The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-16
GRAND JURY ENDS
C0UNTYTAxPR0
No Indictments Found Against
Henrico Citizens for I'm
proper Returns.
sa1e,sa7 ADDED TO VALUES
Severe Criticism of Existing
Laws Is Feature of Final
Report to Judge Scott


Report to Judge Scott
The special grand jury which has
been investigating the tax returns in
Henrico County closed its labors yes
terday afternoon at / o'clock by pre-
senting to Judge Scott a report which
pointed out the weaknesses Of the
present tax laws. and stated that the
inevitable result Of a stringent effort to
enforce them lin their literal en-
tirety will be to bring the tax laws
into discredit and to increase the ten
dency to evade the payment Of taxes
by subterfuge. conceaiment. or even
deliberate perjury"
The grand Jury placed the blame
for the condition which now obtains.
FIRST. on the lax manner in which the
commissioners OF revenue allow tax
pay ers to assess themselves, and. sec.
ond. to the general ignorance of the
laws on the part Of the people as 3
whole.
No indictments were returned a
result Of the investigation. In view
of the public ignorance OF the laws
and other conditions. the report states
that the grand jury found no evil
dence Of criminal intent on the port
of any citizen to defraud the Safe
Of it's just revenue.
Several additional witnesses were
examined at the session yesterday morn
ing. and as result. about $4,000
more was added to the already large
sum Of corrected returns. The total
Of the additions to the county's tax
able values made during the tnvesti
cation Us S3l9.937. This sum is s l-e
per cent of the entire amount Of pro-
perty listed in the original returns.
On the presentation of its report,
the grand jury was commended by
Judge Scott for the sincerity and
thoroughness of its Work. and WAS
discharged. 1t had held six sitttngs
IA.
The Report.
The entire report of the grand jury
follows:
Richmond, Va, November Is. 1912
To the Hon. K. Carter Scott. Judge Il
the Circuit Court Of HenricO Count:
We, the special grand jury i'm
paneled to investigate the tax re-
turns made by the citizens OF Henrico
County. respectfully report to the
Honorable Court as follows:
In the discharge Of the work given
1t. the grand jury held six meetings.
ana CdftIullS tAdNiNeu III uetdIi every
tax return made in Henrico County.
1t called as witnesses the two COM
missioners of revenue Of Henr!co
County and also a number OF citi-
Zens OF HenricO County.
Upon hearing the witnesses and
acting upon its own knowledge and in
formation, the grand jury came to the
conclusion that there was no evidence
of criminal intent on the part OF citl-
zens of HenricO County. 1t Is fact
that citizens Of Henrico County came
forward and increased their assess
ments and corrected their errors, as
shown on the accompanying report
drawn up by the commissioners of reve-
nue. under the instructions Of the
grand jury. to the aggregate amount
of S3l3.931.
This sum, large at II seems, is only
about IL per cent of the assess. Il
valuation already turned in by the
citizens of Henrico County. and the
grand jury feels that IT owes to the
citizens of Henrico County to speciti-
CaIly 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 revenue,
who. the grand jury regrets TO say.
practice of allowing everybody 70 as
sesS 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 principle
or practice Of assessments on real es-
tate But none that We have met be-
lieve in. or support In their entirety.
the present laws OF Virginia covering
the taxation for themselves or others
OF that class Of property known as
chooses in action or intangible persona.
property. This open or silent cpposi-
ton of the citizens, combined WIKI the
lax practic. above referred TO, has
made the taxation Of intangible per
sonal property in this State unjust and
unequal
The grand jury throughout its ses-
sionS found a willingness on the part
OF tn. citizens To cooperate. aha a
wild. spread and proper belief that the
| duty OF the citizens was to pay their
taxes fairly
In order to Detter these conditions
! tn. grand jury strongly recommends
! that the commissioners y: revenue ~.
/ required to personally receive the in
a
! which nave not been properly sworn
I To. and 81 which they do not them
: selves approve.
| In THIS connection the grand jury
! recognizes the hardship such extra
; Labor would entail upon tac commas
sioners under their present form oi
! compensation. and. though il Is no,
! " iihIn the PROVING. OF the grand jury
We trust We may be permitted To ca
! press the belief that u the commits
! sion.rs Of revenue received adc-
! guar. salary. and were allowed q
! proper compensation Tor depI;ics. ;hc
State ~oaio E-c.tv. manhood r-tUT uS
: for the outlay involved. and IN. cat.
I z.Hs Of a.. state would have the as
sUraucc that ali isag'D.e personal ps"-
y.rty wcul. bc more generally re-
| turned and more equally assessed
Tn. grand jury also notes that ia To.
Z many cases. even when returns aays