Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-15
Nor, Power for Tax Board

More ROVER Tor Tax butrf
d lCllMOND is no, alone among American
y cities i'll taking diSproportionate contri-
buttons 10 the expenses of the States in which
they are situated. New York City pays -
per cent OF the revenues cf The State OF New
York. and Baltimore pays Il like proportion
of the expenses oi Maryland. Few Legislative
sessions are held anywhere in this country
al which strong protests against the injustice
done urban communities are not registered
This * small consolation. OF course. II
does not help the oyertaXed citizen OF Rich
mond 10 recall that residents in large centerS
OF population elsewhere are made TO bear the
same burden II merely reminds him that
cities receive about the same treatment every
where. and that they Will continue TO receive,
it until the problem OF taxation is solved
finally III some equitable way.
The system OF tax segregation. when per
feClcd, will provide that equality lmperiec-
tions III existing laws, failures 70 realize the
amount OF revenue expected. do no; argue the
system wrong Reduction III tariff rates by
Democratic Congress made the income tax
necessary, and war conditions required the
imposition oi war taxes. but it will scarcely
be argued. in this section OF the world n any
rate. that these circumstances justify a return
TO the old iniquties Of The Payne-Aldrich
schedules
The owner OF intangible personal property
III Richmond. before the passage OF the segre-
cation law. paid. or supposed 10 pay. 10
the State and city : 40 per 81 90 OF value.
Now he pays 90 cents The rate has been
cut nearly in half. In other communities in
Virginia. before the passage Of this segrcga-
ton law the owner OF such property paid
varying amounts dependent on the city or
county tax rate Since the passage OF that
law he pays from % cent down 10 nothing
dependent Oh the locality ate his own
honesty and the skill and energy with which
pS9 mi nT HAY ~.
Clearly, this situation should ne .actitiod
Means should be provided by whicn The
examiners of records may be made o do their
duty. The very theory OF the segregation
Law requires that owners OF property sccrc-
gated 10 the State shall make a uniform con.
tributon to The expenses OF the State. There
should not tie enforced payment in Richmond
and practiCa immunity elsewhere The ad-
visory board should be equipped with the
powers for which il asks
That single step would 90 far toward solv-
inc the financial problem OF the state. There
is no question whatever that millions OF
dollars worth Of intangblcs have not been
assessed for taxation under the operation OF
the existing law. Tha, fact should be rccog-
n2cd frankly. and most frankly 10y those re-
sponsibe, in large part or small for the
adoption OF the segregation system. Their
interest in the success OF the measure they
have sponsored should induce them 10 provide
II with the instruments OF success
Richmond has been forced ~ paw and
simple justice demands that other communi-
ties shall he forced TO pay The segregation
plan requires this demonstration Of it's essen
tial wisdom and validity and he state needs
The money. The combination Of justice.
political sci-intcrest ana financial necessity
ought 10 be sufficient 20 guarantee results
The Mississippi Legislature is agi,a,iug me
o q ldW liz. md RS.