Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-27
|TO FIX THE TAXES.
COMMISSION APPOINTED TO DEAL
WITH THIS QUESTION MEETS.
SUGGESTION FROM A LAWYER.
of Views by Representa-
tives of Professions and Tr"des-
No Conclusions Reached, hut Ma
terInI Progress Made.

The commission appointed TO deal with
the problem of assessing licenses OF law
yers. doctors, dentists, and liquor deal
ers met for the first time last night.
The meeting was held in the City Hall,
and while no conclusions were reached,
very decided progress was made in that
a plan OF procedure was mapped out,
and expression was given 10 views that
will materially assist the body in its de-
alterations.
THE SESSION IN DETAIL.
The committee was called 10 order with
the following members present: Messrs.
Wallerstein HARRISON. Gordon. Taylor
Whittet. Preston, Wilson, Garcin, sun,
Rosene. and Zimmerman.
MIR Wallerstein was elected chairman,
and In his opening statement ne told OF
the experiences OF the Finance Commit
tee I'm attempting TO deal with this ques-
ton. II was the duty of the committee,
he thought, to recommend some plan Tor
taxing the professions requiring SPECIFIC
licenses. and II this was not feasible, TO
recommend some plan TO take the place
Of the one now in force.
DIR. Garcin said he had a plan when
he would like 10 submit to the Academy
of Medicine. and he would then present
their conclusions to the committee.
the matter before the Richmond Bar AS
ISOLATION. AT present he had no sugges-
tiOns 10 make.
THE TAXING OF LAWYERS.
Mr. w. c. Preston said he had given
the matter good deal OF thought. he
would like to find out from the city
Auditor the total tax paid by the legal
profession. and what it would be per
capita. The present system, he said, was
simply ludicrous. Some lawyers, making
large incomes, were paying smaller taxes
than others who are making a pare
living Ii was impossible, he said, TO
guess at the incomes of lawyers. lie sug-
gested four ways in which lawyers might
be taxed
First, each lawyer might be required
TO return under oath the amount OF his
net income, as he is required TO return
the value Of his personal property. Ihat
was the fairest way but 1t was the most
distasteful, and likely to work hard
ships.
A second way would be to divide in
comes into classes and tax accordingly
SO much for incomes under $2,oOO a year,
and so on.
tax according to the time the lawyer mas
been at the bar. dividing the time INTO
periods of five years.
The fourth and last way would be 10
The chairman suggested that at the
next meeting the books of other munich
palities should be laid before the COM
mttee showing how the question was
dealt with IN other cities.
Mr. HARRISON said the committee would
have TO proceed with due regard 10 the
law which provided that the tax upon
lawyers should be classified. The liking
OF specihc tax was, therefore, out OF
the question.
THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.
Mr.. Harvey Wilson elected from Chair
man Wallerstein that TO change the mode
of assessing the specific taxes II would be
necessary TO change the ordinance gov
erning the levying of taxes, either by re-
peal or amendment.
DR. Stiff, representing the dentists, de-
sired a postpOnement of the consldera-
ton of the question until he should nave
consulted the members Of the Dental As
ISOLATION and gotten their opinions. lie
thought the division into classes was the
most satisfactory method. but gave TINS
only as his individual opinion.
Dr. Hugh NJ. Taylor desired that ne De
given time in which to formulate an oplh-
ion. and was pleased when informed that
Il further meeting of the committee would
he held. DR. Taylor came into the meet
ing after 1t had been in session for some
time.
Retail Liquor Dealers Assoclatloh, sdlu
the body he represented would submit
some recommendations at the next meet
ing. .
Mr. w. II. Zimmerman, also repre-
senting the liquor dealers referred TO
his experience on the Council finance
Committee i'm the past and SAID lnaJ
great trouble had been experienced in
classification of the dealers. He appre-
hended that the committee would meet
with the same difficulty. His indlvlduai
opinion was that a uniform tax, ike that
of the state and Federal governments
would be best, under all the circum-
stances. -,
The chairman stated, for the informa-
ton of the various professions ana lh'e-
,osts renresented. that he would have a
copy made Of the taxes assessed In the
various classihcations Of each interest
which he would have furnished to mem
bers of the committee.
n,ittee adjourn till the last Tuesday In
October, and the motion was adopted,
after the author of it had been elected
sub-chairman.