Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-16
Our Tux Laws.

It is TO be hoped that the discussion now
being had on the delinquent tax law
(allas the land-grabbing bilD VIII result
In arousing attention 10 the iniQuities OF
our whole system of taxation. IL Is the
most antquated abortion to be found on
the statute books Of any civilized nation
in the world. Practically It is no more
than was initiated when the first settlers
were confronted with the problem Of
how TO raise money TO meet the expenses
incident 10 establishing and carrying on
some form of civil government. Pecu-
larry enough almost every one with
whom you discuss the question believes
that the system Of taxation in force here
is the same as that IN force in other
civilized countries, at least in principle.
This however, Is not so. The late Hon.
David A. Wells, one Of the ablest politi-
cal economists this country has pro-
duced, and. perhaps, the most competent
authority on the question of taxation
from his great practical experience In
remodeling the revenue laws OF the
country after the close of the war, said
i'm one Of his latest works Il quote from
memory, but give substantially his Words,
that xthe system Of taxation In force in
this country was to be found in no other
civilized country in the world. and that
so little had It in its favor, that it was
strictly non-exportable article" No
more forcible' illustration Of it's In
justice can be required than the fact that
in the face of a constitutional require
ment that all property shall be assessed
equally, yet a reference TO the assess
ments of every State and city will show
a constant increase in the assessed value
of real estate with, If not an actual de-
crease In the assessed value of personal
~. l
Of increase on this class of property year
by year. 1t is manifestly impossible for
this TO be a true statement of values,
for real estate cannot increase In value
without a corresponding and still greater
increase in the value Of the personal
estate. There can be no demand to in
crease the value Of real estate until the
accumulation OF personal wealth has rem
dered possible investment I'm real pro-
perty. Did space permit / could give you
Illustrations sustaining this position from
every State in the Union. The result Of
the application Of this system Of assess
ment is, that year by year an increasing
percentage of the burdens of government
are thrown upon real estate, whilst per.
sOnal estate escapes taxation. system
Of taxation which assesses the capitai
value OF all investments is one offending
against one OF the first canons of a
sound system Of taxation, and goes di-
rectly TO repress advancement and in
crease Of national wealth. Every great
authority on taxation has laid il down
as an axiom that taxation should not
bear on capital. but on the investment
or interest arising from the investment
OF capital. Thus, only VIII capital be
induced 10 go into productive work.
When its investment produces no return
{ utaa 90 -. A.,
way Of taxation to the nation, the State,
or the city. In England, which has pro-
badly the most just system Of taxation
Of any civilized nation, largely the work
Of the late Mr.. Gladstone, who as a
financial expert and authority on poitico-
economic questions had few equals, the
whole system of taxation Is based on thu
annual value of the property assessed
This value Is determined easily by the
actual rent for which the property lets
or the interest which the investment
II in bonds or other personal property
produces. The result Of such a system is
that there are no delinquent tax lists
there. Every cear the occupier OF the
property, or the owner Of the Investment
pays the tax on the annual income value
Of the property, and If not paid. his per-
sonal property is levied upon to recover
the amount. Every tax assessed is closed
up and balanced before a new one Is
levied. NJ arrears are carried forward
to anothet.year's account. II not collec-
table by distress on the goods or property.
they are declared irrecoverable and
written off as a bad debt. No unoccupicd
property pays any tax. The English
people have not arrived at that refine
ment of cruelty which Furnishes a man
by the contscatton OF his property be-
cause he is unfortunate enough not to be
able TO rent It. The fact that he cannot
secure from his investment any income
is deemed to be punishment enough. with |
out calling upon him TO give up his pro-
perty to the State, county, or city in |
which he was unfortunate enough 10
make his investment.
Space forbds further discussion here |
Of this subject. T2xatlon, though a ne
cessary evil, need not necessarily be I'M |
Just. As assessed here, 1t is both un- |
just and unscienthc.
J. +. JACKSON.