The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-18
Mr.. Whites Views
on Tax Reform

The announcement of Hugh A Whites can
didacy Tor reelection as member of the house
of delegates from Rockbridge county contains
SO clear statement OF his views on the sub
ject of tax reform that we reprint it below.
The Advance is inclined to agree with Mr..
Whites idea-that is segregation Of taxes,
rather than the attempt to equali1e all taxation.
AIR. White says
1T means nothing TO simply say that our tax
laws should be amended unless we have definite
and detailed ideas Ia hoN-4ntl in what
manner Taxation involves two things (a1 ali
property should he fairly assessed upon some
standard of value and tb) there should be an
equality in assessment over the entire state !
believe that segregation in taxation is the only
inetno9 by which equality may be obtained But
what is segregation? Segregation is the set
ing apart OF certain subjects of taxation from
"hich me state alone shall derive its revenue.
ana the setting apart of certain subjects Of
TAXATION from which the counties. cities and
towns may derive their revenue 7 had RIO
honor at the last session of the legisIat11re ia
start movement for segregation by the intro
duction OF bill that would leave to The countjes
cites and towns real estate and tangible per
sonar property as the source of their revenue
for local purposes, leaving to the state the
railroads. and other corporation taxes together
WIN certain licenses and intangible personal
property. This was the first active move in
tn'5 state Tor SEGREGATION, and At is gratifying
10 me to Know that our distinguished auditor
recommends segregation along these lines and
by the next session of the legislature we will
nave hill prepared to carry the policy.
segregation involves not only direct benefits
hut indirect benefits. AS direct benefit 1t will
he concern of one county what another
county assesses its real estate and tangible per-
sonal property at if the revenue derived there
from is kept at home for local purposes and
none OF II goes into the State treasury This
entirely eliminates the question of euualiza ton
among the several counties and cities As an
Indirect benefit TO the public il VIII enable each
county 10 assess its property. real estate and
tangible personal property at its fun value,
since Vt VIII not concern the tax payer how
much has property is assessed, because the rate
VIII be reduced in the proportion A
stranger coming into the county To huv real
estate VIII inquire to the assessment and
the rate, and II he finds a good high assessn ent
and a very low rate he will he at once at =
tracted, and this feature alone will advertise
the real estate of Virginia more than ali The
real estate agents put together, More than this
II the railroads and other corporations are left
to the state TO raise It's revenue The State will
he apt to see that they properly assessed
ana pay their due proportion. There is nothing
more depressing to community than to have
its property assessed at q very low figure and
its rate very high one and segregation will
obviate, this entirely These arguments were
the bill providing for centralized tax COM
mission and popular was the policy of se-
gregation that had there been time il would have
been made a lGw at the last session | shall
never consent to centralized tax commission
selected at the capitol of the State with power
TO dismiss and turn of Office our local consti-
tutional officers; and with power to drag the
people from all the State to the city Of
Richmond at their own expense to defend an
assessment amounting to a few dollars which
The peace and happiness OF self government
should be preserved in the, largest measure pos
sible in the matter Of taxation"
The situation TO our mind, is simply this
That what the late tax commission meant bv
equalization" OF taxes by a permanent equalizng
commission is nothing more than an attempt
to enforce the present system with it's in
eradicable INEQUALITIES between Individual and