The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-18
THE DESPATCH: RIcHMoND VA FRIDAY April 49, 1918
STATE COMMISSIONS
TO REMEDY TAX ILLS
Experts Agree That Cure for Assessment Irregular
tiles Lies in Removing Local Assessors
From Political Influence

Capitalization of tho tax assessing
power In the hands OF an elective or
appointivc state board which Shall
have immediate charge OF county AS
conference on taxation yesterday to
be the only practicable solution of the
insistcnt tax problem that confronts
practically every Southern State to-
day. Four speakers of national repute
In annlyzing this problem agreed in
suhordinating such questions as
equalization and segregation to the
more important problem OF equitable
and accurate assessment.
The meeting, which was part OF the
Conference for Education In the South
now In session. concerned Itself pri-
marily with an inquiry into the problem
OF providing the most approved ma
chinery for assessment. The q actual
distribution OF the taxes. 1T was con-
coded. came more properly being an
individual state problem and could be
adjusted to suit local conditions
Former Governor L. +. Noel, OF Mis-
sissippi. who made the concluding adj
dress placed Virginia in the same class
with his own State as among the
American commemorative possessing
the most mediocre systems of tnXation
ana assessment in the Union. Missis-
slppis he said, was about the worst
about as bad as Nirginia's
Delegates.
the conference was called to order
at 2:i5 o'clock yesterday afternoon In
the room of the State Corporation
Commission, by Mayor Ainslie. Gov
crnor Mann. who was to have presided
over the meeting, was kept away by
liihess. Early In the afternoon II was
found that the room was not large
enough to provide seating accommo-
dations for all who sought admission.
ana the meeting was transferred IN
inc chamber OF the House OF Dele
gates where the session continued nm
I'll adjournment ut 6 o'clock This af
tcrnoon's taxation conference will bo
held In the same place
Lawson Purdy, president of tho do
partment of taxes and assessments OF
New York City. opened the discussion
with an outline of methods OF So
curing efficient assessment work. This
phase or the question was particularly
OF interest at this conference. he said.
because the South is notably deficient
IN not having central authority to
adjust local assessments
ne assessing function. he held is n
professional function. and suffers whom
executed by an individual not trained
ior that dut!. The practice of electiuc
iow-paid men to perform a delicate and
important service, such as FIXING rho
N"iue OF property, as Ii is followed al
most universally throughout the South
ana other sections OF the country bn
SAID has resulted in fragrant evasions
and abuses.
Fnvors State Commission.
Mr. Purdy laid down as the basis ~
sound assessment work tho scIec,;o,,
vi county and district assessors on :,
civil service test. their appointment for
iohS terms at good salaries and the
enlargement Of their districts 10 such
an extent as TO keep them employed
n
assessors should be directly responsi
Die to State tax commission. prefer
aplS or three, and should be indcpen
dent Of political influences.
WIN thc foregoing as the important
machinery of collection. Mr.. Purdy su,r
sesteu us desirable adjunct the prep
aratlon by each city and taxation unit
OF accurate land value mans showino
NJ glance the actual worth and as
sessment of each piece OF property i'm
the district. Such n map. he said. could
ne prepared with the aid OF drawings
lhat could be supplied by the United
states Typographical Survey and tho
local city engineers Land. values corid
he obtained by the compilation Of ac
curate data and by law recurring
the actual consideration to be stated i'm
every deed of transfer
How Wisconsin Does It,
> Adams Of the Wisconsin Tax
L
reforms which have been accomplishod
IN ms State. which has come to be re
Rarded by the country at large as the
most progressive in the Union in mat
ters or economic reform. Less than
hftecn years ago. he told the confer
chce' Wisconsin contended with the
same problem that confronts Virginia
and the South to-day
bfoadly sketched, Wisconsin's re-
forms In taxation, according to Mr.
Adams. have followed as the result Of
the application of the princi-le that
me assessment of taxes is n specialized
junction, and must be kept free from
politics. In the old days lie said. the
county assessor was elected nv tho
county boards because OF his known
conservatism and he stayed In Office
AS long as he lived up to that reputo-
ton. When he attempted TO enforce
the tax laws to the letter he was re-
moved and replaced with less ambi-
tious person.
The abuses have all but Disappeared
SAID Mr.. Adams, under n system which