The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-16
WEST END WARM
FOR TAX REFORM
Citizens Association Applauds
Araignment of Present Sys-
tenn by DR.. Freeman.

Il don't blame any man In Virginia
unless he is pinned down by oath. for
lodging some of the taxes imposed nv
this commonwealth said DR.. Douglas
s. Freeman last night to the member
ship of tho West End Citizens Assoc
citation. which turned out 200 strong
at tho Rathskeller in William Rvrd
PARK to hear the address. DR. Freeman
made inc statement after a strong
arrangement OF the present tiny on
mortgages and money in bank, which.
he said, falls most heavily upon that
class of the citizenship which IA least
able to bear It,
"a tax of sl.75 on the hundred upon
money on deposit when II earns only
10 Is little short OF coniiscation. said
Dr. Freeman. 1T is unreasonable ~
demand 1t. and everybody acquainted
with conditions knows that il is nor
collected. The man who would report
such bank deposits for assessment
would be either fool or lunatlc."
In this arraignment of the tax on
money and mortgages DR.. Freeman
was seconded by every man present
The gathering applauded loudly, and
showed It's deep interest In the whole
subject by asking numerous questions.
~ the end of an hour of speaking.
when Dr. Freeman suggested that there
g.
ming. the members called in unison for
more and the discussion was pro
longed another thirty minutes
Citizens Want Light
The meeting was remarkable in the
fact that II developed high interest
| in subject which has in the mast
been left largely TO students and
statesmen. 1t indicated general
awakening to the Importance of tax
reform and common demand on tho
part OF business men for more light on
the much -bccloudcd issue
The subject OF taxation had taken
such firm hold upon the meeting
that the address was not permitted
To end with the discussion of the Vir
GINA problem. 1t progressed to an
examination into the land tax theories
OF Henry George. William Lloyd Gar
rison, Jr., and Lloyd George. OF Eng
land, and to it's ideal application in
New Zealand, Vancouver ana tho
| British Isles. DR.. Freeman however
stored the enthusiasts clear of ,bo
rocks in tho single tax current and
brought them safely back to harbor
in Virginia
At 10 o'clock the speaker took adj
vantage of lull in the quiz to which
he had been subjected, and declared
his talk at an end. a member moved
n standing vote of thanks for the nd
dress. and the body rose to n man. An
an honorary member OF tho West End
Citizens Association, ana it was car
ried unanimously. President George
j. Hooper. of the association. offered
an amendment providing that the
honorary membership be tax-frce.
Need Ink Commiasion.
DR.. Freeman outlined tho fight for
tax reform in Virginia from the time
that II was taken up by The Times
Dispatch In 1908 To the present day.
The present system he said, was UNI
scientific because 1t was never really
drafted. but. like Topsy, just "growcd"
1T contains Elaring inequalities and
places an unjust burden upon the
cities as compared with the rural COM
munities. The remedy. he said, was a
tax commission with authority to
equalize the burden and to supervise
| the commissioners of tho revenue.
The double tax on mortgages, said
the speaker, has made the population
of Virginia cities Il tenant instead OF
Il home owning people. In order to
become the owner OF a home. he said
man must pay I'm interest and taxes
an amount equal To about what he
would have To pay In rent, before he
can begin paying towards an equity.