The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-12
''|1l([ PACE LARGE
TAX BURDEN on CITY.
Fact That Examiner Sands Has Done
HIS Duty Thoroughly, While Others
Have none IAttle. Works Hardship.
PAY LARGE TAX PROPORTION
from Present outlook, Richmond MAY
Pay One-Fifth OF States Total Reve-
nue,-President Reed on Unus"aa
Situation.

~
.ral wear. been paying to the State OF
Virginia from one-seventh 70 one
sixth of the total sum paio "
stare and II Examiner Sanus Gon
tinues as he promises 10 uo, -,
a.har .~.miners follow the aovice OF
~. c+sta ADVISORY Board on TaxatioH
81 ,he affect that they CONNIE tneir
tnvestiration to records no Inrthe,
hack than last year. Ricnmonu VIII
probably pay one-hith Oh the "'e'se :
taxes p,,.,o,a
4~,.n,,tA nav about one-fourteenth OF
3ns Gtate's taxes, but IL the records
a her property owners and merchants
an rome into for the past quarter OF
4 century. az Major Sands promises
20 do. her proportion will be about
three times as big as II should be. or
about one-fifth OF the total amount
paid In
Can't Defend Fraud.
President William T. Reed. OF the
Chamber of Commerce, In discussing
this matter, said:
The Chamber of Commerce can
not be put in the position or deleno-
ing a man who has sworn to a raise
tax return. 1t seems to me that those
who have submitted to the demands
"a examine their books will have TO
ray the assessments returned against
them. II a man has been eyadins
taxes systematically, he IS not IN
position to defend himself.
But II lie also true that many repu-
table men have gone to commissioner
Tresnon or his predecessor. Commis-
sioner Hawkins and have with tneir
assistance made out their returns Al
good faith. oniv to fnd now that there
are further claims that may ne maze
against them.
II am reliably informed that Elk
aminer sands. in his investigations
during the past few months has not
gone back more than five years IL
does seem to be a serious injustice 70
Richmond that this city, which already
paws a large part Of the taxes OF the
Commonwealth should be called on
to meet A scrutiny which other sec
tons OF the State will not face.
The state Advisory board has is
cucd no order regarding this problem.
They have urged the examiners ana
commissioners to get an the in1orma-
tion and assessments for the Seas
1918 In shape making II clear that
such action would not servo as bar
70 future efforts OF the State TO collect
back taxes.
A Difficult Problem
The problem is a very dilfcult one
The States Advisory Board being Inn
tied In its power to the almost useless
function OF giving advice.
Mai Sands. when questioned yeafer-
day regarding his position since the
REGENT Of the ADVISOR Boards let
ter, said:
Il have read the circular carefully,
- tu nc and
Also as does tn. encouragement. with
due regard to my oath Of office, / shall
proceed with my work as heretofore.
Under the law examiners may carry
their investiga lions back rs far as
1875. They are not required to so
that far back II all depends on the
examiner. He may be satisfied In
Scott or Russell or in any other county
TO 60 back one year. or two years. or
ten years. and II that is all that he
does. the taxpayers nnder his turisaic-
ton are lucky. II he goes back ioriy
years in Richmond or Norfolk or
J,o-dcun. the taxpayers in those cities
and counties ;,re unlVc!,.f
The Iegisiature at its next session
may take a hand in the matter and
prescribe Just how far back examiners
must carry their investigations for
omitted property in tax returns
Such a step would probably mean
the loss Of several hundreds OF thou
sands OF dollars to the State--that Is,
If the examir ers and commissioners
are limited to- going back fer only \
short period of years.
Those advocating such step have
mentioned the fact that examiners OF
records get percentage on the
amount of uriisted property and pur-
chases OF merchants which they UNI
earth. Busy examiners In rich sec
lions Of the state are reported TO col
lect princely incomes for their work.
These kickers also recognize the fact
that the State gets by far the larger
share OF this newly discovered"
wealth.
They urge that the law should ex-
plicitly require all examiners to carry
their Investigations back to certain
year, and that while they should be
well paid for their work. that their
percentages sho, Id cease when their
income had xcached 5 certain amount
The percentage basis Of compensa-
ton, however. is only for one year,
the examiners thereafter receiving
stated salary - Sc 500.
PROSPECTIVE ROW