The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-10

which are the measure OF the local
contributions to the State treasury
for State purposes escape the jus
burden.
In many counties lands and per-
sonai property are underassessed to
such an extent that these counties. In
stead Of contributing to the common
purse. actually draw from the State
treasury annually large sums OF
money to maintain their purely local
government. Certain counties Of this
state have in effect imposed a tribute
upon this Commonwealth and an
nually exact from their sister coun-
ties thousands of dollars for their
own domestic purposes. To the ex-
tent that these counties escape their
just taxes, to the same extent do they
impose unjust burdens upon their
more honest sisters. Some eountses
OF this State have benefited by their
unworthy graft in the last twenty
years to the extent of hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars. l can make my
meaning clearer by giving q few con-
crete Illustrations. Scott county has
a white population of 13.S14. THIS
county in 1914 drew out Of the State
treasury for purely local purposes
over and above the amount paid in by
her the sum OF $l7.l0l.s5. In ad-
oitlon she drew in pensions the sum
Of $s,122.60. making In all $25.S23.45
paid to her or her citizens moro than
: the total amount contributed by her
Carroll county, with q white popula-
ton Of FL, Jig, draws for county ex-
penses and pension money SIS, 1884,
more tuau ner total State tax. Gray
son draws $40, 32I.42, more than sne
pays in. Many counties of this State
WITH large non-taApaying negro pop
ulations gallantly pay their own ex-
penses, and then contribute large
sums to the domestic government OF
big white counties like Scott. Car
roll and Grayson. Grayson county
taxes her hogs at $1.l6 each: Ker
cattle at $5.l4 each. Henrico taxes
her hogs AT St.7y each, and t1oudoun
taxes her cattle at 1921 each. The
result Is that counties like Loudoun,
Henrico, Frederick. Fauquier. Rock
ingham and Augusta first pay their
own expenses. then their proportion
Of general or State expenses, and then
contribute to the local governments
OF counties like Scott. Carroll. Gray
son. Franklin, Patrick and Floyd.
Owing to the large number OF coun-
ties who are cut worms of the treas
ury, instead of contributors. it Is an
astounding fact that the city OF Rich
mond pays more net revenue into
the State treasury by S1S9.l40.l1
than all the hundred counties put to-
gether.
Is there any wonder that with
many counties contributing nothing
10 the general government but &C.
tually sucking a large part OF their
local expenses out OF the public
treasury that the State has not the
funds to develop as she should her
own great and necessary activities.
After a painstaking Investigation l
am prepared to say that even an ap-
proximate equalization OF Assessments
would Justify tax reduction OF ten
cents on the hundred dollars and leave
a revenue sufficient for the legitimate
development Of every State function.
The State tax commission found
standing In the path Of every de-
sirable reform We obstructing figure
Of the inequality Of assessment
The Ideal tax system 10 segregation
Of subjects Of taxation. leaving car
tain subjects to the counties and CIV
ing other subjects to the State. So
far an the State 10 concerned this
would eliminate any. question Of In
EHRahty Rtie heEa. aS ArxaFyXheFas stha
commission found that no forward
step could be safely taken until some
uniformity Is brought aboEss Decausg.
segregation IL not practical unless
each county has enough real and per-
sonal property subjected to taxation
10 messurably support It's purely do
naeStic acticitIea 70 base seGre-
cation plan upon the present un-
equal assessment would be TO give 4
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