Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-13
TAX STUDENTS ARE
READY FOR ACTION
Continued from First rage)
adoption OF the resolution. This nc
ton was taken.
MEMBERS OF REAL ESTATE
EXCHANGE ARE HEARD

Representatives of the Richmond
Real Estate Exchange were given
hearing at the morning session on the
mortgage tax bin. q. Fl. Funston.
president of the exchange. told the
body that the tax laws OF the United
States were not onc-tenth compli-
Gated and cumbersome as the tax laws
of Virginia, and urged some relief.
Henry S. Hutzler, private banker and
real estate dealer, who followed said:
THE Real Estate Exchange of which
j am member of the hoard OF dircc-
tors, represents 100000 900 In the city
of Richmond But we are not asking
for relief for Richmond alone We
want the whole state To bcneii, by your
legislation Our laws are too drastic.
Experience has shown that better re-
suits are obtained in the way OF rev.
cnucs from taxation where the laws
are least drastic. Our laws are cvadcd.
They would not be evadcd if they were
not so drastic If YOU don't give us
some relief YOU are going to drive Il
great deal of money out of the State
and prevent money from coming in
from other States.
AS the laws now stand in Virginia,
1t is possible for a man to evadc taxes.
When he dies his estate can be reach ed,
however, and the back taxes collect ed
For that reason we call IL the dead
mans law. 1t cannot reach the living,
but IL reaches the dead The widows
and orphans have to settle the debt TO
the state when the reckoning comes"
MONEY LOANED on real. ESTATE
BRINGS TANAnLEs VALUES.
Mr.. Funston said Money loaned on
real estate docs not go 10 build up the
great Steel Corporation, the American
Tobacco Company, and kindred enter
prises. II goes to build up real estate
values by the erection of improvements
thereon. which are at once placed for
taxation on the land books Such values
remain on the tax books until fire de-
stroys them OF the improvements arc
torn down. There is no evasion OF
taxes when suQl! tax is levied at the
source, or time az .recordation Of the
deed. Give the proposed law a trial. and
II IL Is not satisfactory repeal H."
hin Montague explaining features OF
his money tax bill, said: I'VE can't ex-
pect 10 bring about a perfect reform AT
jump. II We established and en-
forced proper tax rate next year
there would be revolution in Virginia
Not one OF you members of the Lepis-
lature would come back here You can't
expect the property owners IN Carroll
County, for example. who now pay only
IL per cent on realty values. irnmedi-
atcly 20 begin paying on fun values"
Mr.. Browning interrupted. WHY
not" he demanded. why should
the taxpayers in Carroll be as honest
as the people III other counties? WHY
distinguish between being honest next
year and in the years TO come? / can't
see the logic or justice OF that"
Mr.. Montague: "Ncvertheless, Il can't
and won't be done. we can't expec, /,
without a revolutions"
MARTIN WILLIAMS TAKES
ANOTHER FLING A., EIsrI,C
Judg" Martin Williams: Il want to
see all the property in the state as
sesscd and taxed, tangible and intanci-
ile. Nobody can better afford to paw
taxes than the man OF large means. Go
into the country districts and YOU will
h1n that the farmer is taxed for every
thing he has except his cats and
chickens
yet We come here to-day and learn
from these real estate gentlemen. who
freely admitted IT, that they have some
and taxation OF which country people
know nothing"
This latter uttcrance of Judge Will
liams excited some comment, md later
on he apologiZed for amy Injustice no
might have unintentionally done any OF
the gentlemen appearing before the
committee" explaining that his com
ment was meant as general and applied
10 real estate men in all counties and
cities, or 10 conditions throughout tho
State
Judge Williams also took occasion TO
reply 10 the characterizinK of his tax
hill as politics. out and out" by ono
OF tho members last Monday Il want
to say that | would rather play pnli,ice
than try 10 play politics without know
ing how" he said. fixing his gaze upon
Hugh a. White