The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-06
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1900.
TIE NEW COMMISSIONERS OF as
SESSMIINT,

SIGSSMENT.
In spite of the Sact that twenty-five
out OF a total of forty members OF the
Senate petitioned Governor Tyler to
Withhold his signature from the Oil
creating commissioners to assess personal
property, the Governor yesterday signed
the bill. and it has become a law. Inc
only hope now is that the Court OF APP
meals VIII declare the law to be unccn-
stitutional. for the reason that 1t did
not receive a constitutional majority OF
the Senate There is little doubt that
the court will so declare as soon as a
test case which will be made up shall
have been brought to its attention.
we cannot but believe that this bill
was introduced primarily for the sake
of creating new offices in every county
and city in the State. Under it more
than q hundred new positions will be at
the disposal of those who control the
dominant party. The latest sort of pick
ings will belong to those who are fortu-
nate enough to get any of these appoint
ments, while an interruptions commits
siouer can make himself at once as
wealthy and as odious as a Turkish tax
Eatherer. The Armenians will now sym
pathize with the Nirsinians should these
men, who are paid q percentage upon
what they can extort, get fairly to work.
Never since the days of the Roman en-
pire, when the publicans piled their bale
- colo, n i
opportunity for the iaX-gatherer to en-
rich himself at the expense of the. tax
payer. 1t is certainly the latest collect
ing job ever put into the hands OF poll
ticians by any party in Virginia. 1t is a
surprising fact that under this new law
lel-2 per cent. OF the total State tax on
personal property and incomes viii be
paid to these new officials who make the
assessments. The law for years has al
lowed 8 per cent. to treasurers for col
sumably hard to collect, but this law pays
at once Il 1-2 per cent. to the assessor
upon the amount he assesses, whether ii
is collected or not, and a further 5 per
cent. must be paid upon the taxes not
paid voluntarily.
If the passage of this law IS not a fair
example of 1.-The cohesive power of public
plumber what is?
Besides ell this, under this infamous
law the private business of every citizen
will be unnecessarily and ruthlessly dis
closed. These commissioners are not only
empowered TO summon this man or that
who may know something about his
neighbor's affairs and compel him to
testify under OATH but are required 10
keep their returns open for public in
spection for thirty days. The United
States income-taX law, which created
such commotion In the country, did not
have this detestable feature, but made
Il unlawful for any officer or agent of
the United States 10 divulge OF make
known In any manner whatever the busi-
ness of those whose income he assessed
and a violation OF this law was punished
by a fine not exceeding sl.0a0 or by i'm.
prisonment not exceeding one year, O.
both. at the discretion of the court. ;su,
y
results Of the investigation of the com.
missioner stall be entered into books
which shall be kept open TO public in.
speclion. The object OF this is to invite
: the criticism Of any one who may BIT
pleased to pry into his neishoor's affairs
II is inconceivable that an honorabl,
government, seeking the welfare, of it.
citizens, can tolerate much less desire
TO offend its citizens unnecessarily ant
TO encourage espionage and estortlon.
I'VE say this adyised.y. because VIC hav'
always believed that an income tax. pro
perry administered. was in principle
i Just ana fair LAW. but law which Ia
no provisions FOR the protection of citi
rem. but does provide distinctly for hi
oppression, win not emily warn capita