Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-29
The True Path of Tax Reform


political dodge. not a lad bus comes
OF general recognition that our present stua-
| ton is intolorubie. In Virginia. i'll most
| States, the old system of taxation inherited
from the fathers has worked such hardsiiips
10 taxpayers and created such ili-feeling he
| tween sections that some EFFORT at remedy is
Imperative
What is proposed by the advocates Of scgre-
cation? Simply the creation OF Il Tax Com
mission with certain limited powers and
duties, among them that of trying TO CGuaEe
assessments. But what herculean and
endless task. even witty adequate powers,
would be the equalization of values in IL
State where assessments vary from the 10
per cent OF selling price i'll Carroll County to
the 20 per cent of some towns. and where
diverse interests of mountain, plain and sea-
shore hayeS-to be considered How long
would Virginia have TO wait for the Tax Com
mission to give justice? And what guar
antoe is there that the dissatisfied sections
would he placated when the commission final
~. some centuries hence, completes its task? ?
The advocates OF the commission have
nothing better TO offer than the establishment
OF officers of government WHO shall 20 on
tinkering at a system long ago outworn ami
oppressive
Let MS hear the voice OF authority OF. the
subject Professor Seligman. OF Columbia
University. is generally recognized as the
lifetime studying taxation. This is what
he says of segregation: THE separation OF
State and local revenues is a matter Of i'm
portancc in the American commonwealth OF
to-day, not SO much because ii forms in Itself
any solution OF the problem OF taxation but
because it is the indispensable initial step TO
any substantial and lasting progress. The
separation Of State and local revenues is not
a cure. but il will help TO make cure pos
Sible."
And this is What his experience has found
true OF Tax Commissions: The differences
in assessed valuations in various sections of
our States have everywhere become so glar-
ing that the last few decades have seen in
almost every the creation OF boards of
equalization designed to remedy the ac-
knowiedged evil 1t is equally notorious
however, that the remedy has been entirely
inadequate and that the boards of euuali2a-
ton have been unable To accomplish what
was expected OF them The inequalities go
on almost unchecked, very largely for tie
reason tfat the memners OF the State boards
nave too imperfect Il knowledge Of the local
conditions 10 admit OF any successful revision
OF property Valuations"
segregation is comparatively new in this
country, though old enough and satisfactory
10 a nigh degree in Europe. 1t has one alb
solnte advantage-sim II has gem
orally worked we'll where it has been tried in
this country. and its faults are rapidly being
corrected by experience. II is giving salts
faction at the present time in California and
in other States.
Opponents have sometimes claimed that il
was failure in New York because thai
State, after some years OF entire segrega-
ton, went back TO partial segregation But
TINS apparent reversiOn was due to a sudden
ana enormous extension OF expenditure; the
state spent $l00,000.00O ON the Erie Canal
ma :