The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-28
REDUCE TAX RATE
BY EQUALIZATION
NNon unneh Erom l,!.st Pngc.l

formulate general rules and reguia-
tons for the uniform assessment OF
property
hight of Appeal.
Land assessments. pursues the re-
port. should be based on actual sales
values. improvements should be as-
sessed in like manner throughout the
state, and personal property should be
taxed at its fair uniform value Ma
chinery Is provided to protect local.
TIES from unreasonable averages. Any
section would have the right to ap-
pear and submit evidence as to the
value of its lands and II IL he dis
satisfied with the average fixed, It
would have the right of appeal to the
courts. No commissioner of the rcvc-
nue., acting as land assessor. would
he permitted to return land book
showing an average valuation Of lands
lower than that fixed by tho State
such ~ commission, IL Is recommend
cd. should consist OF the Governor, the
president of the Senate, the Speaker
OF the House of Delegates. the chair
man OF the State Corporation Comm's-
sion the chairman Of the Finance Com
mfttces OF tho Senate and House, tho
Attorney Genral, Tn Auditor and the
Treasurer. All of these would serve
without pay, but there would be one
paid executive officer TO gather material
and supervise the work Of assessment.
Tax on Net Earnings.
inc existing system of taxing public
service corporations is held TO be unsat-
| 'sfactory In some respects. II is sug-
gcsted that just as soon as the decIs-
ions of Federal courts will permit, such
corporations be placed on a gross earn
inBs basis which is said 10 be the most
/ equitable plan that can be devised. THIS
! system would be adjusted as to rail
roads according to the ratio of opcrat :
, ing expenses to total gross earnings.
AS 10 other corporations, II is recon-
mcnded that the tax on exprcss com
panies be increased from So TO $3.50 a
mile: that the tax on passenger car SER
vice (Pullmans) be doubled, and that
freight car service corporations pay on
the property used in this State The
present Offset Of 10 per cent. allowed
banks on their taxes should be abol-
iShed. according TO the Tax Commit ssion
No changes in insurance taxes are
recommended, although there is consid.
erahlc discussion on this point DR..
Freeman in his report asked for the
ultimate removal of the municipal taxcs
OF insurance companies. their agents
ana policies. except the real and per-
sonal property owned by them.
The income tax comes in for great
deal of attention. 1t Is recommended
that all firms and corporations be re-
CURED to reports the amounts paid by
them TO any individual in excess or
$1,000 the year, such reports TO become
Prima facle evidence of assessment
Incrcnse In Licenses.
Nine changes are suggested in the
! specific licenses. One of these is to
double the pawnbroker's license and
! to reduce by 80 per cent. the amount of
, interest allowed: to put tho medicine
vendors license at 500 instead of s25;
! TO double the tax on menhadcn fishers
| to impose additional penalties for the
violation of the law licensing money
| lenders, and to increase the stock bro
! kcr's tax. No recommendation Is mad {
as to tho removal of the physician
license tax. The secretary felt that
| this came under the same rule with
vocational licenses. and If IL were abOi-
| ishcd all others of the class should be.
+; I'VE have found" said the report,
OF record is expensive, and since the
examination of delinquent accounts.
the work for which the examiners were
first appointed, has In large measure
| been completed, we have sought to dis
cover some method whereby this work
can be done with the same success and
| ut less expense to the people. We arc
| CONVINCED liIil lH' NOIh uunc ny Tue
| examiners of record can be done, and
| done as we'll, by tho commissioners OF
| the revenue. If the latter are undni
| the supervision of the proposed TaN
Commission Accordingly we recon-
mend the abolition of the Office OF
| examiner Of rerords and the amend
ment of the act creating them so as
! to provide that the work be done by
| commissioners of the revenue. The
l do
| Will be no loss of efficiency"
| Tax BnSebnii Games.
! Professional baseball games are to
| lie chargnn license tnNcs. Ii fhc MO-