The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-20
TnEoEY US. CONDITION.

Our friend, Mr.. A. F. Thomas, of Lynch
burg, seems bent on picking a quarrel
with The Times on the subject of taxa
ton, but it takes two to make a quarrel.
and The Times is not looking for trou-
BILE.
Mr. Thomas discusses a theory and The
Times has been calling attention to
condition. That is the difference, and alb
solutely the only, between US. All that
he says about equality Of taxation has
been said time and again in our columns
We believe in equal and uniform taxation
and we have from time to time beer
pointing out to the authorities and tax
payers Of Virginia that there is a wofu.
lack of uniformity and equality in the
operation of the tax laws in this State.
There is no uniformity of assessment.
either of real or personal property, and
it is a well known fact that much per-
sonal property escapes the tax gatherer
altogether.
Again, on the subject of tax lodging
this paper has preached many and many
a. time. We believe that every man
should be made to bear his just part OF
the public burden, no more and no less.
We believe that it is the duty, the moral
and legal duty, of every citizen to make
an honest return of his taxable posses
sions, and the idea that we have been
arguing In favor Of the exemption of one
class of taxpayers, or in any way en-
courage tax lodging, is simply absurd.
70
that the Government takes in taxes one
half, or more than one-half, of the in
come of a property-holder there must be
some sort of readjustment. The who'll,
case is admirably stated by the Savannah
Morning News in the following article:
The question of taxation in cities is be
coming a very serious one. Particular at
tention is being given to it in New York
The newspapers of that city are devotins
columns to it. The immediate occasion.
there is the high tax rate-$2.65 on ths
Sl00-and the effort that is being mad
to reach personal property that has here
toforC escaped taxation.
1t is pointed out that mortgages pay
only per cent. and that first-class bond
thai can be obtained at par pay only l.
per cent. There are bonds, of course
which pay 4 per cent. and even PEI
cent, but If they are flrSt-claSS they
command a large premium.
1t is evident that in case of either mort
cages or bonds taxation in New York
city amounts almost to confiscation. A
fortune of 100000 yields, after taxes are
paid, less than $1,000, If in first-class
bonds and only a little more than S1,0O
if in mortgages. It is easy to see from
this that it requires a very large fortune
to maintain even a small family in COM
fort. Even a Sl,O00000 fortune would not
permit of living in a fine house and en-
PERTAINING on a moderate scale.
And the owners of real estate also COM
plain that their. houses are often without
tenants, and that it is not always that
when their property is rented they can
collect the rents. They also point
out that repairs and insurance cost a
great deal and that when taxes and all
expenses are paid there is very little left
for them.
What is true in respect to New York
is also true in respect to many other
cities of the country. Municipal expenses
are increasing. Those who have charge
of municipal affairs seldom or never re-
duce expenses. Their aim is to get all
they can to spend. No matter how much
they have, there is never enough to salts
fly them. The number of offices is in
creased from year to year and the in
crease in salaries is pretty steady. There
is only one way to settle this question OF
taxation, and that is to institute rigid
system of economy. Unless expenses are
reduced it is only a matter of a compare
lively few years when it will be impos-
sible for the great majority of tax
payers to pay the taxes for which they
are assessed.