The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-31
MOORE ANSWERS
TAX DIRECTORS
Gives Figures Showing How His
Plan OF Segregation Would
Work Out.
WELCOMES ALL CRITICISMS
Present System Described as
Burdensomc, Imposing in Some
Instances Double Taxation.

State Auditor c. Lee Moore issued
yesterday carefully prepared state
ment answering criticisms which have
Deen made from time to time Of his
proposed tax segregation plan. Mr.
Moore Issued his plan Of tax reform
as tentative only. and invited the
fullest scrutiny and discussion He
takes up in turn eleven objections
which have been raised and deals with
each one from the standpoint of a man
thoroughly acquainted with his ground.
and who has at his command figures
to back up his views His statement
follows in full:
Corporation Taxes.
]. The railroads would have TO pay
annually at least 100000 more than
they are now paying 10 give the amount
estimated they should pay.
Answer: Thesc corporations are now
ssi2s
TO the counties and towns and cities
thgures furnished the Auditor Of Pub
lie Accounts by the corporations). ST.
41s.0S402. Total S2.i4O.Os5.3l
Add estimated annual tax TO be here
after paid by the Richmond. Freder-
icksburg and Potomac Railroad Com
pany. $4,000 Total s2,505.O65 An
amount In excess Of that contained i'm
the estimate.
g II is feared the falling OFF in gross
earnings OF corporations in bad years
may materially reduce the revenue from
that source.
Answer: Experience does not justify
this alarm. The gross TRANSPORTATION
receipts of railroad corporations for the
year 1903, were $346el.7Ts; year 1904,
were S37.s5s.06S, year 1905, were S3e,-
s6s.7eo: year 1905, were s45,ll6,sl6:
year 1907. were sis5es,5 7l; year 1905,
were S47.G6S,07T: year 1909, were si5,-
43o.732: year 1910. were s57.Ose. 2oi;
year 1911. were $5S.20i,li3. year 1912.
were $83.2i2,cGi
These figures show that tho State can
expect It's revenue to Increase annually
from this source rather than decrease.
Criminal Charges.
g. 1t Is stated that my estimate of
$4,000 to pay the criminal charges is
too low.
Answer: The present annual appro-
priauon for the payment OF criminal
charges is s360,000. The maintenance
OF Jail prisoners working on the public
roads imore OF such prisoners being
now so employed than ever heforc) !
estimate Will cost 10000 a year. and
the maintenance OF inmates in reforrna-
tories now costing $4,000 Il year arc
now required by law To be paid out OF
the appropriation for criminal charges.
Deducting tho total Of these items.
sl25.00O. from s3S0.OO0, there remains
S255,0oc. almost the exact amount !
estimate VIII he needed hereafter for
course. ! have added in my estimate 10
the present appropriation for roads the
$4,000 taken from criminal charges,
and In the same manner to the present
appropriation for rcfornatorics $4,000
taken from criminal charges 1t will
readily he seen / have not cut down
materially the appropriation for crimi-
nal charges.
/. Criticism is made Of the tax to be
collected by the state from Insurance
companies.
Answer: No injustice is done these
companies. The plan does not propose
to take away from cities and towns the
right 10 Impose their license taxes on
these companies or their agencies In
1912 the State received from these com
panies for license taxes and taxes on
premiums s25S.73S.5 50, and has so far
curing the present year. received from
these companies for license taxes and
taxes on premiums s27o %, an in
crease OF S16.3e4.70 this year over last
year. The same increase next year,
without an Increase in the rate OF tax
alton. will very nearly yield the $780,
600 the plan proposes these companies
shall pay annually and should 1t be-
come necessary TO make Il slight IN
crease In the rate. there could hardly
Ia serious objections from the com
Ianies In view of the large salaries
they pay their own officers and the
liberal commissions they pay their
agents, all OF which is borne by the
policyholders and the slight increase OF
tax for the State which the policy
holders might have TO pay would be
insignificant compared with the ex-
penscs they now hear TO pay the large
salaries OF the officers OF the companies
and the liberal commissions 70 the
agents.
License Taxes.
s. It Is apprchendcd my statement
figures the license taxes on businesses
and professions TOO high.
Answer: The amount OF these license
taxes assessed II use round numbers)
during the year ending June 80. 1905,
was sG4o.00o: 1909. was s645,0O0: 1910,
was $3.50, 900: 1911. $4,000: 1912,
was s735.O00
Speaking approximately, about 63
per cent OF these taxes come from
merchants. and from the figures shown,
TO judge by experience, there seems
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