Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-14
RAILROAD TAX HEARING
SET FOR SEPTEMBER "a
Attorneys Not Ready With Their
Data When Case Is
Called.
MANY DISCREPANCIES FOUND
Station Which Recently Cost $500
to Erect Is Valued for Taxation Mt
S25O-Many Cities and Counties
File Protests.

File Protests.
Because the legal representatives OF
the railroads were unable TO have their
case prepared in time the hearing of
cities demanding an increased valua-
ton of. railroad properties which was
10 have begun before the State Cor
poratlon Commission yesterday morn
ing. was postponed till September -.
1t is generally understood that the
decision of the commission growing
out of this hearing will have n deeper
and more far reaching influence than
tho consideration of the immediate
questions on hand. The immediate is
sue anC point OF contention Of the
city ana county authorities in their
fight for the increased valuation OF
railroad properties is the wide differ
ence existing between the valuation Of
railroad property and OF private prop
erty adjoining it. State. city. and
county representatives assert that the
present valuation Of railroad property
works Il hardship and forces an unjust
position upon the owner of private
lands. From tho number OF cases
pending before the commission it seems
that the commission will have "A pro-
tracted fight on hand unless some OF
49, ehl SllteS IT
able to effect 4 satisfactory compro-
mise or agreement with the railroad
authorities.
1t will lie remembered that the opin-
ion OF Judge J. X. WinGiield. in dis
sentinE from the opinions of his col
leagues. William +. Rhca and Judge r..
r.. Prcntis, upon the question Of GER
tain assessments Of railway property
in Virginia in 1915. laid out a plan
that embodied a complete change in the
present system of the valuation of rail-
way property.
WANTS RAILROADS on SAME
BASIS WITH NEIGIiBORS
Acknowledgement Pollard represents
the interest of the State in the oues-
ton of increasing the tax valuation Of
railroad property so as to be equal
TO the rate OF assessment on private
property adjoining that of the rail-
roads. In instances where there are
small counties which arc dissatisfied
with the valuation of railway prop
erty in their section. but whose in
terest is too small to afford a rcprc-
sentative to look after their interest.
Mr.. Pollard has cheerfully offered his
services. MIR. Pollard said that the
whole question has arisen out of the
discrepancies between the valuation Of
railway property by the Corporation
Commission and that of private prop
erty by local State assessors.
Mr.. Pollard wrote to the various
Commonwealth attorneys in many of
the cities and counties and asked them
to investigate the fairness OF the rail-
road property within their jurisdiction
and to report to him whether they we're
satisfied or not. Representatives of
ten counties and cities reported either
that the valuation was just or hat
they did not consider IT OF sufficient
Importance to start Il fight.
On the other hand, fourteen counties
and cities reported their dissatisfaction
with the present valuation. Most OF
them reported that they Will have a
representative on hand before the COM
mission to further their interests. The
following cities and counties are de-
manding an increase in the valuation
OF railroad property in their jurisdic-
ton: Counties OF Nottoway, Abe
marie. James City. Montgomery. Eli
Mccklenburg. Sussex, Amherst. and
the cities of Richmond. Charlottesville.
Roanoke and ~Lynchburg.
ATI THAT COST $500
TAXED ON VALUE Of $3.50
The rate of taxation on railroad
property for the State is 10 cents,
while the city and county rate ranges
from ten TO twenty times this much.
The tax that the State receives from
~ ~ liiC
schools, and. consequently. if the State
is successful in prosecuting her claims
il will mean quite an item for the beae-
1T Of the schools.
Mr.. Pollard points out some dis
.crepancies in valuation of railway
property. The railway station at
Norge, on the Chesapeake and Ohio
line. is valued on the tax lists at $3.50,
but. he says. that it cost $4,000 TO
construct. The Prince William station
is valued at s125. but il it were as
sesscd according to the rate of private
property adjoining the station. !,
should be assessed at $4,000.
M~ecklenburg County is contendinE
for an increased valuation OF railway
propcrty Of from % TO 25 per cent.
Danville is demanding n $4,000 in
crease in the valuation of railroad
property.
The dissenting opinion OF Judge
ton Of the assessing Of certain rail-
road property in the State for 1916.
advocItcd the adoption of the beneht
theory of taxation Of railroad prop
perty--to some extent assess them on
the strength of the wealth of the in
dividual company and on what the
were able to pay. He pointed out that
all railroads In the State Of Virginia
are taxed on the dead level of the
valuation of $40, 900 per mile. But
he went on to say that since the
Norfolk and Western was n richer
road. mile for mile. than the Chcsa-
pcakc and Ohio. the valuation of tho
property OF the former should exceed
the valuation of the property of the
Chesapeake and Ohio.