The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-16

4 8 =. ii. 49,. Il ~. ~. w.. q ss...ss..s
1r3sx~rufn : re7nestrn ~ nee<>s eac-
1rxsf 81 nv x&s< forpsxrsf ferfssstr<
- fI>< ar<rak< city ~ tuentss and q
+ <osue even lnrfH fhen ene4h&sf IN
<uszr 81 tire looal3ttes ~huf~ sfse up-
1, SIGNAL ga = n04 inspoNd q Fesfucft0u
I "a tac-fislrza IS INSIDE, leaving a one
/ third. cf less. 81 the rate appiyin& on
/ ether property.
1s may be here stated that the Oh
tscnal lo1ai rate Of thirty cents would
not have been imposed bat for the
Yneistsnre Of some Of the cities for
! that provision. The reduced rates now
|, in eject on intAngtbles as compared
s with other classes of property could
y have been given By no other plan than
u that. Of Segregation as provided or
rather permitted, for the first time
under the Constitution OF te0f-z. to-
be operative after 1919 They repre-
sent the deliberate Judgment OF the
special session OF thu General Assem- 1
4 bly,. and were imposed after the whole
i question had been thoroughly pre-
/ scented and ably argued. Those who
! think the rate is relatively high must
II remember that the law allows deduc-I
/ sions for debt on most classes of IN
I tangible properts, leaving only the net
! to be taxed. while real estate and tam
! gsble personal property Is taxed res
Il gardless or indebtedness They should
4 also remember that a fun disclosure
OF intangible property would 80 IN
i crease the available sources of revenue
OF the State as to permit the rate To
4 be lowered ON all classes of property,
a result which affords ground upon
j which all taxpayers can meet
scycuty-fyc Million Added.
Z The segregation act after provid-
ing these reduced rates, did not rely
solely on the inducement which they
offered for voluntary disclosure. but
provided machinery through which
the State might accomplish the pur-
I pose OF the act. that of discovery and
bringing into contribution the unwill-
|, ling holders of property which had
!, hitherto escaped taxation. The 1usti-
!! fcafion for this machinery may he
found in the fact that even under the
imperfect way In which examiners of
I lrccords and other assessing officers
performed their duty, handicapped as
they were by the overhanging menace
OF imposition OF hack taxes for an in
, ideterminate period. and by other cir
leumHtances which did not give the Of
. flcers In some cases A. fair trial. there
i seems 10 have heen added to the tax
: lists infangif,les. including bonds.
) notes money. etc. amounting to abonf
) SIS, 600 600, for the current year. as
! iakainst those listed for and belonging
to the year previous. thus bringing
/ ander taxation the first year new tax
; able values, which have been in ex-
: istenee for years and not heretofore
discovered. amounting to sum al
most as much as the aggregate assess
ment OF all the physical property, ex-
Z Guiding rolling stock, of all the rail-
= IT, r.. Ia tat n n N
opinion. Is only the beginning of what
/. can be added IL the General Assembly
will, as suggested in the recommended
tons OF the State Advisory Board
|. Establish period for the assessment
! or taxes omitted prior to the year
MAE In this connection 1t may be
. stated that examiners of records have
: reported in certain communities omit
slted taxes for psryious years, amount
ing to ss4T.o Large sums may be
0 expected to arise from such sources In
81 other communities from the appiica~
n ton of whatever uniform rule is
: hnally adopted by the General As
4 lsembly.
q supporting Legislation Needed.
:" "wbateser may be realized from
= this last named source cannot be taken
:. IL, 10 consideration As current revenue.
-tTEdb so would be as unbusinesslike as
!, for an Individual to treat principal as
: income. Each current years expenses
|. should be provided for hy its own
!. revenue.
.we are now face to face with
- the 0uestion as TO whether or not
!, !, system which shows these be-
: Inefficient long sought for and
/. much desired results as n begin
MI ming. shall he endorsed by this
General Assembly and supported
by appropriate legislation with n
i view TO not only making peruaan-
d eut the advantages already gain
y; ed, hut to an extension OF the
+ System TO point OF complete
re- segregation bctwccn the state and
s. localities In the near future. and
al the gradual further reduction OF
: rates already rcdinced under this
~ system.
u where ~ the citizen who will
..4 say that the State has ahsoiyed
e herself under the segregation
ulan from any Of the obligations
IL h, the people heretofore resting
u,,op her, such as administrattes
- of the government in NIL OF Its
~ branches and departments, cduca-
III ton. roads and criminal eN-
~ pcnses. except In misdeamean"r
mi eases? Where IL the locaitS'
nj. VIII the GASNfyNsot ft"s9
IL inhcfore noted. which will SAY
ISL that its tax rate has not been re-
duccd by segregation?
Id 1T cannot ha denied that the rate
tion. nearly ALL ciasres Of property haV'
r. Iheen Substantially reduced every
II where. in certain cities claiming ~
:, lund,Ie burden growing out OF reia
,c ltieeIy high assessment OF It's fea
~ Eestste il must be, pointed out ina
10 this high assessment. y necessary
Ian. Was not made 80 for the bench
N of the state, hut for tho cities owl
"a purposes. and that eflp one cent II
IA eyerv nfteen or sixteen cents eallect
lei Ell from their citizens from real estat'
al eyer reaches the state Treasury, ant
nj this does not remaip. but automatIeali'
tos goes back to the schools, and is IN
s. common and sole State lax upon al
r the people alike for school purposes
p Injustice To; Some Cities.
"~rhe Joint Committee on Tax lie
\ 81 he "a "a