Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-09-24
Attorney General Pollard.
Will Oppose Any Com :,
promise in Case
POSITION IS STATED
millionaire May be Made to Pay I've
Million Dollars-PowerfHl Influences
1T Work.

Richmond, Sept. 24--Th"mas FOR
tune Ryan, of New York and Vif-
e;nia. will have to make full anu
complete settlement with the state
Of Virginia for all omitted back taxes
An offer was made several days
ago it was stated authority, to com
nromise the claims of the State by
the payment to the State OF 81 'oooooO
IN full of all claims. He may be com
pelled to pay twice that amount
Attorney General Pollard was pos
tive in his position that no such set
Element should or would be accept
ed by the State. He was empnatic IN
lis declaration.
Attorney General Pollard further
said:
"No officer of the State has any
right to make any deduction or com
promise of any character reducing the
s.,m which any taxpayer owes the
State under the rate of taxation
t;xed by the General Assembly.
1.-THE law contemplates that ali
taxpayers, shall pay the same rate,
and any compromise would result
in granting lower rate to those VINO,
by accident or design, has escaped
taxation in past years.
$50 far as this office is concerned
it will not approve the payment OF
anything less than the full amount
Que the State. Under the Constitution
the General Assembly has no right
To make reduction, and it follows
that no officer has any such right.
Mr.. Pollard is determined to figh;
any compromise or settlement on the
uart of the State in this case OF an!
similar case that is brought to mis-
attention. The full amoun. reported
by examiners in all cases will be Ga-
randed by the Attorney General, anG
it is :plainy that he: will go; into couri
10 sustain this point.
1t was equally splain that Mr.. Pol.
lard has made up his mind to stano
behind the examiners of record IL
their efforts to get all the taxes due
to the State from any source, am;
he will go to court in every case t,
have the full claims paid.
That powerful influences have been
at work here to have Mr.. Ryan savec
from the payment of the omitted
taxes, and were here Tor several days,
is common report. In fact. one vcr!
prominent public official discussed
the matter with Auditor Moore.
SSince Mr.. Pollard rendered opin-
ions on points raised by the State Ian
Advisory Board, in which ne made ii
plain that it was the duty OF all eX-
aminers of records to go as tar back
for omitted taxes as was possible, the
State board has not asked further
opinions. Mr.. Pollard is ready &c
render further decisions that may oe
asked by the board.
Right on the surface, the outlook 's
for locking of horns on the part o.
Mr.. Pollard and the State Advisory
Board on Taxation if the board in
tended to prevent examiners gong
back for several years and forcing a
settlement of omitted taxes.
Reports of what will be done by
the next Legislature are coming thick
and fast. That political influences will
seek to have the Legislature AFFORD
some remedy for relief to persons who
have successfully lodged taxes: IN the
past is current report. This cannot
be done except by amending the Con-
stitution. which would be SLOW and at
tended with much difficulty.
One suggestion is that the Legis-
lature may seek to correct the "evil''
by limiting the fees of examiners TO.
!: period not exceeding FIVE years,
thereby allowing no pay for the great
amount of work which they would
have to do in future.
Whichever, plan, is adopted means
that the state, of Virginia will lose