The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-09
MOORE ESTIMATES
BENEFITS FROM
TAX SEGREGATION
(Contlmued From I,irst Pagcl

i'm 0[uh[lhllUlv
Continued From First pagc)
ments or values. can overcomo tho
Losses Which IT is shown thcy will
~ my earnest efforts. aided by near
Is ell % the commissioners OF the
IrFcnn" There We're a few cNccptions).
mere mas been added to tho values as
ss.SSsi upon the personal property books
t"r 1913 Over tho values assessed upon
the personal property books for 1912.
iu round numbers $St.00c.0c0 OF values.
AN Increase OF nearly 10 per cent The
assessment %; the value of incomes has
ncgcaScd ia 1913 over tho assessment
10Y 1917. IN round numbers. i3.T00.O00
~ values. which is an increase Of over
30 per cent
Could R-ducc nntc.
The state is to he congratulated
cannot 10 disputed that there Is in the
state sufficient property. and that the
sipns. ~ all are taxed at fair marke,
value To raise at u very reduced rate.
an mo l@N required for state and local
The obstacle u.s. and has been. that
asS'aSm"htS have b"cu FAR below true
and are now no; assessed al an. The
serious, amusing and ridiculous
j. 40 not hesitate TO max" tho prcdic-
non thtJ py enforcement OF tho pres
en- tax laws. Win full and complete
,.,i,,. ~ N'EucS OF mo personal
LI.H ltE ana 81 real estate tbeur in
Hihd in 1911" thcr" is to be a reassesg-
iH'Ht ~ rea! cstate(, ana of incomes
~" state can afford 10 reduce her rate
.! taxation cents on the 500 valu;t-
1'Dl ih INC event she does not prefer 10
a"Htesate tho subjects of taxa+ioil.
jbt grand JuIics in the several
counties aud cities are to make actual
anu substantial EXAMINATIONS OF AS
easements. as tho law requires. and in
cNeIS respect TO correct. 10y placing ut
i'IE maik"t value, assessments made
~ commissioners OF tho revenue below
falf market value. and 70 cause 10 be
assessed AT fair market Vaiu" personal
property and incomes which have
Hpt be"n assessed at all then the work
81 assessing tru" values in this State
mas just commenced. because public
sentiment IN every county ana city Will
demand that these Investigations. /,
shall be held annually. must be thor
"usn; iu4l ana complete With respect
- all persons
Is Trnc Democracy
From n political standpoint true
Of segregation be adopted for the roa-
son tHnt under that plan assessments
on rea! ana personal property tand in
locally solely for local purposes, and
counties and cities can use those rcvc-
iues. levied ia their own borders for
their own purposes, ana VIII not he
rucs 90 the support OF other counties
and t.ties
From a business standpoint scercga-
ton Us stll more desirable. because
each ccmmunity viii toe most careful
in its expenditure amt each taxpayer
ia thc community viii have an equal
interest III the Assessment OF tho real
ard personal property, ANA incomes. OF
all Ia The community, and by conserVa-
live business methods the locality will
be able 10 reduce the lew assessed
upon the true values in the commu
frankly confess n board OF equal
cation ia my opinion. at the seat OF
government viii not provo eilcacious.
resulting rather In tn. addition OF OIL
GERS at tho scat OF government than
in correcting satisfactorily the present
Inequalities IN assessments. such
board must he dependent TO q Great
degree ON the judgment OF others for
! hNinE these values values OF Hv:
stock Vary in the different sections OF
tho state. The same is true OF real
estate Adjoining farms vary mate
For many reasons the power to as
sess would be TOO far removed from
tho property and from the people in
tcrestcd and vitality concerned, and II
appears tho plan is impraciicablo and
impossible of Satisfactory and Just
operation.
Makes Assessment Local Problem.
/ SEGREGATION OF the subjects of taxa
/ tion eliminates the Interest Of the State
I in equalization ri assessments. The as
/ scSslncnts OF values then becoming
purely and simply a local matter
Let every county ana city bc de-
pendent for its revenue upon the as
sessment OF property within its boun-
darics, and venture to predict inc
result Will be assessments nearer true
and uniform value than ever before.
and values assessed in county or
city would not affect the values as
sesscd in any other county OF city.
The amoUu: u license tax on bust
ucsscs. professions, etc, for 1873 has
Increased over those for 1912, in round
The increase in license taxes, as we'll
As III" increase in corporation taxes
assessed Tor 1913 justincs the position
taken by me in the tentative plan of
4 segregation with respect to the reVc-
nus the state VIII receive and demon
strat.s clearly. 10 my mind, that II is
ample TO meet tho expenditures shown
IN that tentative plan must be met by
the State
( have every confidence In the States
4 ability 10 be operated upon the rcvc-
nue. she Will realize II the tentative
plan of segregation proposed by me
is adopted; however. 10 give II the
elasticity which ii Is apprehendcd by
some few II does not now possess. the
state can reserve TO herself the right
20 require counties and cities TO levy
for her bcnent. a tax not exceeding
cents on the 500 valuation on real
/ and persona! property.
10 emhody this provision In the plan
may StrGnEINCu II. d!tnouSN i nave
no idea that the state viii ever bc
under the necessity to make use of It's
provisions.
should lave Special session
I believe tho General Assembly
I should select a commission Cparuy
! legislative and partly otherwise. 10
vLom the matter OF taxation, In All
its phases. should b. referred, with
direction TO report complete plan
/ with bills prepared 10 put into opera
/ ton the plan. and that such a com
mission Should report 10 an eXtraordi-
( mary session TO hc held not earlier than
! November l, l@l4
rhe necessity for. and Importance OF
I tlHs work, in my opinion. more than
/ iustiaes tho cost OF such an cXtraordi
! nary session OF the General Assembly.
The urgent need is the .rcmodciinE
/ OF tho tax laws to meet the changed
/ business conditions In the state. I"
make the burden OF taxation uniform
! throughout the state, To make taxa
. ton the least oppressive possible. I'M
/ der existing conditions, ANA TO do away
! with double taXation, wherever posi-