The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-13
SPECIAL JURY TO
LOOK AFTER TAXES
DELEGATE WHITE THINKS PLAN
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES
OVER COMMISSION.

While on yesterday Mr.. White. of
Rockbridge, in speech before the
House Finance Committee, gave up
ing through a tax segregation bill he
made a forecefu talk upon the ad-
vantagcs OF the plan, and declared
that 1t was the ideal system.
He declared in his speech to the
com mittee that there were two evils
prominently before them for settle
ment. one of these evils was an
unwarranted inequality of assessment
in the various localities upon real es-
tate and tangible personal property
and the other was the failure To
reach for assessment a large amount
OF intangible personal property.
He declared that these evils had
been publicly and generally known
for years and expressed regret that
the report of the tax commission did
not give adequate foundation on which
to base a segregation bill. He, how
over. earnestly urged the taking of
such steps as would place the next
Assembly in position to pass such an
act.
He said in behalf of his bill re-
curing special grand jury to pass
upon the books OF revenue commits
sioners:
LAS to my views upon a tax com
mission OF any sort for the purpose
of equalization of assessments. there
is absolutely no need for such a body
for tho following reasons; First There
Is nothing to equalize, but tangible
personal property. such as live stock
and household furniture, and the tax
derived from this source is too IN
considerable TO justify such expen-
sive machinery. Also the tax from
this source would largely come from
those subjects that should he taxed
IS lightly as possible. since 1t touches
those who are often least able to bear"
IL. If there is To be a tax commits
sion, or tax commissioner. why not
wait until the real estate can he re-
assessed in 1915, so that there Will
be something Tor it 10 work upon.
Second. Tax commissions have not
proved successful and usually cause
great dissatisfaction and complaint
among the people, In spite of the
fact that West Virginia is cited in
the tax report, as an example of the
work ings Of IA tax commission. it has
had the effect in that State of causing
a political upheayal and overthrow Of
the party in power responsible for
it. and nowhere is there greater COM
pfIfnt Of the tax laws than IN West
Virginia
AS to some method to at present
correct the inequalities of assessment
OF tangible personal property. and also
Of bringing To light for taxation hid
den and concealed property, the com
mittee has before It a bill presented
by me requiring a special grand Iur&
TO pass upon the com missloners books
before they are finally filed, and upon
their oaths TO examine the Items and
report to the court whether assess
ments have been made according to
face market value, according 10 the
constitution. and authorizing the court
to cite parties to appear and show
cause why the proper correction sug-
gested by the jury should not be
made. This is simple local and in
expensive method, and il the honesty
and integrity of the men OF Virginia
may be relied upon, IL viii be enec-
tive. And ii the honesty OF sworn
grand jurors cant be relied upon, can
we rely upon any one else being fair
and just? In finding hidden or con-
cealed property. the grand jury has
proven in this State most effective. and
If made compulsory upon the courts
to call grand juries for this specific
tangible personal property come forth
abuhde ntly.
1T should he remembered that
under the decision of our Supreme
Court. no tax commissioner or other
person may he permitted to exercise
inquistorial powers over a person to
find his property. but a grand jury
may inquire by sworn witness and
ascertain the facts and indict and this
hanging over the heads of those seek
ing to dodge. will cause them 10
pause before concealing their prop
erts
II ask. therefore. that the bill re-
curing special grand juries may be
reported favorably az this is the only
possible solution until segregation can
be obtained"
IT G COIIQT HAMS