Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-10
STUART DEFENDS
TAX SEGREGATION
Despite Attacks, Governor Is
Fully Convinced of Equity
of New Laws.
WHY lNTANG NGIBLES ARE TAXED
State Gets More Revenue After
so Per Cent Cut in
Tax Rate.
WHY lNTANGIBLES ARE TAXED

Hlnia. which lie declared have nothing
in them that does not square with the
highest principles OF right and justice.
Governor Stuart yesterday afternoon
told the thirty examiners of records
and members OF the State Tax Board
assembled in Rueger's Hotel that lie
would remain uninfuenccd In the en-
forcement OF the Law during the rest
of his term.
Without any show OF hostility to-
ward those who have openly criticized
the operation of the partial system OF
segregation now In vogue in Virginia.
or without indulging once In anything
snvoring OF personal ailusons. the
Governor. who. by reason Of his office
is chairman OF the state Tax Board.
and who Is chiefly responsible for the
reviaed tax laws or the state. made
1t very plain that his first convictions
upon the tax question arc still un-
shaken. and tina, he will continue to
stand by them.
DEFENDS sO-CALLED
INaUISTrORIAL POWERS
Justifying first tho principles upon
which the system is based ana dis
posing OF criticisms often repeated AS
to tho justice Of some phases OF the
law. particularly the so-callcd inquisi-
torial powers which arc conferred upon
examiners of records. the Governor de-
Tended tho business soundness OF the
system with the statement that, under
its operation, the state is now getting
more revenue than II ever did before.
after making a so per cent reduction IL
the rate OF taxation.
The Governor said that he did no,
pretend TO hold that the tax laws OF
the State arc free from criticism. No
human institutions ever have been. III
common with practically every meas
urc devised by man. the tax laws OF
7, Virginia. he said. still have in them
' defects. som" Of them very grave,
which must L., corrected by tho next
Legislature some OF these necessary
amendments IL. has already decided
upon. and will recommend them 10 the
consideration ar tho General Assembly
al it's next session.
ASSEMBLY IS tNIQlE IN
STATES TAX HISTORY
.r, .,,, ,i,n 40 ,:ovcrnor
,'a ,,,i,.,. !, ,i,o his,nrv ~ nc
: state. During All tho years Of the
Commonwealth. there has never before
been gathered - the 'ailt"l Su'h an
array OF officers charged WIN INC au'y
OF enforcing tic states taN laws. IN
the assembly w'r" the Governor ana
Tax Board--,hrst"ph'r - 'arnet'
chairman of tn" state Corporation
Commission, ana e Lee Moore. Sud4'or
OF Pubic Accounis--oscar l.. she"-
make, couhSel ana executive 'Ss'H'"hN
TO inc p"aru' .N't"r"'s ''"'fai '",'''
Garland Pollard ana 'hr's oi Wv
thirty-onc examiners - 'c'o'aS :" wy
!, state The meeting was caileu LOT W.
general dlscussioh "i 'aN "u'S''"''S' "'''
VIII continue through 'o-daE'
me governor "NPfeNS'" ht'ic p"'
ence win those VINO erect Sfi'cisn'a
at,thc "!nduisi,orini powers conferred
under the new ,rN laws.
AS general rH'", ne Sa". thosc
people who az" airaM ot ihauiailor'ai
methods arc me very ones VINO 'hrnh-
selves ought 10 u" insured i".o' nc
trouble Is lha' 'h'E nav tN.o ~ az
long without pa:ths taxes 'h"' ."es
think thcS are he"Esd ""out ~"
divine right. One" 'hes ".e i'auc -
pay. theS ma! ocSih 70 INV - 'u"'
ABOUT as wen u" 'he 'cs' VI u".
NO JUsTIFTCATIoN EoR
EAfh'TIN3 'NIAN'ibLEs
AS 'Hc ~" nov s.'""s' '"eI' %
not .he sna'i'S 1us'ih'a'ion OF Tue
complaint "s"''"' '"N'"S mans '"'es.
iheFo is no'"'nS ~ :, ''R' 'o's no.
aluaie WIN -" ms ".s' ~
~ otu -
-
-, ,r,.', ;,,,,;,,
TO, 1arnaI,, 80, h,.no ,,.,, r.i,h ,,,,,e,
,,,a na, ,av.. ,.nd ,ho 49,, c,,s.os oro
non, unon .. .,n,, ;, roo,;nr os nns-
.,h,a A further reduction of ,bc rate
~ taxation on intangible nroner,v may
bc feasible. Tint question viii receive
the earnest attention of tho next Leg
islature.
"One criticism of tho rate imposed
:, by the law upon intangiblcs and the
earnest way in which the examiners
of records are going about collecting
the tax upon that property IS ,hat II