The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-21
MERCHANTS WANT
TAX COMMISSION

HAMPTON, VA, May 2o.--The
special committee on bringing the
tax commission to Old Point of the
Hampton Phoebus Retail Merchants
association has adopted set of reso-
buttons urging the com mission to hold
at least a days session in the Hotel
Chamberlin.
The resolution brings out the act
that the Tidewater section is not rep
resented on the tax commission ana
that the section here is paying big rev.
cues into the State treasury.
ahe figures and facts are given IN
very comprehensive style and the
local association has every reason 10
believe that the commission will come
to Old Point
The resolutions follow;
Whereas. 1t appears from the report
Of the auditor Of public accounts OF
Virginia for the year 1913 that the
total net gain to the State treasury
from all counties and cities. over and
above the sums returned thereto.
amounted to $1.41a.I22.os; and.
Whereas, it also appears from said
report that of this sum being paid
into the State treasury, the twenty
five counties and five cities located In
the Tidewater section OF the State pay
s54031STs, or more than one-thfrd;
and,
Whereas. il further appears from
said report that there are only twenty
nine counties in the State which pay
into the State treasury more than they
draw out, and of these there are ten
in Tidewater, a little more than one
third: and,
Whereas. although there is no rep
resentat!ve appointed to the tax com
mission from this section, 1t would
seem that Il IL was the intention Of
the legislature in forming a tax com
mission TO equalize taxes throughout
the State. that the Tidewater section
which pays the bulk of the taxes for
the State government should have
been entitled TO some representation
on the commission and.
Whereas. this condition was called
toSthe attention of the governor, presi-
dent Of the senate, and speaker OF the
house OF represe natives, who were
invested with the power TO appoint
the members Of the tax commission,
with a view to having the Tidewater
section of the State represented but
for reasons which have not been dis
closed those gentlemen saw fft to ig-
more this section and appoint all OF
the mem EeFS fEDUl OTHER bFttiQti2s .tttS
property In great many of which
Is assessed go low as 10 reduce their
interest in the subject OF taxStion 90
a minimum:
Now. therefore .nasmuch as the
Tidewater has been ignored by the APP
pointing power in naming the mem
hers of the tax commission.
Be 1t resolved by the Retail Mer-
chants association OF Elizabeth City
county. That the tax commission ne
invited and requested to investigate
thoroughly the conditions of taxation
existing In Tidewater as compared
with the other sections of the STATE.
with a view to Je1uaiizing our taxes,
and TO that end this association ex-
tends hearty invitation to the mem
bers of the commission to meet for as
many days as may be necessary TO
reach their conclusions at Old Point
Comfort, which lie centrally located
and accessible. there to consult with
representatives of local business con-
Germs. and property interests as CO.
CARDS the true equitable value of the
property in this section as compared
J with that Of other sections and other
wise obtain such information as may
be useful to them in dealing with the
subject which has been submitted to
them AS we are not represente on
the commission We can, therefore,
protect our interests in no other way,