Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-10
MERCHANTS OBJECT To
PROPOSED INCREASE
Retailers Say State Advisory Board
Plans to Unload Burden
ON Thcm.
WILLING TO PAY THEIR SHARt,
But DO Not Feel That They Arc
Called Upon to Meet More Than
One-Fourth OF Anticipated Deficit
in States Revenue.
WILLING TO PAY THEIR SHARdI

Retail merchants OF Virginia are up
in arms against the recommendation OF
the State Advisory Hoard on Taxation
that tho taxes upon them be increased
| about SO per cent. according to VIII
liam y. Clarke. Jr., secretary OF tho
I Virginia Retail Merchants Association,
who also occupies the same Office with
tho Richmond organization.
MIR. Clarke remained at his office
late last night, engaged in receiving
long distance telephone messages from
Merchants In all parts of tho State
and answering kilograms protesting
against tho contemplated action OF the
, General Assembly.
The State faces deficit in tho
neighborhood OF 100000" said Mr..
Clarke. "and to help make up n part
OF this, the retail merchants, It is
planned, must pay one-fourth, or about
s25o.oo0. II liz n hardship. and will
seriously affect the small retailer. we
propose TO fight IL to the end. Mer-
chants all over Virginia arc aroused.
| MERCHANTS DO NOT OBJECT
TO PRESENT TAN LEVY
this increase. which is in addition TO
city taxes City taxes. especially in
Richmond, are high. Norfolk is for
| tunate in having the easiest taxes upon
its retail dealers. However. the ,ncr-
chants there are also vigorous in their
protests against the proposed increase.
Merchants are now paying tax of
S5 on the first 81 900 purchase and $40
| on purchases of $4,000. We have no
objection TO th!s tax" continued Mr..
Clarke. I'VE regard il as just and
equitable. In fact" he said. 1--WE have
advocated this tax of So and $40 on the
| first $1,000 and $4,000 purchases of mer-
chants.
but we do protcst when the State
wants TO call upon us to pay $3.50, 900,
or one fourth. OF the deficit which the
Auditor says is before the treasury of
the Commonwealth.
STATE TRYING TO THROW
BURDEN on RETAILER
1T IS a matter OF case TO ascertain
the assets and liabilities OF the retail
merchants. especially tho larger deal.
ors. and even should any OF these try
TO dodge paying their taxes to tho
State. 1t would he practically i'm
possible. The State Advisory Board
wants to throw the burden on the re-
tailers: why don't the members of that
body get busy and do something about
the hidden taxes which have been un-
touched?
IF this plan goes through. Richmond
merchants In particular will he handi-
capped. Taxes in Baltimore and Wash
ington will be much less. and II is just
as plain as y G, If this increase in
taxation Is imposed upon tho dealers
Of Virginia. that Washington and Bal
tmore shops can undcrscll us to such
an extent that the people of this State
will become their catalogue buyers.
THE retail merchants OF Virginia
want to pay their proportionate share,
but they also want fair play. The con-
templated law will work a hardship
upon the retailer, especially the small
dealer.
MERCHANTS ARE WILLING
TO PAY THEIR SHARE
"This unjust tax will also affect the
jobbers as we'll as the retail merchant.
at Is a known fact that land taxes
are omitted in returns made to the
state II the State Auditor wants to
make up the deficit, let him go after
these. 1t is Cf.ust that the burden
should be placed upon the principal
business men of the State. The mer-
chants are willing to pay their share,
but they want n square deal. II tho
proposed accommodation OF tho Ad-
visory Board is enacted into law, il will
not be a fair one.
'The small dealers all over the State
are just awakening to the fact Of tho
measure now pending in the General
Assembly, and, I have no doubt. they
will soon como in person to lodge their
protest to their representatives in both
House and Senate"
RATES WE'RE REDUCED AT
SPECIAL SESSION LAST YEAR
Members of the Legislative committee
Of the Richmond Retail Merchants AS
sociation held n meeting yesterday af-
ternoon and discussed the situation.
No definite action was taken. hut it
was the unanimous opinion that the