The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-11
Auditor Says $300.000.0O0 of
Intangible Personal Property
Should Be Uncovered
''PAUPER" COUNTIES
NOT ALL TO BLAME
Corporation Commission Chair
man Points Out Why Some
Draw Out More Than Put
In Treasury

State Auditor c. Lee Moore, men,
Der OF the state tax board. made the
ANAL address before the conference
OF Examiners of records of the state
In Rutgers hotel yesterday afternoon.
taking ~ his subject The SeSrega-
tton Plan OF Taxation Following
The address. the conference dissolved
into . round table discussion CT tax
problems. and the gathering CT tax
officials closed last night with 2 din
nsr. This is the first conference of
Its kind to be held since the new tax
laws became effective, and it has been
of vast benefit to the examiner.
Major William II. Sands, the Deal
examiner OF records, was scheduled
for an address yesterday afternoon,
but he led the discussion following
the address OF Mr.. Moore. Al the
morning session Hon. Christopher II.
Garrett chairman Of the stat" cor
poration commission. made the prin
cipal address, and he was followed
by Richard McIlwaine Jr.. examiner
NJ records at Norfolk. Both SESSIONS
yesterday were well attended. -. l.
| Shewmake. counsel to the state tax
hoard. presiding.
Mr.. sarncit Speaks.
In his address Mr.. Garnett declared
that taxation should be levied not
according to benefits received. but &C
cording to ability to pay. ~. also
answ erred the criticisms Armed 81 the
tax laws, which accused them of IA
voring "pauper counties" This he
said was due 10 conditions over wuich
the state had ne control Mr., Nell
walne spoke an the relations ci the
examiners 10 the local board tf re-
view. and jne benefit they are II eff
fectively carving cut the tax laws OF
the state
Auditor Moore's Address.
Auditor Moore tn his address LAID
stress on the great increase Of the
amount of assessed value of intangi
he personal property and money in
. the state since the segregation plan
. Of taxation has been used. stating that
. from an assessment OF sl57.f5s.i0a in
|iefs IL had reached in 1916 a total
IF S2SsseT.2s2 With this large in
crease TO the state, he said. the tax
payer has paid less taxes. state and
local combined upon all intangible
property. and that the tax on real
estate and tangible property has been
F reduced from IS cents 10 10 cents on
the 800
Pointing out that vigilance on the
part of the examiners OF records would
make II possible for the state to real
ize revenue on property never before
ueGtATGu. MI FtatS1 that Was
would lead to the plishment OF
conditions that would result In com
plete segregation" which will make
IL unnecessary for the state to lay any
tax upon real estate and tangible per-
sonal property.
PAves Way to Reduce Rate
There is no reason. In my opin-
ion.' said the speaker. why. with
efficient and forceful administration.
re lrt ID n, Ia
personal property cannot be taxed and
yield to the state an annual revenue OF
So 900. 900. nor why the income tax
should not realize one-half million
dollars
Under the old system of taxation.
Mr.. Moore sta ted the common wealth
depended on the taxation of real es-
tate as the chief source Of revenue.
Under the new system. she has re-
duced the rate on tangible properties
10 10 cents on the 500. depriving the
state OF $l.s75.ooo. The new laws.
however. had for their purpose the
more complete assessment OF intanei-
bles, with a reduction OF the rate. and
kho uniform and universal application
Of the law. The success of tho plan
depends on the work Of the exami-
ners, and thus far it has been realized
to some satisfying extent
Large benefits have accru ~ to the
taxpayer under the present svstern OF
tAxation.' Mr.. Moore declared. ''TIe
now pays less taxes. state and local
combined. upon all intangible person
al property He only pays twenty
cents on the 500 on money. ne nays
less state taxes on real estate ami
tangible personal property. tho state
having reduced that tax from thirty
five cents to ten cents on the $780,
and eficient local administration can
reduce the local tax upon real estate
and tangible personal property. In
addition, the state merchants license
tax has been reduced. In fact. the
operation Of the law has been n re-
fluce everybody's taxes from the stand
point of the state. and the state, un-
der this desirable condition, i~ able
to realize revenue sufficient to ad-
minister her affairs He said that
tax conditions would further improve
as fast as tax officers enforced the
law. and the taxpayers responded to-
1.-THE letter of the law in reporting their
|intangibles for taxation.
Enforce Letter Of Law.
Mr.. Moore advised the exa,uipcrs to
see that the taxpayer made fun and
complete return of his properly for
taxation. and that he be made to sign
and swear to the correctness OK the
returns. II necessary, in casns where
|sit is not believed that the returns
are complete. the examiners 1rs en-
powered' to make an Investigation Of
the books and records OF the tax
Mayer for the purpose OF bringing to
iight omitted properties.
All should He On Books.
mo man has any excuse for omit
ting any part OF his property" de-
cIared Chairman Garnett. Of thA or
oration commission. when address
IN ffsnntinuad on FIFTH Paxe.)