The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-18
Richmond Tax Dodgers.

KlCIlIIlOIlQ
If any citizen of Richmond will take
the trouble to go UP to the auditors
office and examine the book containing
the list of Taxpayers who are delinquent
on the personal property account. he VIII
find something like 1900 names. The
amounts due are small. in most instances
so small. 1t is claimed. that it does not
pay the deli. luent collector TO 50 aiter
them. The book is a sort of BLACKLIST
affair and is reflection upon the patriot
ism of the community. 1t is as much q
mans duty to pay his taxes as l. Is to
serve his country in time of war. Duty Is
duty. and no fine distinction can be drawn
between one duty and another duty OF
citizenship. No citizen who has a true
sense of the duty which he owes to his
government will be delinquent in this re-
spect. IL he can possibly raise the money
to meet the demand.
In the cases under review the amounts
are so trifinG that payment cannot be
a hardship on many. There are hundreds
of young men in the city of Richmond
drawing n good salary who spend In
single evening at the theatre. or at the
,lub. or at some social function as much
money as their taxes would amount to in
/. year: yet they never take the trouble
90 go to the collectors office and pay
their just dues TO the government.
We believe that in most cases this
neglect is due 10 thoughtlessness. but 1t
IS none the less inexcusable. Every citi-
zen of Richmond enjoys the privileges
ard protection of the city government.
and as n matter of common fairness. to
saw nothing more, he should be willing to
pay his fair proportion of the cost. He
should not be willing to enjoy such privi-
lelyes at the expense of others. He would
not think of taking the benefits of any
organization to which he belongs without
paying his dues; yet many such citizens
are willing to go on from year to year
enjoying the benefits OF the city In which
they live and earn their living. without
contributing n dollar to the support of
governments. lIlt Ilstlli IsIlEiiSli u A. 10
that all such delinquents are pensioners
on the public bounty, and they should
be ashamed of themselves. Whenever
they walk the streets: whenever they go
into the public parks; whenever they meet
n policeman who is put on his beat to
protect them from harm; whenever they
contemplate any advantage or privilege
of city life. they should be impressed
these at the expense of others; that they
are getting much and contributing moth
ing; that they are enjoying all the bless
ings of the city at the expense of those
of their fellow-citizens who pay their
assessments. !.
we do not understand how any manly,
self-respecting man can be willing to oc-
cupy such a humliatng position in the
community Proud of Richmond? Ger
tainly. Proud at home. proud when
abroad TO be citizen of this delightful
city. They even boast OF Richmond's
glory, and glory In being a "Richmond
boy" Yet they dodge the tax collector
and let Others pay the cost Of municipal
operation Some of them are loul IN
their complaints of muddy water poor
gas. dusty streets, or Whatever orrenls
their fine sensiblitles. But pay money
for Improvement? Not cent Tax
paying is none of their affair.
Eighteen thousand delnquents in Rl2h-
mnnd. Ii is. indeed, blacklist. Is
your name there? If so, he a man and
go voluntarily and pay the score which
stands against it.