The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-18
Voice Of the People
Tux l.nnd.

To the Editor of The Times DIsnotcb.
S'r,-Thc State Tax Commission APP
pointed by the last Legislature has
been moving around the State in pur
suit of what the editors style the
public sentiment of the people" on
what should hc done TO improve the
existing tax law OF the State, or. as
some put 1t rather vaguely. to equalize
taxes In the 100 counties Of the State.
venture to assert that to-day only
half of our voters know of the cxis-
tcnce OF this Tax Commission, and not
10 per cent Of them know that there
was similar Tax Commission two
years previous that made a report TO
tho Legisla turc written by Dr. Doug
lass Freeman. which showed that there
is gross disregard of the law by the
state officers In assessing both Dcr-
sonalty and land for taxes
Hon. Richard Evelyn Byrd. in his
speech before tho BAR Association last
summer. stated that "our tax laws are
defective both In their intent and in
their practical operation" First their
intent Is that all visible evidences OF
property must pay the State tax, such
as mortgages bank deposits. stocks
and bonds. etc; and also. they must
pay at par value. while land (rcal
property Ia assessed for taxes at only
Al per cent of Its value as estimated
by the Tax Commission.
ne intent oil the present law shows
that the trainers were either very To-
norant Of the principles oC taxation
and social science" or were careless
as to whether capital and labor were
driven away by double taxation or
not This unjust law is quite what
WAS to be expected OF tho land-owning
class of VirEinians who needed lit
tie capital. because the natural In
crease in chattel slaves was the same
thing as capital. while they owned tha
title to most of the desirable land and
controlled the privilege OF assessing
II for taxation.
Now this statement of fact NAV he
Hike digging UP the family skeleton,
but n general knowledge of these facts
new tax law for our new Virginia
that we arc now rebuilding on the
sure and safe foundation OF free la
Dor.
The operation OF the old law has
driven away many OF the best son.
were not in the land owning class, and
since the war 1t has driven away
capital and discouraged Improvement
and industry by double taxing many
forms OF capital and all the product OF
labor. But in spite of all this care
less disregard OF natural law and
common sense. Virginia Is actually be-
-
truth telling mirror of social condi-
lions that cannot lie is tho land values
of n community. which rise as popu-
lation increases and as the benefits OF
government and public service are
extended among tho people. Every To-
cal paper In Virginia is boasting Of
tho rise OF land values in and near the
towns and other social centres. Much
OF this increase is only prospective
value" and Is due to the geographic
cal and climatic position OF Virginia to
other rich and congested States and
we really are having prosperity thrust
upon us. Yot the unwritten law of
the State still allows the fortunate
owners of title to valuable land 20 put
the tax assessment on It, or. what is
Greet person az assessor. who looks
after their interest as privileged land
owners.
The law takes one-thrd of the in
come of widow in taxes If It is in
a trust fund, while I know Of actual
sales OF land by spectators at twelve
times tho assessed value for taxes.
know town that assesses vacant lots
at % per cent OF their value. and last
year put special extra tax on board
ing houses. Women have no vote in
Virginia.
Don't confuse real farmers with the
ones that are only protendcrs. Tho
land values are in and near the cities.
That is whore to got the money to pay
for schools, etc. "PIEDMONT."