The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-16
HENRYCo COUNTY TAX PROBERS
REPORT THAT ERRORS WE'RE
NO EMISSIONS.
INCREASE REVENUES
MORE THAN 100000 ADDED TO
TAXABLE VALUES. INCREAs-
ING ASSESSMENT ONE
EIGHTH.

turns OF Henrico county. completed
their work yesterday afternoon, and
submitted their final report to Judge
r. carter Scott. Declaring that they
believed that the failure of the tax
payers of the county to make the
proper returns was no criminal intent
on their part to defraud the county
OF its revenues, no indictments were
I returned by the investigators.
| The meeting yesterday is the sixth
/ one held by the special grand jury.
and during that time several resi-
dents of the county. some OF whom
are said to be prominent men, who
failed to make proper corrections in
their returns within the time allowed
! by them, were examined by the jury
Throughout the sessions the grand
| jury found willingness on the part
| of the. witnesses to cooperate. ana
| to pay their taxes fairly.
| Large Sum Added.
| More than $319,93T was added TO
! the returns since the investigation be-
gan, which Is i-2 per cent OF the
assessed valuation turned In by the
citizens of the county.
| While IL was the belief OF the grand
jury that there is laxity In the work
of the commissioners of revenue, they
| declared they believed that IL they
received an adequate salary, and were
allowed proper compensation for depu-
ties the State would receive better
| returns.
| Before dischargtng the special grand
| Jury Judge Scott congratulated them
| on their work, and said that he be-
! lieved the report was thorough. and
i fair and would prove satisfactory to
| all of the residents Of the country.
! Report Of jury.
The complete report follows:
Richmond, Va. Nov. Is, 1912.
TO the Hon. II. Carter Scott. Judge
! of the Circuit Court OF Henrico
! County:
/ We, the special grand jury. inn
paneied to Investigate the tax returns
/ made by the citizens of Henrico coun-
,y. respectfully report to the Honor
I able Court as follows:
| In the discharge of the work given
It. the grand Jury held six meetings.
and carefully examined in detail every
.ax return made in Henrfco county.
sIt called as witnesses the two COM
missioners of revenue OF Henrfco
county, and also a number OF citizens
OF Henrico county.
, Upon hearing the witnesses and
setting upon it's own knowledge and
! information, the grand jury came to
the conclusion that there was no evil
dence of criminal intent on the part
of the citizens OF Henrico county. 1t
! Is n fact that the citizens of Henrico
county voluntarily came forward and
( Increased their assessments and cor
rected their errors. as shown on the
I accompanying report drawn UP by the
commissioners of revenue under the
| instructions OF the grand jury. to the
aggregate amount of $3la.s3T.
/ This sum. large as 1t seems. Is only
about I-3 per cent of the assessed
| valuation already turned in by the
citizens of Henrico county. and the
grand jury feels that 1t owes 1t to the
citizens Of Henrico county to spe-
cifically state that the conditions
/ which made such an error possible
are to be found in two Fundamental
causes:
| First. The lax enforcement of the
tax laws by the commissioners OF rev.
| enue. who, the grand jury regrets to
say. have followed the long establish
ed practice of allowing everybody to
assess themselves; and.
Second. To the general failure OF
the people either to understand the
provisions or cordially approve the
| principles of the tax laws as they are
now written
No citizens complain OF the prirl-
ciple Or practice Of assessments on
real estate. But none that We have
met believe in or support in their en-
| tirety the present laws OF Virginia
+! covering the taxation for themselves
or others OF that class of property
known as chooses in action. or intan-
gible personal property. This open or
silent opposition of the citizens, com
I binee with the lax practices above re-
ferred TO. have made the taxation OF
I intangible personal property in this
State unjust and unequal
| The grand jury throughout Its ses-
sions found willingness on the part
OF the citizens TO cooperate, and
widespread and proper belief that the
duty of the citizens was to pay their
| taxes fairly.
In order to better these conditions,
the grand jury strongly recommends
that the commissioners of revenue be
required to personally receive the in
| terrogatories, and refuse to accept any
/ which have not been properly sworn
to. and OF which they do not them
selves approve.
| In this connection the grand Jury
recognizes the hardship such extra
| labor would entail upon the commits
SiQnGIB UhuoI tuCiI pICSShA ASih "a
| mpensation: and, though 1t Is not
within the province OF this grand jury.
we trust We may be permitted to ex-
| press the belief that II the commits
sioners of revenue received An ade-
| quate salary and were allowed a
proper compensation for deputies. the
State would receive manifold returns
| for the outlay involved. and the citi-
Gems OF the State would have the as
surance that all tangible personal
property would be more generally re-
| turned and more equally assessed
The grand jury also notes that tn
| too many cases, eves when returns
+, have been made. they are returned SO
late they do not get on the books of
the county or State.
While the grand jury Is glad to have
performed this disagreeable and ardu-
Gus service involved In making this in
vestigation, yet we feel 1t liz our duty
as citizens 10 point out to the honor
able court that It will,. in our opinion.
be difficult in the future to get men
to do this work or to get the people
to pay taxes when they are levied
under laws that revolt all public sense
Of fairness and equity. No law can
be enforced that does not rest upon
sound morals and equal justice. and
the tax laws of Virginia today. espe-
cially with regard to the taxes on in
tangible personal property. as on cap
ftal invested in business, stocks Of for