The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-05

, ing a member OF the commission that
! finally settled and closed this perpleSins
/ question to the satisfaction OF the crcu-
! itors and on basis that imposed no az
! ditional hardship on our people, mas oeeii
! removed as 8. subject for legislative con-
! Sderation.
F.! From the Auditors report, 1t VIII NC
seen that the total receipts OF the state
| on the basis of the present assessments
! amount TO s3.445. 5oS.72. while in 1897 the
| total income was s2,99S. 939. 50, or an IN
! crease for the four years of si46,a6s.s5.
| During the eight years preceding. or from
! 1883 to 1897, the receipts had increased
| s4sS. 25l 81. only about s2o,0No more Tor the
| eight years than for the last four. Inc
/ revenue derived from real estate IN 1881
was S. 2O3. Sl7.16; in 1901 it was S1,274l43s 3d.
| or about per cent. increase. Inc rev.
! cnue derived from personality in 1897 was
| s3117 1873 -: In 1901 it was SiSS.2S564. OF an
| increase OF about 16 2-3 per cent one Oh
the best evidences of the improved conoi-
| ton of our people is shown py the idc'
that in 1897 $50. or53 was derived from the
ner cent. penalty on, taxes collected
after December list. while in 1900 the
amount is only s19.74s.o9.
The expenses for 1897 were S2,9SO 44l.'9,
which deducted from the income for that
year OF 81 9sS. 2239. SO. left a surplus OF only
sis. 49S 10 The expenses for 1901 were W.
c24, 597 81. which. deducted from the IN
come for that year Of sS445,50s. leaves
a surplus of s42o.sl5.oe.
Tho increa sed revenue was not derived
from an increase tax on land, ana the
increase in expenditures were not lot
the ordinary running expenses OF stare
government The expenses OF the State
in 1897, exclusive of appropriations TO the
eleemosvnary institutions, institutions OF
learning, public schools. interest on the
| nul,lic debt and pensions to the old SOL
| diers. amounted to s715,971.11, while IN
| 1901 the expenses for the same purposes
| were se.s.47S3s or decrease OF s67, 1872 1S
| Thus it will be seen that, While the rev
! enues Of the State have increased Siab.-
1 56S.S3 over 1897. the expenses other than
! charitable and special appropriations,
! have decreased s67. 1927. In 1897 the as
sessment on farm lands and buildings was
si60 $50 sos. The assessment on town ana
CITY lots and buildings was Sl4o,V95l9o. III
1909 the assessment on farm lanos anu
| buildings was s16SS24.SSS. and the assess
ment on town and city lots was slo4, So
POI. This shows the increase on farm
! nds and buildings TO be about eight mil
! lions of dollars, derived chiefly from the
| increase in the value of suburban prop
ertv not included in city limits. The nine
! millions on city lots and buildings is from
| the legitimate growth of our cities, III
! some of which it has been marvellous
| if is remarkab bic how nearly equal Is the
value of the farm lands and buildings
| with the town and city lots and buildings
only about 1900 coo difference-and
| when it is considered that lots ana
/ buildings in villages and unincorporateo
| towns are classed IS farm lands ana
| buildings the assessments are about
| equal.
| L am sure there is cause for rejoicing
| that we ere able to show such hatter-
| ing condition of our finances.
The State has met all current expenses
! Including the expenses of the extra SEES
| sion of the Legislature last winter; has
paid the expenses of the Constitutional
Convention. has given $4,000 to the ais
abled Confederate soldiers ian increase OF
s27 500 over the previous year,, gave an
| increase of 81 GOO to the public schools.
nut s435. 500 to the credit Of the SINKING
fund. SOS 600 to the credit Of the literary
! fund and has on hand at this time $icv,0oo
/ As to Taxation.
The proper exercise of the taxing power
of a government has always been the
from the many problems connected with
a proper adjustment of the laws OF
| State where the population is composed
| Of citizens who are engaged in variety
! Of trades and business, great dlfhculty
! has always been experienced in having
| the laws enforced so they will bear on
! all the citizens even in the manner con-
| templated by their trainers. No more
important question can be called to your
| consideration than the laying of the taxes
of the Comm This is the vital
! and sensitive question which puts to the
test Your sense of justice, and calls into
play wise and equitable provision LOT
| the support OF government. 1t Is the
question above all others that has caused
the dissensions and wars Of the world
and has been used as an engine of oppres
sion and favoritism wherever the races
of men have been least enlightened. Un-
lust taxation is the very embodiment OF
{! tyranny, while just and proportionate tax
alton is the product Of the highest Chris
tan civilization. I beg Of you to ap-
proach this subject not lightly nor indif-
ferently.
| one fruitful source of inequality is the
collection of taxes from what may be
called invisible property" From the
very nature of this class of property the
| collection of the just and proper tax Is
largely dependent on the honesty of the
citizen, and where this is not present car
only be effectively reached by the enact
ment Of such drastic laws that the hones
citizen rebels against their enforcement.
It is true that some men otherwise hon
est and correct seek to justify their eva.
sion of this duty to their State on the
ground of the low rate of interest de-
| rived from their securities and the high
rate of taxes imposed for State and mu.
/ nicipal purposes, and also In some in
stances because it represents some visible
property which has already been taxed
| There is no question but that those mer
| who belong 10 the second class men
toned have grounds for their complaint
and it is the duty OF the law-making
branch of the government to hear thei1
complaints and grant such relief as car
be given, and after this has been done tn
position that they then might take fol
evasion would be dishonest and untenable
This is especially just. because the hold
ers of lands and other visible property
have no redress even though their prop,
erty does not yield a sufficient income
/ To ha le,-ie5 and in COnSe-