The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-26
TAX REFORM SCOPE
MUST Be GENERAL
DIR. Freeman Outlines Definite
Program in Address Before
Credit Men.
RICHMOND PAYING MOST
Action of Chamber in Urging an
Aroused Public Opinion Is
Commended.
RICHMOND PAYING MOST


general in its scope. with representa-
tfHes pledged to support 1t, and organ
lied public opinion behind II. was laid
down as essential to successful tax re-
form in Virginia by DIR. Douglas FREQ
man In an address before the Rich
mond Association OF Credit Men at the
Business Mems Club last night. His
remarks were received with great en-
thusiasm. He was given q rising vote
OF thanks, and a resolution was adopt
Ell providing for committee to study
tho question and aid i'll acting upon
his suggestions.
The reform must be general in it's
scope. DIR. Freeman said, because no
one class can hope to succeed alone
against the conservatism of the Gen
eral Assembly. The reform must APP
ply to all classes of property.
it Is not enough that the represent
tatiVes be pledged to support tax re-
form in general, as some OF the news
papers are now urging In their edi-
torials. Almost any man will promise
that, but he does not take the promise
as including tax reform which will
affect his own county. Therefore lcgis-
ihtorS must be pledged to the support
of n definite scheme.
Commcnds Chamber.
i am glad to sec that the Chamber
or Commerce is taking steps to organ
iSe and form public opinion on this uucs-
ton. Without IL the movement will new
err succeed. The Assembly, after all. can
not be severely blamed, and l believe
that when the people are fully aware
what they want We will have men In
the Legislature who Will see that they
get it.
1T is only by legislative reform. and
not by inquisitorial methods, that the
existing evils can be remedied. If in
quisitorial methods are continued. the
result will be to drive capital from
Virginia Persons having intangibles
invested here Will remove them to
Washington for safety.
me recent investigation by a grand
jury into the assessment OF bank de-
posits i'll Richmond WAS tustinable only
IN SO FAR rs IL revealed differences
! between the burdens carried by indf
| Viduals. IT resulted in the withdrawal
OF $1,000, 600 from Richmond banks.
Ihis lniquitous law. which iinDoses ,
TAX on bank deposits, is an oltrare To
average intelligence"
Ut. freeman characterized tho Vir
Einia tax code as antiquatcd and a
disgrace, saying that there Is not
worse code In the United States ana
that much of the verbiage is still th.t
OF period before the Civil War. The
Inequalities which result he olaced I'm
three classes-those between localities.
between classes Of property ana bo
tween individuals
Richmond Pays the Freight.
I'm Richmond the average assess
ment is on about Go per cent of the
| value, while in many OF the counties
me assessment does not average o5
| per cent j know of a. house on West
Franklin Street which is worth $4,000
and is assessed at S1o1, 900, and this Is
sample case here. ] know OF some
fine bluegrass land in Washington
| County which is held at 5000 an acre
and assessed at SIS an acre, and such
cases are not rare In the delinquent
/ counties. The citizens of Richmond
are paying the road and school taxes
and the pensions for other parts of the
| State.
! Banks in Virginia pay taxes on
about 80 per cent OF all they possess,
and fduciaries are also assessed out
/ ragcously / know of a widow whose
! sole support is an income OF $50
/ year from $4,000 of invested property
| which she cannot touch. The State
takes S52 in taxes out of this $50 an
! nually. The tax law which thus robs
a widow is Il disgrace TO the State Of
I Virginia"
DR.. Freeman also pointed out the
. necessity for = rcapportionment OF the
House If effective tax legislation is to
be obtained. declaring that under the
present arrangement the thirty-cight
I delinquent counties can defeat the ma
jority by allyng with the minority.
The representation must he so APP
portioned that it represents people, In
stead OF scrub timber and b-oomsedge
fields" he said.
Association Growing.
There were about 90 present 1T the
supper and meeting, which was the last
quarterly gathering OF the association
before the annual meeting in May.
President John S. HarWood presided.
o. j. Sands, president OF the American
National Bank. Introduced a resolution
10 the effect that the members should
write To Representatives and Senators
urging the necessity for immediate
Federal currency legislation.
Colonel 10 Lane Stern, secretary OF
the association, delivered his report,
showing that the membership has
grown since the beginning Of the asso-
citation from thrty-five to IFS. Others
who spoke were w. B. BrOaddus, Rev.
g. w. Kcinpcr. u. D.. Of the Hanover
Avenue Christian Church: Julian ri.
HIN. treasurer Of the associations; D. b.
Jones, Of Petersburg: II. VI. Kent. Jr..
Wallace blanks anf L. NJ. Dalton, Of
Petersburg.
10 Preach mt Emmanuel.
Rev. u. IL. Warren. rector of Meade