The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-29
MIR. KINGS TAX PLAN.

Mr.. Floyd ". King Of Clifton Forge former
state senator and announced but Withdrawn can
aldate Tor attorney general, makes valuable
contribution To the discussion OF the taHatlon'
equalization and assessment problem lie pro
poses that thc State tax the counties and cIueS
on their incomes. requiring them to pay into the
general treasury 10 per cent Of their total col
lectfons from taxation This would forge on the
local officials Of each unit the choice between
deriving themselves or contributing their fair
proportion, according to values Of property, to
the support Of the State government
In levyiug and collecting taxes it Is necessary
to force honest people to be honest Perhaps OF
all the money We spend We most grudge what
We nay for taxes We see, feel and use what we
bny from the merchant and therefore pay his
bill cheerfully We have had IN our hands the
money en- which We pay interest and have ap-
piled it: the house on which pay rent is
visible and present thing, The doctor probably
is 4 friend and we do not mind SO much paying
him aud We are Interested, more or less in our
churches and pastors and answer their calls for
contributions and pew rent without painful
qualms The average law-abiding citizen rarely
comes into contact with his government has
little or nothing to do with his State govern
ment He knows It exists and is necessary. 1t
is present to his reason, but not to his senses.
Few Of us realize how much controlled by
our senses how much we arc controlled in our
thoughts and actions by what We can sec, feel,
hear. smell and taste, The government to most
OF us is a thing impalpsblo. II is more so in
the country and village than in the cities, Here
In Richmond we see the uniformed police the
ambulances and patrol wagons. the fire depart
ment In action, the militia. and they are actual
evidences Of government and Of what get
for our taxes. All the farmer in peaceful
neighborhood secs or feels of the government is
the tax collector. q summons and then to
do jury duty and some infrequent work the
roads But in city and country alike the impulse
is to cut the tax payment TO the lowest sum
that deeency and conscience will allow. We
watch our neighbors and are prone to follow
and measure with the most conservative Of them
In making valuations Of our goods and chat
tells and possessions. AS it is with individuals
so it IS with the units, the counties and cities
II 1t was not necessary for US in Richmond TO
provide for the support OF our own government
and for our own maintenance and improvements
II we paid taxes and were assessed only for the
State treasury and left the cities pull its share
would be absurd. 1t is as natural for a man, a
county a city to try to eyade some of the
general burden as it is for horse going uphill
TO back on the traces a little and leave
his teamnate to do the pulling.
Mr.. King proposes to meet this tendency Of
contribute TO the State. of which they are the
parts, In proportion as they provide for their
own local necessities Under its operation, If
Grayson county. far instance. made It's yalua
tions 50 low that IT contributes little to the
State treasury and left the cities to pull It's share
of the load, the people would find their roads
worse than ever, their local conditions unpleas
ant: and would begin to demand higher assess
ments and more money for local use. OF every
dollar added to the county collections the State
would get ton cents. by Mr.. Kings plan,
Presumably, flaws viii be found and objec-
lions win be presented. No measure of public
policy ram come forth complete and perfect as
the goddess was born equipped and panopied
fram the brow Of Joge. Undoubtedly the under
.Iine ana basic idea and theory demand careful
mud respectful attention ana it is safe to pre-
DIE. inst they win be studied earnestly in the
ncAt Eeas.oa IF CIR general assembly.
QrAHRLrANG WITH THE PRIMARY.