The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-10
ISSUES SUPPLEMENT BASED on
THE ASSESSMENTS FOR
YEAR 1918
TO SEGRECATE TAXES
SUPPLEMENT TO THE TENTATIVE
PLAN SEEKS TO OVERCOME
FORMER oBJECTIoNs-AU-
DIToR ExPOuNDs III

issued last July a tentative plan for
the reform of the States tax laws
which excited wide interest, has
given out supplement to his
original plan for segregation, which
is based on the assessments for 1918,
and which he believes. will over
come the objections raised to the
original suggestion.
The auditor has compiled with
great care tabulated statement Of
figures comparing the gain by cities
and counties If State taxes were re-
leased to them. and the losses that
would be sustained by counties and
cities by taking from them taxes on
railroads, including the assessment
under the new rolling stock law.
In presenting and explaining the
supplementary plan, Auditor Moore
says:
in July OF this year issued a ten
tative plan Tor segregating the sub
jects of taxation. AT that time the
assessments for 1918 of taxes on real
estate. personal property. incomes and
licenses had not been received at the
office of the auditor of public accounts.
These assessments have now been re-
ceived.
THE basis of the tentative plan is
sued in July was for the State to re-
lease to counties and cities the State
taxes assessed on real estate and tam
gible personal property. The State
not to tax intangible personal property
and the counties and cities to be AL
lowed to tax Intangible personal prop
erty at the maximum rate OF seventy
five cents on every $4,000 valuation
thereof. Counties and cities not to tax
the property Of public service corpora
ttons, such as railroads. etc, nor to
tax bank stock. nor was the State to
return TO the counties and cities the
one-third of the capitation tax collect
ed each year.
OF course the counties and cities
under that plan to receive the benefit
OF the taxes on real estate and tan
gible personal property would have
added to their rates OF levy the state
tax rate Of 80 cents on the 500, 90.
The statistical statement published
with that tentative plan disclosed the
fact that under its operation fifty
counties would suffer Losses and fifty
counties would show gains. ten cities
would suffer losses and nine cities
would show gains.
I THE principal objection II the ten
-3at4pe-,alaa- -haaE- Addressed ia the
losses sustained by onehalf of the
counties in the State and by one more
{
/ The proposal TO segregate the sub
iects of taxation seems to be gen
orally favored, even those that OPP
pose IL processing 10 favor segregation
but expressing apprehension that al
this time conditions In the State viii
not permit. They say the time is not
come.
: Il now submit a suppleme Mt to the
tentative plan for segresattnS the sub
. 1az g.f xKrh ffsE
! calculated on the assessments for
1919 ia. the State to release to the
counties and cities the taxes on real
estate tangible personal property, and
intangible personal property, the coun'
: ties and cities net to be allowed to tau
public service corporations trail-
roads. etc.) bank stock and not to
receive from the State treasury the
one-third of the capitation taxes col
lected in a year
The effect and meaning Of this pro-
posai is to allow counties and cities
TO add to their present rates of levy
on real estate. tangible personal prop
erty and intangible personal property
the thirty-five cents State rate.
THE statistical table which accom-
panies this supplement shows thai
thirty-three (33l counties suffer losse:
and sixty seven t67) make gains; -four
90 cities suffer losses and fifteen Q5)
! cities make gains.
"A critical examination of the
statistical table will, | think. disclose
the fact that nearly one-half of the
sthirty-three (33) counties which suf
fer losses are counties which, wttf
proper assessments of v1lues. car
overcome the losses which 1t is shown
they will bear.
"By my earnest efforts aided bS
nearly all OF the commissioners OF the
revenue tthere were few exceptions
there has been added to the values as
sessed upon the personal propert,
books for 1918, over the values as
sessed upon the personal propert,
books for 1912 in round number:
4 thirty-seven million dollars tsS7,
600 0000 of<values, an increase O
nearly 10 per cent. The assessment o
the value of incomes has increased IL
1919. over the assessment for 1919, II
round numbers, S5,7oe.oo0. 90, II
values, which is an increase Ct over 81
per cent
THE State is to be congratulated
upon these increases, nevertheless /
cannot be disputed that there is IL
this State sufficient property, and tina
the people OF Virginia have ample pos
sessions. If all are taxed at fair mar
ket value. to raise. at very reduced
rate, all the tax required FOR state ant
local purposes.
The ohstet lie IL. and has been. tina
assessments have been far below tru'
value and large amounts Pave been
and are now, not assessed at all tn
inequalities in assessment are. willis
serious. amusing and ridiculous.
do not hesitate to make the pre-
diction that by enforcement or tn
present tax laws, with full and com
plete compliance with the laws by as
scssing officers. the values OF the per
sor.al property and of real estate tbea
in mind in 1915 there is to be a re
assessment Of real estate1. and of in
comes. the State can afford to reduc
: her rate of taxation five cents on tn
S100 90 yaIu: ton in the event she doe
!. not prefer to segyegate the subjects o
| taxation.
III the grand juries in the severa
, counties and cities are TO make actua
: and substantial examinations of as
sessments, as the law requires, and /
, every respect 10 correct, by placing a
fair market value assessments made b
! commissioners of the revenue belo'
value. and to cause TO be assessed q
, fair market value personal propert
and incomes which have not bee
assessed at all, then the work OF as
: sess!ng true values in this State ha
sust commenced, because public sent
I ment In every county and city Will de