The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-02
TAN PAYMENT ESSENTIAL TO TAN
REDI CriON.


r,x PAYMENT ESSENTIAL TO TAN
REDI CTiON.
~Thc people Of this state have to-
5s, ID better understanding Of the laws
relating TO taxation than they ever had
beforc-fhe agitation of the matter of
taxation las been Of great benefit 70
an Oh, people Of the state. asserts
Auditor Of Public Accounts c. Lee
ve,rs i'm supplementary circular
issued yesterday to the commissioners
.f rho revenue. and he is altogether
correct i'm his statement. The names
of hundreds Of men VINO have not told
clio truth 10 the taxgatherers have been
,,,blshod broadcast The Auditor OF
I,ublic ACCOUNTS has insisted that the
lax laws be obcyed. The newspapers
80 the state have been filled will. in
formation concerning the collection of
taxes and the gross injustices and in
couaNties Of our tax system; the evil
dence has been laid before the people
Who sec as they never saw before that
they are penalzed every time a dis
honest tax return is made.
Here is the vital point in the whole
matter. outlined in the Auditors cir
cpisr. The people should thoroughly
understand that the ultimate effect OF
III. agitation OF this question will not
increase the burden of taxation, but
that proper assessment against every
taxpayer will produce such largely IN
creased assessed values, placing the
burden Of taxation on every one in pro-
portion to his or her possessions as 1t
sbould be. as will result in materially
reducing the rates of levies' which
r,duction will inure to the benefit of
all"
In other words. if every man returns
his taxes correctly, the tax that every
man will have to pay will be reduced
The result of tax evasion is TO increase
Tho taxes Of those who have made
honest returns. The conscientious
citizen who does his duty 10 the state
is punished because OF his conscleh-
tiousness. The fact is very plain, and
if the people will but keep it in mind
in electing their legislative represen-
la,ives they can reach the taX-dodger
through effective tax legislation
The Times Dispatch hopes that the
Auditor Of Public Accounts VIII be
justified in his belief that the people
will stand shoulder to shoulder this
wear and help in every way to admin
lister the law" for. if they do, the re-
suit will indeed he more uniform tax
true values" II the people Will de-
t-rrnine 10 pay the full amount of
taxes required of them according TO
the present tax laws. they Will thereby
enforce unscientifc and unjust stat
utFs. which can only be repealed by
public Indignation working upon the
General Assembly. Present burdens
must be endured so that future relief
may be secured
There is but one way to render the
duties Of the commissioners of the rev.
enue easier and the burden of the tax
PAYERS lighter. and that is to effect
complete cooperation between the
.aNgatherers and the people and be
tween the taxgatherers.~and the Au-
l.;or Of Public Accounts. Let the
people resolve to return all taxable
property. and let the commissioners of
tho revenue see to il that those men
who prefer any load Of infamy, how
ever great. 10 any pressure Of tax
alton. however light" shall bear their
fun share OF the common obligation.
1t the commissioners OF the revenue
rcmember that. If they do their full
duty IN enforcing unjust statutes. new
laws satisfactory TO the people will be
substituted FOR those statutes, and the
vav made easier for the tax-collec-
tors. Let the. commissioners initiate
the course of Auditor % Public Ac-
counts Moore. who has insisted that
the laws shall he executed without
fear or favor; let them hold 81 in mind
that for the performance OF his duty
liz has received the approval of the
people. and that by performing their
duty In their respective spheres they
TOO all gain the well done o. pho
PEOPLE.