The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-11
ON PERSONAL PROPERTY
THE TAX FOR THE CITY OF RICH
MOSD NEGLECTED..
Revelations Made by tho Examiner of
Records-Only Fifty Persons Handed In
IA List Of Their Property.

There IS no cause for wonder that the
finances Of the city OF Richmond and the
State OF Virginia are not In 4 ilourishns
condition. when reports just completed
by Mr.. William If. Sands. examiner Of
records fer the Seventh judicial circuit.
are considered
For long time past Mr.. Sands has
besn laborioUsly engaged IA tbs work OF
apIralslug tho personal property Nnlch
l. subject 10 taxation OIL tne residents
OF Richmond city anu heurlcO county,
Wlich comprise the seventh judicial cir
CUT. ana tne result or his LABOR reFeais
a. most astounding condition OF Things.
He has completed his report as Iar as
the city Is concerned, anu within a few
DAYS Will nave bis state report ready TO
hand IN. The latter report included all
property ia Richmond ana HenricO county
liable for state taxes.
ONLY FIFTY.
As strange as 1t may appear, II is an
actual fact that for last year only ntty
persons IN Richmond handed IN list
or their personal property ana paid taxes
thereon.
Ihe total value Of this property
amounted TO about $4,000. His report
for this year VIII show hat the correct
amount would have been just about SIX
times as much. or about S5,uvu,OvO. From
this ono can clearly see how the city
has suffered from the remlssness OF clu-
ems, whether such derelictiOn was caused
by ignorance, carelessness, or worse mo-
tiyes.
This is not all, however. In many cases
which have come under Mr.. Sands OBJ
seryation these taxes have not been pald
for years back. IL Is clearly IN the liehN
Of the city and State 10 coiiec1 Dac n
taxes. and II this were done, according
70 the opinion OF officials, there would
be- no fear or a deficiency In the munich
pal or State treasures FOR some time TO
~ STATE TAXEs.
So much for the city. In his report
for the state. Mr.. Sands shows taxable
personal property 10 the amount OF about
5000. 900. which is an Increase over the
returns made last year Of about >vOVV'
90. This would mean a revenue Of $50, %
OOO TO the State where she has been re-
celying about $1,000 per annun.
Prom the above figures Mr. SANDS estl-
mates that should the collection OF these
taxes be enforced all over the state, the
Old Dominion would receive a revenue
from this source alone Of, IN round num-
bers. 500 90 q year.
enforced. however, the State. 70 use ME-
Sands expression, would nave money
ACCURATE WORK.
Mr.. Sands has been most accurate and
paIustaklng IN his work, aud SO wen mas
ne done Il that there has so far been
only one complaint OF inaccuracy. and
this complainant afterwards acknowledged
that no himself was Ia error.
Tho work haS been unpleasant. put not
so much so as one would naturally SUP
pose Mr. Sands states that, as a RUE,
nropertv-owners have shown disposition
to afford him every assistance In one
case a gentleman refused 10 give him
any information. and he was forced 20
obtain IL by the examination or records.
I'm the course OF which ne discovered not
only the value Of the property In quess-
ton but the fact that his last year 8
taxes had not been paid. He Will. there ,,
fork. have TO pay for two years instead
me result OF Mr. Sands work is sure
10 de of great benefit TO the stare a.
though but little to the liking OF lhdl-
vidCals