Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-13
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1898.
Another Message from the Governor

Another Message from the Governor
Governor Mckinney yesterday sent 70
the General Assembly a message which
presents his observations and recommen-
cations on the subject OF taxation.
L. must be admitted that our laws on
this subject are vague and easily avoided
and that there is n lamentable lack OF
uniformity IN assessing property for tax
alton and too much looseness In collecting
the tax after IL has been assessed thereon.
During the debt controversy there
was no discoverable disposition on the part
OF the Legislature or the people 70 correct
these evils: but now that we are more
az liberty to face the question squareiy'
Virginia should act in the matter just as
a prudent man Of business would act in the
management OF his own affairs.
The message Of the Governor is there
fore timely. and many Of his suggestions
viii be conceded to be good: all OF them
VIII receive attention, and by arousng
discussion do good.
Property ought 10 be assessed at It's
true selling value at voluntary sale, not
az forced sale. or auction sale. and not for
cash" says the Governor and he Is no
doubt right. Certainly there ought to be
uniformity. At present the grossest In
equalitcs prevail In Virginia. In one
county one theory prevails in another
county another. y farm partly in one
county and partly in another. composed OF
lands equally valuable, may be assessed
IN one county at s. and In another at $3.50
per acre. Nothing short of State board
Of equalization can remedy this. yet our
people have persistently refused 20 have
any such board.
But unsatisfactory as are our laws with
respect to the assessment Of real estate.
those bearing upon personal property are
worse. Our real estate is assessed at
S}H1 1885 and our personal property at
oulj J,SGSOSl. Real estate pays H,2O65OO
q, tha tax and personal property pays
$aShpl. because OF the failure TO obtain
the true amount and value OF the personal
property in the state"
What the Governor says about tax on
incomes will be read with particular inter
est now. when II seems quite likely that
the Federal Government will impose such
tax for its purposes. The Governor
says that there should be fair tax
placed on incomes" but a State tax and
a Federal tax would be too much Of a
good thing" IL Congress taxes incomes
we should not II Congress imposes no
such tax we shall go with Governor Nc
Kinney In his effort TO amend our laws on
this subject; that is to say, TO use the
incOme-tax as a means Of supplying what
ever deficiency there may be in our reve-
nues from other available sources His
view is that 'all incomes should be taxed,
TO preserve the principle but 1t should
be merely nominal until you reach 5000
per annum. After that the rate of tax.
alton should increase as the income in
creases."
The Governor recommends change In
the mode of assessing railroad property.
He has grave doubts about the justice of
the present system at so much per mile;
and on this point he says:
Every reasonable indulgence should be
extended to railroads until their business
connections have been we'll established
Then they should be compelled to bear their
full proportion Of the public burden. Like
assessments on other property, their
values will be changing, according TO tho
amount of business they are doing and
what is a fair assessment to-day may after
a few years Of business success prove in
sufficient for their just proportionment
Various methods hayn-~eeen tried, and
each OF them should be carefully examined
with the results they have given. and the
method which experience shows to be the
hest ekA k. Na1 IT,
perience alone can determine this.
The collateral inheritance tax the Gov
ernor would have restored TO our statute
books. and he cannot imagine why II
was ever repealed. Other States derive
largo revenue from this tax.
There is no purpose TO lay burden
upon the common and natural succession.
such as descent OF property from parent
TO child. or from child TO parent. but only
on such property as through the permits
sion and protection Of the statute comes
into possession OF persons and corpora
lions who have had no hand in making
IL. and no natural claims upon those from
whom II Is derived
Special private) acts of Assembly the
1ONtlhbA WOuiN hioO hANS
In conclusion the Governor advises
the selection OF committee COM
posed OF five, taken from the
different parts of the State, TO
be called a Special Tax Commission" TO
consider this whole subject. He thinks
they should be instructed specially to in
ouire into the systems adopted by the
other States, to raise revenue for State.
county. and municipal expenses. and ito
provide for more just. equal. and eQuita-
bic system OF taxation OF all kinds of
property, and which viii be better adapted
TO the wants Of the State and reduce the
rate OF taxation. and TO provide for moro
effectual system OF assessments and col
lection OF taxes"