Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-28
LAX OFFICIALS.
These Largely The Cause of Our
States Large Expenses.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
A great deal is now being said and
published about our State expenses, and
! many suggestions made as regards re-
trenchment, reform, etc. If the present
laws of the Commonwealth were properly
and faithfully executed, 1t is very propa-
BILE that we would need no new subjects
of taxation nor any increase in taxation
to meet the current expenses of the State,
and the increased interest on the public
debt. Let the property books OF the couI-
ties of the State be carefully examined,
and see how many people DO not
make a fair and proper return OF their
property. The writer believes that in
many instances those VINO are pest apoe
to pay their taxes conceal the most pro-
perty. Let the commissioners or the
revenue be required by law, strict ana
imperative and under heavy penalties, 10
visit every taxpayers resiuence' take an
inventory of his property, and place
fair value upon IT, and you Will nnd mat
the States revenue will be amazingly In
creased. The present plan Of commits
sioners of the revenue receiving from
taxpayers their lists of property under
oath Is ineffective, because any person
who will give to that officer false
return of his property will swear
to It. These taxpayers are met
upon the court greens and public
highways by the commissioners or the
revenue and their lists of property taken,
but the commissioner never sees the pro-
perry; hence, the door of fraud is opened.
false values placed on property, and false
lists given In. The law provides redress
against these false returns, but Is IL exc
cuted? How many grand turies OF the
State examine the property-bOokS or the
counties in order TO detect these frauds?
And. if they do. how can they detect
them. as they know not even what pro-
perty their nearest neighbors own
Amend the law and require the commas
sioner of the Revenue TO visit every man
nd ms m
tain how much property he owns, ana
assess the same at fair value. Then the
burdens of taxation will be more equally
distributed, and the states revenues IN
creased.
How many Commonwealth's attorneys
IN the state, revenue officers, and other
persons respect or comply with section
500 of the Code of Virginia of 1887. entitled
proceedings against persons rendering
false lists" of their property? This law in
many counties in the State is dead let
ter The Judge Of the County Court OF
this county charges the grand Juries 10
examine the property-books as required by
law that any false returns Of property may
be detected. but it only amounts to
cloves labor lost" because grand juries
say they know of no violation of the law
in this respect, and have no means OF
ascertaining such violations. The poorer
classes as a rule, are more honest in
rendering lists OF their property for tax,
alton: II is the richer the avariciOus, ana
shrewder classes that avoid the law.
In regard 10 the criminal expenses OF
the State. let the county judges see That
the magistrates in misdemeanor cases
throw the costs upon the prosecutors or
accused, instead of upon the Common
wealth Very few violators of the law in
mIsdemeanor cases in the country or
rnral districts who will not pay fines and
costs imposed upon them by magistrates
rather than 20 TO jail Ii is different in
this respect In the cities in this-shat the
city authorities have. q more numerous,
worthless, and less thrifty class OF evil
doers TO contend with, and the criminal
exnenses will always be proportionateiy
larger in the cities than In the country.
IL the county courts Will see that Inc
do their duty, ana inform
them as to their duties fewer cOEstables'
and magistrates fees will have 10 DE al
lowed and paid out OF the PUBLIC trea-
sury, ana hence thousands OF yoiiars III
This way will be saved to the Common
Let commemorative attorneys be paid
salari Instead Of fees, and let them
be held strictly responsible TO the courts
money can be saved TO the Common
wealth in this way The present judi
ciarv system of the State is much better
than the North Carolina system ;,s II me
cnted The writer has been Informed by
sntellIgcnt citizens of North Carolina that
Justice il melted out slowly in Inc crimi-
nal courts there, ana many criminals.
nr.,pS 10 the system in that State, so I'M
..'h;n1ed of Justice. When many prison.
yrs ~s'y are confined in Jail under, the North
Carolina system awaiting trial the costs
OF their maintenance you'd De enormous
Speedy trials In criminal cases must DE
"S These are some general ideas on the
s,h4sct suggested. A more critical and
detailed argument could be MADE. Lei
ne "sndure the evils we have rather imam
a. a. a. shcse we know not Of"
ny 10 '"o'o OBSERVER.
buckingham County. Va.