Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-19
CITY PROPOSES TO TAX
]. PEOPLE IN PROFESSIONS
Prepares Drastic Ordinance TO Reach
Men and Women Not Now
Classified
COLLECT on INCOME BASIS
wyers, Physicians, Architects,
MassCurs. Dentists. Surveyors, En-
gincers and Others to Pay I Per
Gent Of Gross Income.

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To make up tho deficit caused by
loss OF liquor licenses and other sources
of revenue the Council Committee on
Finance has prepared license tax or
dtnanre this year which will. if passed.
Impose what is virtually an income tax
upon all professional men and women
and agents. In the past many of this
class OF citizens have paid no taxes
except upon real estate and personal
property.
The measure was prepared by The
Finance Committee Immediately after
the completion Of the budget. and IT
WAS sent TO the Common Council with
the recomme nGatiou ;hai it be adopted.
IT was tabled in the lower branch and
ordered 10 be printed. It will probably
he delivered 10 City Clerk Ben T. Au-
gust to-day. and the Finance Commit
tee Will seek 10 have 4 special meeting
OF the Council on Monday night put
the paper on lis passage II adopted
by the City Council and approved by
the Mayor il Will become effective on
and after May |.
The measure is regarded by the
Finance Committee OF the most urgent
Importance. and IL said last night
that II Will cause people iii twenty
FIVE or thirty walks of life TO pay taxes
who never before nave been classified
under the old tax or license system.
MANY PROFESSIONS ARE
Nj III ORDINANCE.
The ordinance would cause the fol-
lowing professional men TO pay what
would be virtually an income tax of
per cent on their gross annual earn
ings. in addition 10 TAX of $40 on
their first $1,000 Of earnings; lawyers.
physiciais architects. osteopaths:
ltealers. veterinary surgeons. mas
sage practitioners. phrenologist den
fists, conveyancers. surveyors and
engineers. Those who are not lawyers.
but do legal work: not architects but
earn their living by drauGhting. not
work, will he classified as attorneys,
architects. contractors and so on.
The man who does not keep set OF
books hat who has an annual income
from his work is the fellow we are
going to tax said member OF the
Finance Committee.
Nall agents whose source of income is
derived from commissions on sales will
also be called upon. The ordinance
would require each OF this class to pay
$50 on the first $4,000 Of his income
and per cent on all in excess of that
sum. This would cover a wide field
All other lines OF business and trade
heretofore licensed or taxed will not be
affected, the old rates remaining the
same. with the exception OF soda-watcr
fountains. On soda water fountain
costing LOCO more an annual tax
of $50 Will be imposed, and for those
costing $500 or less minimum tax Of
$50 Will be demanded. All owners Of
fountains whether operated in connec-
tion with a store or not will be liable
10 this tax.
GROSS EARNINGS TO HE
B\SIS OF TAXATION
This is the first time that the city
has seen III 10 lsvy or income taxes
except in the case Of railroads. pcr-
sons in the professions named viii lie
taxed upon their gross earnings or in
comes.
Just what additional revenue these
taxes will bring into the city is
matter Of speculation. City Auditor
Crenshaw said that it would he i'm
possible 10 make an estimate on this
subject.
Provisions of tho ordinance did no,
come 10 the puhlic's notice until yes
terday, tho measure never having been
read since 1t was rccomme nded TO
the Council That II contains big sur
prises for many citizens is a forcgonc
conclusion.
AND as FOR tho owners OF automo-
biles. the worst is Vet 10 come The
committee viii shortly report TO the
Council for adoption an ordinance to.
put special license tax Of s. on each
automobile used in the city. ON the
basis that tG.sc arc 10000 motor We
hieles in RtchSlond, il is figured that
which Will bo devoted 10 the improve
ment of streets II has been pointed
out that nearly every city in tho coun-
try, including some in Virginia puts
special tax on automobiles, and il is
regarded by the Finance Committee
as fair price for tho use of the
streets.
The measure rs ono Of tho most inn
pcrtani and far-reachinS which has
been offered III the Council in - long
while. II Is in harmony with the
statement of Auditor Crcnshuw made
several months az" that tho city mus,
increase It's revenue or curtail the city
government. ~ the time he mention
ed probable increase IN taxes Til.
Finance Committee believes that /, ha,
solved the problem of raising money to
run the government with increasing
F. taxes; simply by taxing persons who
heretofore have escaped tho long arm
Of the Commissioner OF Revenue ana
City Collector
Many members % the Council arc un-
familiar with tho contents of In" ordi.
nance. and they Viii. no doubt. give
the paper serious study when tho print.
ed. copies arc available from CIV clerk
August. Two hundred copies. for the
Information Of the Councilmcn. were
ordered 10 ne prlltnd