The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-22
The General Assembly
and Tax Reform
Ill. Equalization Means De-
creased Taxation

The tax question will be square
mis- week With the BYRD bin SET
or Tharsday the l egIsia,orss of or? ihe
lower house will begin the discussion
On that day In the meantime they
are are carefully studying measure
Fapntatien for great complcxity.
The Byrd bill is not complex It
aims 10 do few Things and DO them
1t aims above all else to eoualize as
scsamcnts This is the fundamcntal
fact. Opponents Of the measure may
strive 10 becloud the issue. but the
ard In 10 contingency will the opera
a.or Of the BYRD Byrd lin mean a dollar
safe personal property OF the State
No Increase in Taxes.
II Is true that the bill as originally
drafted contemplated the assessment
o. personal s.,9l proP,er,y FOR single year
continuance of the same rate there
on. But this will not be done il tho
House adopts an amendment which Mr..
ment provides tina, the tax rate will
be automatically reduced for every
collar Of increase in the assessment.
and that ;ile aggregate taxes levied un-
der the new law shall not exceed those
levied under the old. In some locali-
ties the increased valuation will prob
ably be DrOpOrtionately greater than
tn. decrease In the tax rate; but il ts
considerable majority OF the people CT
virginia viii be notably reduced IL the
on becomes law. The friends Of
progress should remember this and
should remember that with the pro-
posed amendment, this hill seeks equal
iZAtion only, II {, is opposed II will be
opposed BY those who oppose equaliza-
railroad Taxes.
The LynchburE News and the Brook
neal Union In discussing the tax re-
great injustice is being done the
taxpayers Of the Commonwealth be-
cause no increase in railroad taxes S
cont;empiated At this time, 1t is per.
the News TO increase the valuation OF
personal property TO itg full market
Value. and % tax X accordingly: hut
" ls> thoroughly improper to do this
| withcu, increasing tho valuation OF
railroad properly
lie, tho cold facts be applied TO this
appsrent!y .easonab!e argument. In
| ed out there is 10 be no Increased tax.
alton OF personally The Byrd bill
merely pr"poses mat the personal
I, counties De ASSESSED a, the sarnc rate
VT wh!ch il is assesscd In Lyncnburg
| ~ the Admirable comnisEIoneT ot that
I trN!. But declares the new amend
I
| Justice, The aggregate shall not exceed
| tHe present aSgrczatt. The rate gill
! be reducs6r while tire valuation In in
creased Can ,ais, ny any process OF
| ar2um.a., be construed into an in
erase ri taxes on ptrsonalty? Can IL
% REGARDED honestly, ny any logic a e
z DISCRIMINATION against the people in
ifaEor .! the Ehtiro.dsg
/ Hp' there II aub,ncr answer TO the
same argument: Perbonal property
throughout ,he STATE ID asscsstd a,
| an6Et 80 Pc. cen. o. ia r4lpe -rhc
rersrna! properly y, tsll.1sds, arer
careful !nTcs;isat;on. appears 10 10
ashHrscd At a1oti; 80 per cent. o. its
market vaiue Eget. were ,ner. an in
sreas4 In me aggregate taxes on per
sohai pTopcrty--snd there liz none
Suen ,nGreate. within r.asonsnle lin.
its. would be iustifch ~ actual fartr
htn u csnht* 10 real rsta,e the rail
ROAD. ana private holders arc about on
paI'ty but There ara TO he no IN
GrsasHa IN the tag on real .sintt mil
.2ie--Nnu! there - a.nple time TO INV.
10 e1ncicae ti.s mri,sr believe, ina,
Toe railroads wil! nave bette, cor
plant againat the public than ,hs on
Inc VII have oga!n,t the railroads nn