The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-05
Beach, Va.
Taxation and Segregation.

Editor of The Nlrginian:
Sirs-Being citizen OF Virginia, I am very
much interested in her laws of taxation. have
read with interest Mr.. Moore's plan of "segrega-
ton OF subjects Of taxation and highly APP
proved them Mr. white. of Rockbr!dge in the
last session Of the legislature, demonstrated the
necessity OF some such plan as Mr.. Moore sug-
gests to take the subjects Of taxation out OF
politics and to prevent the State taking the first
step by taking the control of the government
out of the hands OF the people and vestng it
in the hands of a board Of equalization having
a centralized power, which could supersede as
sessments made by commissioners of revenue
elected by the people for that very purpose and
substitute their This is contrary to Demo-
cratic principles I have also seen the paper on
taxation by Mr. Byrd. who says Mr.. Moores
plan was examined by the tax commission and
discarded. Mr.. Byrd brings in this paper the
same old plan he offered at the last session OF
the legislature, which was examined and re-
tected by the general assembly OF Virginia. SO
he has nothing on Mr.. Moore there.
! admit the present system of taxation is in
4 sad need OF reform, There two ways by
which this may be done-hrst, by a brilliant
stroke of equalization that kills the patient, or,
second. by a plain, common sense method that
relieves and cures the patient All our woes.
all present ills, he lays our election
system OF observation-disclosures of the reve
nue-and wishes to put in their places an equaIi-
zation board How are we to select this equali-
cation board? We have elected the best, the
most honorable, the most capable of cti-
zens In our midst, who are well acquainted with
conditions existingand be taxed to
employ men to revise their assessments? How
are to be assured that the appointees Of this
board more capable, more wise. more just
in their reassessments? From which class are
the perfect assessments to Gopae ?. "A nd this
calls a little piece of poetry:
THE River Rhine, 1t is well known,
Washes the city Of Cologne.
But tell me, we powers divine.
What doth wash the River Rhine"
+ But to come back to the point Mr.. Byrd
seems to charge Mr.. Moores plan as being one
which, instead or bringing proper relief, would
continue the existing evils, such taking from
one county or city its revenues and giving II
to another county city. But Mr. Moore's
plan as | read It, drawn for the express
purpose of remedying the present unjust meth
DDS of taxation 1t divides the subjects of taxa
ton between the State unit, and the coun-
ties and towns segregated. 1t leaves to the
counties and cities real and personal estate,
tangible and intangible, for their local support.
with the State coming 20 the rescue criminal
expenses. SO 1t seems 10 impossible for any
condition to arise that would require revenue
collected In one county or city be paid to
another county or city. for Mr.. Moore quotes
from the constitution of Virginia where taxes
in excess OF required needs, ii must be frnme-
diately reduced Now, the constitution con-
teme plated segregation. Mr.. Moore has shown,
this language must be meant 10 apply to yir-
ginia as a unit and Virginia divided or segre-
gated. Hence, II Albemarie county has q
boom" In business and raises $40, 900 over and
above her needs, she shall not be required to
give that surplus to Nelson and Amherst
jcountiee, who out of the same classes OF prop
!erty left II, when segregated. falls short az reye-
niue, for where there la nothing d0inkssS and
with criminal expenses All. paid BY tho 4ta&eX
Nalean md $4,000 ~ AetnallS hAxAs