The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-22
lNSTRUCIlOU0
POINTED NATURE
CIRCULAR TO TREAsUncRs AND
coMMIssloxEHs
MUST. PAY MONTHLY
rREAsl RERS Required TO nEMIT
ON srH OF EACH NONTH--DArA
FURNISHED COMMISSIONERS
ron ASSESSMENTS.
MUST PAY MONTHLY

Auditor c. Lee Moore on yesterday
Issued two circulars. one addressed
10 city and county treasurers and the
other to commissioners Of the rev.
enue.
The circulars are replete with just
that sort Of information that the Of
ficials addressed. especially those just
entering ONCE. need most TO know.
/ On January 1 thirty-threc new
treasurs went into office In rs many
counties. In addressing them Mr..
Moore urges upon these collecting
officials Of the State the necessity for
special effort to Increase collections
and thus reduce to the minimum the
delinquent taxes. During 1910 only
4 per cent Of the real estate and b
per cent. Of the personal property was
returned delinquent. and Mr.. Moore
urges that II 10 not beyond the bounds
Of possibility for the treasurerS to
make a perfect score.
Special stress Is laid upon the col
lection of the capitation taxes. 1t Is
not generally understood that the
county treasurers are making better
records in collecting than the city
officials. Mr.. Moore says In this re-
g. I'd:
II wish to urge the city treasnrers
to comply with this requirement Of
the law tor the reason that In 1910
the county treasurers collected &c per
cent. Of the capitation taxes assessed
against white people. and ~ per cent.
OF those taxes assessed against coll
ored persons, whereas city treasurers
collected only So per cent. Of those
taxes assessed against white persons
and II per cent. Of the amount as
sessed against colored persons. In
the counties the taxpayers are scat
tered: whereas, in cities they reside
in easy access to the treasurer"
Must Pay Tn Monthly.
Mr.. Moore cites section 654 OF the
Code as his authority for calling upon
all tveasurers to remit the sums that
they have collected monthly on the
9Th day OF each month. and he ad-
yises them that the first response un-
der his call will be expected on April
s. The Auditor suggests that the best
bank for taxes collected IL the State
treasury. as when the States money
IL in the treasury the liability and
responsibility of the treasurer ceases.
The Auditor gives u resume of the
laws and then insists that they be alb
soluteiy lived up to. closing ms CIR
cular to the treasurers with the fol-
lowing words:
I'VE have accepted public Office
| charged with these duties and the ef-
ficicncy with which we perform them
Will commend us, as public servants.
and give us the satisfaction Of know
| ing we have been faithful to the best
| OF our capabilities" 4
n
EQUALLY as pointed is the auditors
circular to the commissioners of rev.
enue. many of whom assume the
dnties OF Office for the first time this
/! year.
| He points out that the law gives
| these officers ample power to procure
| all the information necessary for the
| prompt and just assessment of prop
! erty for taxes. pointing out that 1t Is
! tho duty of the commissioners TO as
/ sess a fair market value upon all
property. He directs attention. to the
! provision OF the law directing pro-
| ceedings to be instituted in cases
| where the officer believes false or
/ incorrect list has been furnished.
| While the amendment to the in.
! come tax law. passed as an energies.
| cy act, did not become effective until
/ March IA, 1912, 1t was so clearly the
intent Of the General Assembly that
| the measure should take effect with
| the assessment of 1912 taxes that
! Mr.. Moore has issued such instruc-
! tions. The change Is simply the In
| crease from $1,000 to $4,000 Of the
| income limit before such income ID
subject to taxation.
Aid to Correct Assessments.
| Mr.. Moore furnishes the average
! assessments In all the counties OF the
! State on a large variety OF subjects
In order that the commissioners may
have definite Information before them
loking to q careful and correct a.
sessment Of such property.
The strculars are sure to be of
| great value to the officials while the
firm. withal courteuous, manner in
| which the officials are advised that
they will be held to strict account
ability for failure to comply with the
+ feutfirsfttents az the law ara reat1y
! splendid examples Of just the right
! sort or literature at the right time.
| Mr.. Moore has been very much COM
piimented upon his literature.