The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-10
wo Hundred Millions of Tax
able Valuables i4ave Been
Added to Assessment lists
TAXES ARE REDUCED;
REVENUE SUFFICIENT
Examiners of Record Meet
Here For instruction as to
Their Duties-Gritlc,sm ior
Counties Sinking

Declaring that criticisms made
sainst the tax laws OF the state have
,een directed by persons who have
OF returned their intangible holdings
or assessments and who complained
khcn inquisitorial methods were used
kv the authoritieA in order TO bring
hesa to the light. Governor Stuart.
x-officio member OF the state tax
board yesterday afternoon made
,iain statement of facts in hls address
In Answers 10 Criticisms Against tho
ktate Tax Laws before the confer
(nce of the examiners of records. The
Governor added however. that some
Fritics were homes and inst and that
10 system is perfect The meeting
mas attended by thirty OF tho thirty
kne officers IN the state. one being
detained on account of pressing ousl-
css.
Tic conference of, the examiners
vas called for the purpose OF in
(trectlng thcn ia the various duties
f their once, and for a discussion
Pf some Of the many tax problems
kita which They haze e contend. o.
She~ make. rounstl for the state
AK board, presided al the meeting
yesterday AFTERNOONS. and some Of
Aoss present. in addition 20 the eA-
miners we're \ atofney-1eneral john
Garland Pollard, G. Il. Garnett, chair
mar of the corporation commission.
Haie Auditor &. Ice Moore and Lewis
Nachen OF the legislative bureau. The
ronferencc will extend through to-
.ay
Governor Reviews Historl.
Governor stuart opened the con-
ference with his address, He review
ID the history Of the present system
bf taxation, partial segregation.
hating that at the time he entered
he Office Of governor there was
frying need for tax equalization. A
committee was appointed TO devise a
AK scheme and At a. special session
ralled for considering the tan oues-
ion a plan Of taxation. presented by
minority OF the committee, was
,dopted~-that OF partial segregation.
Since the adoption Of the statute.
Governor Stuart stated, $500. 600. 900
be taxable intangible personal prop
nv had been voluntarily ard iuvol-
in.arily returned for assessment,
which had heretofore escaped taxa
ion entirely. There are $50 200. 600
worth OF taxable railroad properties
the STATE. the speaker declared.
md for number of years nearly
hrae times this amount in intangible
property has been ignored by the tax
eatherers of the state. only 10 be made
subject to Yield seventre after tho
passage of the new tax laws The
koyernor stated that while this
emount was large. II is not all that
Mil be uncovered by the examiners
A Curious Situation.
ut is curious. the governor said.
that anybody should object to taxing
&a0o, 900. 900 of taxable properties.
which should be bringing revenue
nto the state. Some have objected
10 the inquisitorial measures used in
assessing part OF this amount, but
nave found that the people who are
)oudest In their complaint OF having
fheir holdings inquired into. are those
most In need Of being subject to these
klleged inquisitorial methods of the
ttafe. Some people have so long gone
without paying their just taxes. they
have been lulled into false sense OF
.security. and think they are hedged
About by some divine right
III all OF this enormous amount Of
.nkes had been paid to the state In
| he years past. there would have been
y lower rate of taxa ton. ami there
would be one now IL all the people
gould give In their intangibles," the
kovernor continued. Under the pres
INT scheme OF taxation Virginia il ex-
the nearest to e1,-i;iZa-
lion Of taxes that 1t has yet had The
+ate has already been considerably re-
huced. and a further reduction will
Follow when everybody makes full.
Hear reports of their properties.
The governor condemned those
Counties which have failed to assess
heir real estate and tangible nersr nal
|,rc-erty up to the general state av-
bragg.
me of the defects Of the plan OF
taxation now obtaining, the srenker
Hated. was the unequal asseslr,ents
ketween the localities. He said that
ihis had been helped considerably by
reducing the rate to the state st-om
[hirty-fiye cents to ten cents On the
Zoo. and he added, 1t was hoped
{hat soon the state could only levy on
hroperties on which there eo,id be
M equality OF assessment.
.sThe fagrant inen"alits o. tax
auou has bccn largely removed : I
nald Governor stuart, land the
aeaAe h receiving greater revenue
nader the new lawns, while there
= nce : single Glass Of property
1ared b tho stAto on winch the
1870 haG not been reduced q lcAet