The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-06
Auditor Moore Requests
Courts to Conduct
Investigations.
UNEQUAL VALUES
SHOWN BY DAT A
Income Returns Totally made.
auate-Bank Deposits Pitifully
Small - Merchants Fail to
Show Real Purchases-Per-
sonalty Assessed on Widely
Different Bases.

For the consideration Of the grand
5uries OF the Commonwealth State Au-
ditor c. Lee Moore yesterday mailed
70 the judges Of circuit and corpor-
alton courts detailed compilations OF
the tax returns for 1919. The e.aor-
nous amount OF tax do1sins. the gross
Inequalities which exist In valuations
between localities. and the general
laxity OF administration * tn. srA:-
UteS governing assessments. are shown
more eloQuently In plain figures aud
cold facts than Is possible IRAN .rgu-
Dent
But the auditor does not " ithhoId
comment. He points CUT Il a letter to
the Judges, wherein The INEQUALITIES
lie. and makes suggestions rs TO she
proper procedure for the grand jurie;
in making their in qairies. as required
by Law. He shows how the income
TAX Is evadcd to an extent which was
unbelievaole until the recen: Iubii-
cation of the returns III The Times
Dispatch. He shows nov few Of the
people OF the State give In their bank
deposits After reviewing the income
returns. he comments plainly: These
assessed incomes are not representa-
tive of either the possessions or the
thrift of people so proyidcE- :.ad
industrious as the taxpayers II VIZ
gtnia."
shows Average V.Iues.
Comparative hsures are produced.
showing the average valuation in 9t-a
commissioners district in the State Vt
horses, cattle. sheep. hogs. watches.
clocks. musical Instruments. water
craft books. tools, household furui-
ture. and all other personal properly.
These subjects are treated in detail.
extensive tables showing AT a xtAEce
the comparative assessments NJ, only
one county with another. but even one
District with another Ia the same
county.
Schedule is also handled in :ac
same manner. indicating the ,apital
stock. with complete returns IN In
tangible personality.
II is hoped by the Auditor that noe
body in the State male Incorrect re-
turns OF his property for the purpose
Of escaping taxation. He trusts no in
dictments or convictions will be found
necessary. and that the grand juries.
II satisfied that fraud was not in
tended. will permit correction Of the
assessments BY supplemental work. so
that the additional taxes. which should
have been given in last February, will
public revenue But he calls attention
70 the plain mandate OF the law.
Taxp7yers' Business.
I'VE have all. to some degree" he
adds. "drifted into carelessness in re-
porting, and In falling to report. all
OF our property and income. and have
failed In our full obligation to the
Commonwealth in the matter OF taxa
tion; therefore. let US now comply
with the requirements of the law
The taxpayers arc the State. This is
their business. which is having the
ea rnest attention Of the courts. the
grand juries and the Auditor Of Pub
He Accounts. The taxpayers. through
their representatives. the General AS
Sembly. have. by their laws. directed
che courts, with the aid OF the grand
lures. to enforce the tax laws The
taxpayers should come forward and
give their aid in correcting the mis-
eakes and omissions made, So that
their omcers and their grand Juries
may accomplish for them what they
themselves. by their laws. require their
0@cers and their grand juries TO con-
Oummatc.
Il trust all corrections can be made.
and no indictments found nor fines
imposed, except where the facts re-
SUPPOSE to evadc the revenue laws"
CssvS Reasee Tsses.
In concluding his address to the
courts. the Ausitor says: II the tax
Dayers will report all Of their pei
0onal property and incomes, and 81
the assessments are uniform and Of
fair market value, the states reve-
nue. can. I think, reasonably be cx--
Dected to be more than adequate for
the necessary expenses OF the govern
Oent ana 60 pay the Indebtedness of
the state. IL this expectation IS real
1Dsd. the General Assembly can
eho burdcns her citizens nos svs-
enan by making such changes IS
equity dcma nds. and can probably re-
0oee the rate az taxation
These statements were rushed out
- the courts yesterday because many
g them meet tomorrow. ana u is De-
ODre6 that grand juries get TO work.
- = believed In many counties and
essSes the work Of inquiry will con-
OuDe many days. In few cases.
courts have already met and jurics
Aaxo reported they found no violations
q the revenue laws. but these court.
Wnl - expected 60 secure new jurscs
0aa hand them THE statement OF the
Au6ssss.
0eseAUOep u.oeeU0e T0Bes.
- q S1Asstonsl address tc the
WUrsaL ~ Moore Oc~s after TIVE mer-
sAsnfs q the state. Who have. =.
Dssge numbers. he believes. bee az1-
oue license OF purchases much small
- than thesr real business. Here,
1Gssu. ne hss she eessSls showing the
lumber % licenses taken cot In each
"Reminiscences district ~ each cisss.
IN she esssre susie. q eppearH there
mo ia.sss vino swe~r thzD pvrchsses
- ne exceed es.eee Sa yer. OIL
ksNsee whcse purchsses are eesWee1l
N SO SO Sz.eVe. skere sve 1SS&i
80 e sbess wnsss psseAsosD. ssDI
49, . - -