The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-27

safe TO say that the following should
be credited to county and city con-
tributions to State revenue:
Inc bank tax ...........S 500 n0O
The capitation tax 40 OOO
The license tax . S500OO
inc hquor licenses ......... 100000
That portion of corporation
income tax now repre-
scented by levy ......... 500, 900
The 10fe tax on receipts 500 OOO
Io'ai ;''........ 1900. 81. $4,000
posed plan would result in net saw
ing OF $4,000 annually to the coun-
ties and cities OF the State
shows How II Operates.
the saving in individual counties and
cities may be ascertained, approximate
~. by taking the total assessment in
the respective counties and cities, and
ascertaining the amount that those as
sessmcnts would yield in taxes at the
present State levy OF .0O35, and COM
pairing the several results with 10 per
cent OF the gross receipts of the same
counties and cities. This will not be
absolutely correct. because OF de-
inquencies, but will serve to show in
a general way, the operation OF the
system. l will give a few illustrations,
using the Auditors figures for 1912.
The total assessed values on real and
personal property in the city of Rich
mond were Sl22, 900. which. at the
rate of .o035, would yield S427,4725O.
The gross receipts of the same city,
less borrowed money. were S3.lS466OSJ.
Ten per cent of this amount is S3lS,-
466.0S
The total assessed values on real
and personal property in Clifton Forge
were S1S25.492. which, at the rate OF
.o033. would yield sG.379.22. The gross
receipts Of the same city for 1912 were
s49.+3o Ten per cent of this amount
is s4.943.
The total assessed values on real
and personal property in Elizabeth City
County for 1912 were S5.76i,723 which.
at .o035. would yield S2O.1G6.53. The
gross receipts of the same county for
the same year were S51.69l.69. 10
per cent of which would be S5,l6917
The total assessed values on real
County in 1912 were s5,2SS.O?4,
which. at .0035. would yield SIS.50S.32
The gross receipts OF the same county
for the same year were SS2.+37.63. Ten
per cent Of this would be sS.243,76.
These Illustrations have been taken
at random. and seem TO indicate that
the saving to counties and cities would
be fairly we'll distributed
Az to Liquor Revenue.
Should the State prohibit the manu-
facturc and sale of liquor, it will. un-
der this proposed plan of raising rcvc-
nue., lose not only the 100000. which
she now receives as n State license. but
Will lose her 10 per cent of all the city
licenses now received. This loss would
have TO be made up by increasing the
percentage on the incomes Of cities and
counties or by increase OF the license
taxes, or by requiring towns To con-
tribute OF their incomes. or by some. as
yet, unsuggested measure. which the
General Assembly will have to work
out when the occasion demands.
1t will be observed that under the
proposed plan the cities Will still be
carrying a larger proportion OF the
burden of State taxation than the coun-
ties. but experience may help to equal
ize this At any rate. the counties
cannot halve their assessments and
double their levies under this plan. and
comes at the expense OF the State.
Aside from the saving which this
proposed system will effect. the sim
plIcity of its operation and the economy
of it's collection will. | think, appeal
strongly to both the people and the
officers of the state. The assessing
and collecting side Of the Auditors
mum force, and Mr. Moores item Of
s125.000 for collection OF the States
revenues can be greatly reduced. OF
course, the State will have to be per-,
mitted access to all the books Of the
counties and cities. through travelling
auditors. to he provided for the pur-
pose. so that proper checks may be
kept.
1 have made no investigation OF the
constitutionality of this proposed sys-
tenn of State taxation. but IL II is good
for the people and good for the State,
the people can very readily change the
fundamental law. IL necessary.
/ offer this plan for the considera-
ton OF the thoughtful public. in tho
hope that out OF all the suggestions
that have been and may be made Il
wise and equitable tax may be evolved
by tho General Assembly.