The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-21

Strong arguments for the creation Of
a permanent State tax commission, as
the most necessary step in the re-
vision of the Virginia tax system. were
made last night by speakers before
200 business men, farmers and mem
bers OF the General Assembly at the
opening session OF the conference call
ed by the Chamber of Commerce TO
ihrGsh Gut the PrGbiG OF tax
gregation of taxes partially applied Is
meritorious. the speakers. were unani-
m1ms IN d deGriyinE TINS tneGry 5he
tie segregation and n little direct taxa
ton by the State. administered by
permanent state tax commission under
the civil service, was declared to be
almost the ideal solution Of the
T. S. Adams. chairman Of the wis
consin tax commission. I'm applying his
Wisconsin experience to Virginia CON
ditionS said
The big problem in obtaining
lies back in the rural districts where
payers and dependent upon them for
his position; the basis of this problem
is grounded upon Ignorance of real
norance is to accumulate exact data
and information; to accumulate this
knowledge YOU must expect to spend
small amount of money.
Cost of Commission In Little.
The information can only be coll
lected by an earnest body of men, stu
are paid to devote their entire time and
energies to the collection of informa-
ton and the application of 1t to con-
to tax commission on the grounds of
expense. That will hardly bear water.
Two-tenths of l per cent of the taxes
collected in Virginia Will pay for the
maintenance OF u commission"
Under the system OF tax administra-
Tax Commission would have num-
Der of expert tax assessors, who would
be sent by the commission to correct
missioners of revenue or to investigate
complaints by citizens of discrimina-
tory and unjust assessments. In Wis
consin. said Mr.. Adams, the tax com
peal for the individual from iniquitous
tax commission would be appointed
from the qualified lists of the civil
Dislike Applied Segregation.
Both Mr.. Adams and the speaker fol-
Of the New York Tax Reform Associa-
segregation, on the grounds that the
total absence of a general property tax
by. the State tends TO lessen the Inter
est OF the. individual in the States
finances: In other words. under n sys-
tenn which makes the corporations IN
taxes only to the State and the indi-
eminent, the forces of corporate infu-
ence are concentrated on the Legisla-
ms nj interest and his eyes in another
direction. Segregation has led to ex-
traHaSance in State finances where 1t
has been put into operation, said Mr..
Adams.
Both Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Pleydell had
little TO say III favor of the assessment
/ an a. .g ut T,,Il
In neither Wisconsin nor New York had
the assessment of this class Of prom
crty proved satisfactory. Both speak
ers advocated the abolition OF such a
TAX and the substitution Of n low State
income tax assessed by civil service
assessors under the State tax commits
sion.
PIeydeII Praises Special Taxes.
Mt. Pleydell, while agreeing that Sc
greEation tends to decrease tho indi :
viduafs interest In State finances. did
not wax enthusiastic over the idea OF
State tax commission. The Wisconsin
E rn,,nii,c ne said. was more than
had disappointing experiences with
commissions The partial segregation
Of taxes In New York, he said. has
Justment OF the tax problem. The an
picatlon TO the State of corporate and
! special taxes has so lowered the State
TAX rate that assessors no longer fear
70 return something like a reasonably
Just appraisement of property in their
| lctaUlleS.
The auditorium OF the Richmond
liotcl was we'll filled when Arthur NJ
| cannon chairman of the Chamber NJ
ICoinmcrcc's Legislative committee. cali.
ca the conference to order
/ In addition to members OF tho Touso
ana Senate. there were many rcpre
sentatives OF commercial ORGANIZATIONS
III other cities farmers here for ths
farmers institute. and business men nf
hichmohd. Among the many who reg
llstcred wore delegates from Norge Nor
! i"lk, Naruna, Lynchburg, Bent Creek.
Ntiec, BrideSwatcr, Charlottcsville
Eulnea Mills. Woodbridge, Williams
DurG, Waterford. Charles City. New
port News and Alexandria
Governor Mann Presides
On calling the conference 10 order
MI cannon introduced Governor Mann
VINO presided. In his address OF Svni
come. Mayor Ainsie said he be1ievnd
good would come OF the conference
ahG mat start toward tax reform
nau been made since all were orrecd
mat something must be done Presidcnt
M. Darlington. of the Chamber of
T ,h forcshadowed tho action OF
me conference In his address bv saw.
ing mat nearly all business men have
come TO believe that the GOycrnnr
snould be empowered to appoint n tnx
commission TO study the problem and
report 10 a special session Of the Gen.
efai Assembly next fall.