Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-13

niture are all taxed according TO their
value. How can you discover the
property and ascertain It's value
except by inquiry? II you were
TO release from taxation ali property
which could not be discovered. except by
diisent inquiry. / fear the revenues Of
the state would soon fan far short OF the
demands upon It's resources.
HOW SHOULD INCOME BE AscER-
TANNED?
This Is matter which must be dill
gently inquired into. and a law should b.
framed after the results and experiences
In other States and countries have been
carefully examined. There are many modes
OF discovering incomes. One Is TO make
an examination Of the taxpayer, under
oath. and not allow a man 20 make his
own assessment. Some OF the States re-
Quire the oath Of the officer 10 each az
sessment. Another plan is 10 allow the
oncer 10 make assessments, and II the
taxpayer IL not satisfied he can appeal.
and show the assessment Is erroneous.
Another is TO have a special grand jury
examine and say what would he far
assessment OF the income Of each man
who excerpts TO the ass ssmsnt made b.
the officer
The difficulty has been exaggerated. and
the failure TO get a correct return is due
W. Si'NN part W Nit nfNil-Nii@9 VI tii-
commissioner OF the revenue. and II
some penalty was attached TO his failure
TO do his duty comm ensurate with the
Importance OF the subject ] am sure that
the increase OF revenue from this source
would be great.
CORPORATIONS.
Corporations, as well as individuals,
should pay a fair income tax. and when
reasonably graded income-tax has been
required of ALL It would not be heavy for
those who have 1t to pay. and yet it would
relieve people and property of an onerous
burden. Some. complaining OF taxes, say
they are too high. This complaint Is not
unreasonable in many cases. Many tax
payers surrender to the officer all OF their
property. with fair valuation Imposed
upon H. To such it is a burden, because
they pay more than fair share, as so
much property goes untaxed, and some
not sufficiently taxed: but n fair assess
ment upon all will tighten the burden and
make the tax easy. This IS what l am
laboring for; it will make the people con-
tented. and their burdens equal and light.
We have in this State enough wealth, II
fairly assessed, TO reduce greatly the
rate Of taxation. and with n conservative
and economical administration OF the al
fairs Of the state. have all the means
W. need TO support the schools ana col
leges, pay the expenses of govern
ment and the interest on the public
debt and TO give a reasonable pension 10
every one Of our disabled soldiers. But
to do this you must reach the untaXed-
because discovered-resources OF the
state. and see to It that fair assessment
is placed upon their values, and your tax
from being among the highest imposed
in any of the States. may be reduced 10
about the lowest.
WHAT INCOME SHOULD BE TAXED.
Al Income should be taxed, TO preserve
the principal. but IL should be merely
nominal until you reach 500. After that
the rate Of taxation should increase as the
income increases. II is restricted in VIZ
c,inia to incomes derived from interest
and profits" This is wrong. 1t should be
Levied on ali incomes, regardless OF the
source from which Il Is derived Inere
should be no increase of privileged prop
erty. 1t Increases the difficulty OF aScer-
tanning that which should be taxed ana
furnishes another objection TO the law.
A tax on property Is A tax on things
piece Of land as such. pays tax according
to its value. it matters not VINO owns II
or what Is its value. An income TAX IL
strictly a personal tax The law should
ASK. now nluGn income nus Aiii' fN''F''
II IS regardless Of any particular source
from which IT is derived. 1t includes all
sources.
RAILROAD TAXATION.
Our law on the subject OF railroad taxa
ton Is the result Of much Deliberations
STILL there are complaints as to the man
ner Of assessing the various roads Oh
our State, and the amount oil taxation u
be exacted from them.
The Constitution requires that they
should be taxed according TO their values
Ike other property, and this Is nNed oy
ascertaining their values per mile. Ihere
are however, grave doubts whether inns
is the fairest method OF ascertalninS lhelr
taxable value. The same trouble "hlCh
has been discussed with reference TO other
subjects arises here. Their cost per mile
cannot be fair criterion by Whlch "
Judge OF their values, though IL Is one CIT
cumstance by which TO test It's accuracy
Its earnings would be another. linen
what earnings? Its net or its gross earn
ings? There is a difference OF OPINION Oh
this subject, each Of these MODES having
been tried in various States.
There is but little uniformity on this
subject The railroads have received
valuable rights and privileges from the
neople. and in return they confer great
benefits by extending and developing the
business of the State through when they
mass thus making property more Nalu-
able and residence in the country Hioie
desirable. They indicate prosperity anu
progress. ON their lines you VIII gee eN,
dences Of thrift and energy when VIII
he sought in vain in locahtes Ieiio'o
from them. Villages spring up anu "ew
towns and cities are built, ana the oiu
ones increase In wealth and prosperity;
Every reasonable indulgence snouiu VIC
extended to railroads untll .heir pu9 9l,isd
connections have been well estaDhsheu'
Then they should be conlPsi,'O ~
hear their full proportion OF the
public burden. Like - ,,aInss
an other property. their values
I'm me changing according to the
-, of business they are dolhs'
"a hat &c a fair assessment to-day may
80 few years of business success
nrove insufficient for their just p'u 20
tIonment. Various methods nav
80 and each of them should be care
-, 20 mined with the results they nave
- md The method which experience
81, 20 ne the best and the ialres'
should he adopted. Experience alone 'aii
determine THIS.
COLLATERAL INHERITANCE 1A-N'
rhe law in some OF the States imposes a
- ON collateral inheritances' ana II 10
"a eource of considerable revenue IA
9oonDsyIvania the tax derived from ti,ls
sonrce amounted 10 over $'e,Voo III ui 1s
~ 1SSs. In New York, III Ioo', -, ~
mounted 10 s551. 7l6; In 1855 S'So'VVV' III
,SSe more than 81. 100000. There Is no pur-
80, 10 law a burden upon the common
aOd natural succession. such as descent
~ nronerty from parent to child OF rom
mia 20 parent, but only on such properly
90 through the permission ana proteclion
80 tho statutes comes into POSSESSION Vi
Oersons or corporations who nave hau ho
band in making II. and no natural claims
,'slo,, those from whom it Is derived. III Is
oao,,ired under the statute. and does MOI
49, nv natural right. and IL would seem
tbat a Gift allowed by the law may De
nroner,v taxed by the law when Allows ~.
=, 40 an income received without LABOR VI
axnenae on the part of the receiVer-pIo,
80 transferred by the permission ana
rrotection of the government from III.
Saod 10 the living. who has no natural
rronerty rights in 1t. When properly Is
60 situated as TO pass to new oWhe,,
,,,,o has no agency in its earnings II u
',iS, iust and reasonable that tax shouiu
49, ia N the State whose law allows II.
w., could be more reasonable than sucn
a gay in the final distribution OF an es'd.e
who could complain OF nF NJ ~ he