Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13
Governor Stuart's advice

of last year. Because of the yammeringS of
certain interested parties. more noisy than
logical. the injunct ion may have been needed.
but that it will be needed goes almost with
out saving.
Virginia has committed itself formally to
the principle OF tax segregation. rather to
the extension OF that principle already
bodied in State laws and practices to nearly
the whole field of taxation 1t has set aside
intangible personal property of the
principal sources of State revenue. and it has
provided certain agencies through which CON
cealed intangibles may be discovered and
made 10 bear their fair share of the burdens
Of government.
1t is inconcevable that Virginia will
abandon. without opportunity for trial.
either the pr~-cple or the related laws neces-
sary 10 give tnat principle potency.
However, the statutes OF this Common
wealth do not resemble those of the Modes
and Persians. They are neither sacred nor
irrepealable. and certainly, the Governor
himself points out. their deficiencies and in
convenicnces should he cured The present
state of the revenues may not suggest this as
an appropriate season at which 10 reduce the
rates on intangibles. but that they hould be
reduced at some time within the near future
seems reasonably clear.
Under the law ii stands, the State taxes
ntangibles 60 cents on 500 and permits the
localities to impose further tax of 30 cents.
Richmond, in common with practically all the
cities and most of the counties has levied the
full amount OF this permitted tax. making
the total 50 cents on 500. In Richmond the
combined State and city tax on realty and
tangible personally is S1.75. but the assess
ment In no case represents the full value of
such property, and in many instances is less
than 30 per cent Of the true market value
The result OF this situation is that the owner
OF n $1,000 bond frequently is taxed more
40 nf nj
This is neither just nor eXpedient.
Moreover. despite all the inquisitorial laws
that may be invented some intangibles will
escape discovery and their number would in
crease should the feeling of injustice become
general Other States tax intangibles at
much lower rate than does Virginia. and over
taxation tends TO drive large owners of evil
dences of debt to such other States. In Vir-
gna il must always he remembered that
Maryland is one OF these more lenient Com
monwealths.
The Governors views as to the necessity
OF wise provision for the enforcement of the
prohibition laws to be enacted at this session
wholly admirable. He is charged by the
Constitution with the laws enforcement and
should he invested with the authority TO
translate that obligation into action Mani
testify, he should not share this authority with
some independent and perhaps rebellous
officials elected by the General Assembly and
The British Cabinet. as we'll as others i'm
Europe, ought 10 take leaf out OF the book
of Sing Sing Riley who regards himself so
highly that ne refuses get out even when
ordered out by the man who put him in
Charter Change Commission and Aldermen
T is obvious that the proposal, launched al
the meeting OF the Board Of Aldermen on
Tuesday night, TO require the signatures Of
90 per cent OF the qualified voters To a petition
for charter commission is the frs, step in
an effort 10 defeat the whole movement look
ing 70 chang" in Richmond's antiquated
charter. On that broad question issue is
joined. and IL is the duty OF the citizens of
Richmond 10 let their Will be known III they
are content with the present charter, and do
not bestir themselves TO see that it is
amended. or that provision is made for it's
it seems likely that the Board of
Aldermen, or certain OF its members, will
make a determined fight 10 retain the citys
imperfect and out-of-date Constitution
II, on the other hand the citizens Of Rich
mohG let IL be known that they are equally
determined ,ha, modern methods and plans
for efficiency and busincssiikc administra ton
shall o. Installed AS par, Of Richmond's gov
ernmentai machinery, the dissenting Alder
men will surely see light Recent develop
m.nts in municipal affairs have shown the
people and their representatives in various
departments that the will Of the people is the
hhal authority, even in conservative and
nn"Xcitablc community rs Richmond So
the decision of this one big issue--charter
change or no charter change with the
people they have only 10 declare themselves
ana the objections Of individual Aldermen will
fade away and withcr.
fortunately. however, il seems at this
time, the attitude Of the Board of Aldermen
Is not decisive one way or the other. II would
nave been gratifying if thu Board had CON
CURED IN the Common Councils action and
1t VIII be gratifying il it shall yet do SO But
II isn't necessary charter commisCion can
ana probably VIII, To authorized by the Legis-
iaiure whether the Board OF Aldermen de-
sires II or not. So. after all, the question for
the dissenting members 10 decide Is whether
thcy VIII assist in obtaining it, or continue to
iitcrpose objections 10 what will almost GER
fanny be secured. with or without their
assistance or opposition And the people will
remember, In the end
SIX OF the eleven directors OF the New York
ne" Haven and Hartford have been acquitted
by the jury Ii this process of elimination
continues there Will be nobody to hold re-
g.! npohSiDlc except the widows and ornha nc