The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-12

the creation of permanent tax com
MISSION. which shall have power 10
elualiHe assessments. This rccommcn-
uatioh the commission regards as fun
eathehtal. Heretofore, we have had nc
central administration i'm matters al
TAXA ton. and have left to local officers
responsible to the local electorate tho
eollection OF about 10 per cent. Of the
revenue Of the Commonwealth The
result mas been disregard for the in
tercstS of the State and an Ineoual'ty
III matters of taxation which ~ moi
crcditable 10 tho good name Of Vir.
gina. The commission made an OK
haustire examination OF the systems of
cqua iization in use in other States and
reached the conclusion that a system
VI hori|ontal cquali2ation," such as is
recommended In the report, was the
only system feasible at this time II
inc plan proposed BY the commission
De enacted into law the Common
wealth. nj small cost can secure IN.
equalization Of real and personal prop
cry assessments and cum give to every
cltizen the assurance that he Is paving
Ill the sumo manner, at the same raln
ana on the same basis as other citizens.
ociicFe no plan can Zoe found more
productive Of good and requiring so
Smaii an outlay of public funds as
that proposed by The commission.
Ihe restoration OF equality III taxa
ton will make possible Il speedy re.
aucuoh In the rate of the State tax.
ot this there can be no doubt That
SUCH reduction is highly desirable
ana Is due the Taxpayers of the state.
Hceu not point out TO the Assembly
Tax rate Of twenty cents Oh the
hundred dollars valuation is easily
possible and Will mean now imm.gra-
ton and additional capital TO the Com
'hoh"ealth and new prosperity for our
people.
should Act Promptly.
Wish 10 impress upon the Assembly
ahe Importance Of immediate favorable
ACTON upon this report Only by
prompt enactment can the AssembIy
nope 10 a=c the dement's OF The nov
P'ah OF assessment during the presen,
year. y few weeks delay will prc
vent the assessment of personal pror-
cry during the present year under
inc pan proposed and will thus de-
pfi'c the Commonwealth of revenue
properly due while it will postpone
the date at which d red,1,tion IN ,hc
tax rata Will be possible.
regard this subject as Of nara
mount Importance. Nothing more
NiihIly affecting the interests OF IN.
people or more intimately connected
with their daily life can DO made tho
, subject OF legal enactment. The
itcoiilmeidaiion OF the commission.
whicn regard as welI-dig ested and
most feasible. should receivc nromnt
approval. AMI trust Will be adontcd
"hole' leaving to experience the
discovery OF and the remedy for any
defects which may appear.
~ Is out just TO add th1t tho in
formation contained in the report ~
~ douglas ). Freeman. secretary OF
ne commission wll nc found of the
sIt"'eSt value. lie has carefully ex-
aihiheu ana diGcstcd the tax laws OF
MOST Oh the states of the Union. culIs,i
! rom them their most y:lunhIc
i1a'ures ana drawn his own concIu
stohs which are very clearly present.
~ Dr. Freeman has made hirnsnIf
l"'i'iiar with conditions in Wright,
una ms report and tables viii enable
'ne Nsheral Assembly to act uuicklv
s anu lnieiiisently on the bin to carry
c. .,iect me communications of the
special Tax Commission.
think 1t we'll in this conro.,,o J.,
can attention to certain congr,o,,s
~" tefs' which while not within tho
J"Iisu'ction of tha Special Tax con,
should a this session receive
'"e "'teh,ion of the Genera! .Assemblv
settlements by Trcnsurern.
| oN ''iat INC treasurers of the conn
| tna,,,G Pt' Hitted by law to succeed
themselves tho cause of tho adontion
OF the Constitution provision n u.,o,,
sun sun EXISTS should be removed by
lncro Is no way b. which settle
t nicns can be made with the county
| ie"buIer Tor county and school funds
! uuc thht a settlement can he
a"c ana The balance due by the
49, asecrtained. but as his is the
onis nand authorized 10 receive Tho
rnsnt sS .herc can be no actual pay.
'nenI OF settlement. I, therefore.
recommend that tho treasurer be re-.
d ds AT the July or August meeting
! wy "ohrd of supervisors of his
I .oun'y, as the case may BIO. or within
80, Guys hereafter, to settle his ac-
! counts with the stIncrvIsn,. ro,. .,,,, ,
GEAR as required BY section 500 OF tho
ma that he be required at
80 80 nuS hst meeting In each year to set :
! "ih inc county school board, which