The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-04
WHY VIRGINIA MUST REFORM THE
TAX LAWS

Reform for reforms sake is futile.
1t is protlcss 10 upset existing laws
ana overthrow present institutions
merely for the novelty OF change. The
existence of chronic evils or the as
surance of future benefit alone Justify
radical reforms
Tax reform in Virginia is Justified
by both OF these standards. There are
positive dement's to be gained by tan
reform there are maniics; evils TO
correct. AS for the former, a policy
OF constructive taxation Will mean
much to The future "f Virginia Here
tofore our laws have aimed to tax all
its situs its Gaming power az It's
character We have taxed the rca! es-
tate that could not bc moved and the
stocks ana bonds that inga; Jake
Wings at the same rate anu in the
same manner: We have stood at the
BOUNDARY line of the State ana have
met would-bc Investors with the as
suranco that VIC would tax them on
every dollar they brought into tile
Commonwealth We have taxed prog
icss and placed tariff on prosperity
And wc have paid the price Eich
iinia have fixed their abode where
taAeS were less onerous: even native
Nirginiaus with their wealth invest
cd in intangiblcs have been driven by
our tax laws to iiX their residence in
Washington, where such property is
exempt from taxation.
MI Of this can be corrected and must
be corrected. by reforming our un-
Just laws We can attract capital ,oI
the Commonwealth, increase the gen
eral wealth OF Virginia ana aid in the
future building OF the state. Prog
ressive States have tried the EXPERT
ment, have thrown away the old nat
classification of property and could
not by any possibility be persuaded to
return to the old days. Virginia can
do as well.
But there are even greater evils 10
correct than there arc benefits TO ac-
quirc by tax reform. The report oil
the tax commission carries its own
justification of every scientific reform
that might he agitHted. II discloses
financial conditions which. for injus-
tice. crudcness and absolute inequality,
have scarcely been equalled since the
days when bad tax laws drove the
Bourbons from France Indeed. /, NAV
truly be said that no form of tneoual-
ity in taxation can be imagined and
no injustice in matters of revenue can
be fancied that will not find parallel
In actual conditions in Virginia to-day
Paramount among the evils which
justify and demand tax reform are the
INEQUALITIES OF the present laws. the
injustice which results from these in
equaHttes, the violation of the Consti-
tuition In the characterization OF prom. !
erty and our unwIldy system Of ad |
mtnisiration.
The inequalities OF the present law
are manifold .dtd matrifcs,. There are
inequalities among counties and cities,
inequalities among the various classes
If taxable property, inequalities nmonyl
N!duals-inequalities Of all sorts |
tnd sizes The Constitution requires
mat All taxes shall he equal ana uni |
having sl.....neI class within The
ostpOned. Just then
tsrved a warrant on hfity lcvy.ns the
with cheating an Ean admirable. I'll
house proprietor out OF
taken before the magistrnmond mayl
congratulated yesterday atperty at n
ed this afternoon TO jail II
trIp TO Easton all