Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-07
Protest Entered Against the New
Tax Law.
AN UBIQUITOUS MEASURE
business aren Declare 1t Will Danish Capl-
tai and Industry Characterized by
Prominent Richmond Financicrs rs
vicious. odious and Inquisitionnl Leg
islaturo Provides for Commissioners
With No One to Judge Their Conduct.

Yesterdays Richmond Times says:
a storm of Indignation has been
aroused by the passage of the bin by
the Legislature to establish an office of
Commissioner of Valuation. While 1t is
claimed that the object of the bill Is to
get the tax dodgers, yet, on the other
hand, 1t is claimed that the real eff
fect of the bill be the driving out
OF capital and the sitting of Industry.
Ihose who figure in the Industrial and
financial world claim that the bill will
result in untold damage to the indus
trial and financial life of the Stote
They are bitter i'll their denunciations.
Major Charles S. Stringfellow said
Wheh asked about the bill: IT have
oeen practicing law in Virginia for for
~ years, but in all my experience |
nave never known legislation so vicious
or SO odious."
DEAD SURE THING.
a well known business man expressed
hiinSelt In the following manner:
The commissioner has n dead suro
thing of it, Just figure it out and see
say, Tor instance. that the assessed
value of property is $4,000. With the
present State tax of forty cents. this
VIII reach $40. Now, the commission
ers fees for assessing property Is one
twentieth of L per cent, which makes
!. 20 ior nlm, or one-eighth of $40, which
equals u IL per cent. of the total tax
collected. That is. the commissioner is
10 receive from the State one-eirhth.
or Il IL per cent. of the tax which
should be collected upon the amount of
assessment made by him, and this,
whether such tax is actually collected
or not
Then. in addition, he has the power
or liking values. SO you can readily
understand that he is not going to suf-
Ter py arbitrary undervaluation. as he
| IS 10 get l2R per cent upon the total
amount of taxes collected upon per-
sonal property and incomes for assess
| ing the same"
Another prominent business man
said; This is the most remarkable
piece OF legislation have ever heard
OF. l do not think that the increase i'm
! revenue on personal property will be
sutticient to pay the 1919 per cent.
commission to the commissioner. This
is more than double what the State
pays Tor delinquent taxes. and where
the assessment is not more than the
owner returns to the Commissioner of
Revenue 1t will prove n dend loss.
WHO SHALL BE HIS JUDGE?
Again, the commissioner is neither
SiSctcu ny nor Is ne amenable to the
people His appointment can be made
by the Governor only and the only
reasons for his dismissal are malfeas-
ance and neglect. yet the law does not
state who shall judge his conduct"
Mr.. John l.. Williams, of ]. l.. VIII.
iinms Sons. bankers, said: 81 con
slider 1t Populistic measure. 1t is vi
cious. odious and inquisitorial. IT Is
calculated to cultivate fraud and bribe.
rry. and the cost will be infinitely more
than the good that can result"
| Mr.. Fred w. Scott, of Scott & String
fellow, brokers. characterized the leg
fslation as vicious and odious." ~
know of no other State having such leg.
islation," said Mr.. Scott. 1T means
that mans private and personal af-
fairs arc to be opened for public in
spection. 1t is outrageous"
Air. Thompson Brown said: 1T IS
bad enough to have n land era bbers
law to rob Virginians, but it is still
worse to have spies appointed and spy.
Ing legalized. II is like the Spanish In.
| QUESTION"