The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-05

explanation however labOred, let me mere
institute COMPARISON between the
amount which a merchant In this city
is called upon to pay each year into the
city treasury and that which citizen
in town Of q similar population in En-
gland is required to pay in the same
time This comparison is not drawn
from Imagination but based upon actual
facts. The town I'm England with which
/ draw the comparison IL the one with
which IL Is my intention to compare the
cost of city government in this city be-
fore I conclude this series Of articles
A merchant here occupying store say
on Cary street Of which he - owner
is first Of all assessed on the capital value
of his store. say $4,000, which may be
taken as the capital value OF store
which would rent for s1O00 per year.
Upon this capital value he pays an an
nuaI city tax Of $40. III is then called
upon to pay an annual tax upon the
capital employed I'm his business This
capital Is | believe held to be not only
what money ne has actually put into
the business but what he has actually
expended in the purchase Of stock on
credit i'm excess Of what capital and re-
naming unpaid at the time Of assess
ment. To secure an income Of 5000 per
year he must at a 10 per cent net pf0ht
have $4,000 invested in his business.
Upon this capital of $4,000 the law re-
qures that he shall pay to the city
tax Of 500 per year. In addition TO TINS
he Is required by law TO pay tax upon
an his bonds. bills. credits Of all KINDS
and cash in bank or in hand at the time
Of assessment. This amount may safety
be taken 10 be never less than one hair
OF his capital OF 5000 or $4,000. Upon
this the tax amounts TO $50 per year.
lie is further required II a wholesale
merchant to pay q license for the priv
ilege OF being allowed to trade in tie
city, which license varies according 10
the elastic conscience OF the Finance
Committee Of the city Council from so
to $50 per year. We will take IL at the
rate Of $50 per year The total amount
Of city taxation therefore payable by this
merchant is $3.50. III he deals in liquors
he must pay a further tax, and II lie
keeps wagons and teams must pay a
license fee for each one. This sum OF
$3.50 Is equivalent to nearly q IL per
cent. on his assumed net profit OF So,19
per year. and in addition TO this he
must pay his State taxes which are
based on the total amount Of his pur-
chases and his net income in excess OF
500 per year. Is IL any wonder that
under such a system of taxation capital
is discouraged from being invested In
our city or that merchants are fleeing
from II and empty stores are 20 be seen
on every street, The gr0ssest evasion
Of payment of taxes on all kinds OF eX-
cuses and subterfuges is encouraged by
such a system Of taxation. and merchants
ard storekespers say that il Is impossi-
bic 10 carry on business prOhtabiy with
such burdensome charges. especially
hen II Is borne in mind that debts arc
practically here unCOliectablc by law and
therefore If not Voluntarily paid are lost
Compare now The position Ct the mer-
chant In the city | refer 10. England
There the tax rate this year n The centre
ward OF the city, comparable with Cary
street he-e. is six shlllings in the pound
on the assessed value OF the premises.
Take the rental value Of the store there
occupied by the merchant as the same
as the assume rental value here. $1,000
or 900 per year. From this sum the city
authorities there deduct for such prop
orty as this from Is to % per cent. rs
the assumed cost Oh the average Of re-
pairs. This would. at Is per sent. de-
ductiOn, leave the assessed valuo Tor
taxation at El70 per year. Upon this
the tax at six shillings in the pound
would amount 10 Sol or $50 per year.
This covers every demand by the city
upon the merchant and amounts 10 only
Il trifie over per cent on his assumed
net profit OF 5000 per year. For this
small annual contribution he has every
advantage OF city government possessed
by the citizens OF this city and more.
lie has gas. water and street railways
all charging less for their services than
Is charged. here. Police protection, parks,
schools and every other adjunct or "a
well governed. modern city. Surely there
is something wrong in our system or
city government when there Is such
disparity between the exactions levied
in two cities OF equal population. the
one in this country and the other IN
England-si,3i0 per year here. s155 per
year there. At six shlllngs in the pound
the tax rate Is considered very high IN
England and the citizens Of the town
l have compared with this city are now
protesting loudly against this rate and
insisting upon les reduction. have
known the rate there 10 be only two
shlllings I'm the pound. The Increase has
been caused BY very heavy outlay IN
water-works, gas-works. street railways
and sewage publication works. all OF
which are now about completed and Will
shortly. as TO the gas-works. water
works and street railways become large
income producing properties ana this
win at once bring down the tax rate.
II is not however. necessary even 10 20
to England 10 find condemnation OF our
system OF city ,taxation. have II on
the best authority that a gentleman who
formerly carried on business in this city
recently removed his business house to
Baltimore. Whilst here he was called
upon to pay into the city treasury FOR
certain items OF taxation S5s00o per yer.
In Baltimore for the same items OF tax
alton he pays only sNo per year. In truth,
sir our whole system of taxation In tins
city yea. and In the state also. Is bur
lesque on the provision of the conS'',u-
ton requiring equal taxation 10 he assess
ed against every citizen. II onends
AGAINST every canon of 4 sound pginclnIa