants NAV be more easily
established in the counties. the GER
tihcate Of the County or Corporation
Court on this point can be filed IN the Au-
4 tor's office for a two-cent postage-stamp.
Many of the claimants. moreover. have re-
moved from the counties or cities IN which
they then resided. and some have removed
from the state. IL WOQlu impose great
trouble and expense on these 10 require
them to collect the amounts due them IN
the counties III which they formerly re-
sided, when they could collect much more
easily through the Auditors office. where
all the evidence needed. except as 10 the
identity of the person, can be obtained,
where there are complete files Of the land
books for each county By which 10 verify
the hsts-a particular in which many coun-
ties are deficient-,he land-books having
been lost or destroyed.
READILY PAID.
With the lists and the evidence 20 be
found now III the Auditors Office these
claims can be paid as readily as pensions
are paid, and at as little cost TO the per-
sons entitled. while If the fund is scattered
over the forty-nine counties interested,
much of il will be wasted by the expen-
biye method adopted for its distribution,
not TO mention other accidents which may
befall it in passing through 30 many
hands, and but little, if any. will ever find
its way back TO the State or county tres-
sury. OBsKRvRs
No Use to Look for II.
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mot irreparably. hope"
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