Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-10-23
Now Subjects OF Taxn,,on.

rinia, III reference TO the llnances Vi
the State in the next few Years. The
income of the State as derived from
the taxation of all property, real and
personal, will now barely meet her
expenses and in Il few years the in
terest on the State debt will be high
err The question with which she is
confronted is how can this Increased
interest be met at the proper time
All are agreed that the appropriation
to her schools, hospitals, &C., are none
too large and must not be reduced.
1t seems to be conceded that the
criminal expenses are too large, and
the last Legislature by an act, giving
justices of the peace exclusive jnris-
diction in all misdemeanor cases, has
saved to the State, we are informed
by the highest authority, III round
numbers $4,000 co. But this act while
it largely decreases the criminal ex-
peDses still does not seem to have
given general satisfaction. A speak
err before the Virginia Par Associa-
ton at its recent session says "the
policy of this innovation has been
well nigh universally condemned.
1t has been publicly stated by n
prominent member of the Legislature
that the act. in its present form, was
adopted under misrepresentation of
it's provisions, and that the intent Of
the Legislature was to pass an act
much less sweeping" The speaker,
it seems to us, very properly remark
ed that this is rather an explana-
ton than an apology" Quite a num-
Der of writers upon this important
subject insist that the State has too
many officers and the number must
be decreased. No two, however,
seem to be agreed on what officers
can best be spared and the practical
saving to be made in this direction.
All say taxes must not be increased
Would it not be we'll then for mem
bers of the Legislature to look around
them for new subjects of taxation
Now is the time to discuss the matter
and the democrats should be willing,
it seems to the writer, to shoulder
the responsibility and discover the
new subjects of taxation, if any can
be found An article which appeared
in the Virginia Law Register for
October, considers this question at
some length. 1t seems to the writer
that the article contains some sug
gestions which it might be we'll for
our representatives to consider.
Other States have met the issue and
have found some new subjects at
least. Why not let Virginia follow?
The article above referred to suggests
that Virginia follow Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania and Kentucky. 1t says the
State of Ohio by what is known as
the Nichols Law, undertook to tax
the property of the express companies
doing business in that State, the prop
erty consisting chiefly of horses and
wagons-using as the basis of assess
ment, not the value which such prop
erty represented, when considered,
merely as so many personal chattels,
worth so much in open market, but
according to the proportion which
the value Of such property bore the
value of the entire capital stock of
the companies. In other words, the
tax was laid as well on the value of
goodwill, franchises. etc-its intangi-
BILE property-as on the tangible
property. In the learned opinion by
Mr.. Chief Justice Fuller, on the first
hearing, and, Mr.. Justice Brewer, on
the rehearipg, the Court held the
statute constitutional. Mr.. Justice
Brewer in we'll considered opinion
says Ito ignore this intangible prop
erty, or to hold that it is not subject
to taxation at its accepted value, is
to eliminate from the reach OF the
taxing power large portion of the
wealth of the country. Now, when
ever separate articles of personal
property are joined together, not
simply by a unity of ownership, but
in unity of use, there is not infre
quently developed a property, intan-
gible though it may be, which in value
exceeds the aggregate of the value OF
the separate pieces of tangible prop
erty. 1.-The practical result of the
adoption OF this system of taxa
tionu says the Register is shown
in the fact that for the year 1895 the
value of the tangible property ofthe
Adams Express Company in the State
of Ohio was, IN round numbers
$6S,OOOOO; it was actually assessed
under the act under consideration at
$3.50. 10000 and the assessment sus-
tained.n While the case cited above
happens to be an instance Of taxing
an Express Company the same statute
applies to telegraph companies. Pull
man palace car companies and other
great corporate franchises. A SINH
lar statute has been enacted in Ken
lucky and Pennsylvania and has been
held by the Supreme Court of the
United States to be constitutional.
Anyone desiring information con-
corning the practical features of these
statutes can find them in full in 1853,
1865 and 1855 United States reports.
Since these statutes have been de-
clared constitutional other States
have enacted similar ones. What
reason can be given for allowing our