Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-01
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
OF RAILROADS FAVORED
Corporation Commission Says 1t
Has No Data as TO Actual
Values OF Properties.
TELLS OF RECENT INCREASES
Has Not Sufficient Information, nor
tho Means to Procure 1t, to Ex-
press Opinion on Things Legisla-
ture Asked to Be Informed.

Complying with the joint resolution
OF the Senate and the House OF Dele
gates the State Corporation Commits.
sion yesterday hied statistics OF the
steam railroads in Virginia and also
assessments made by the commission
and taxes for the years ending Juno
90 1916 aud 1917.
The report states that the system OF
taxation Of steam railroads involves as
sessment OF the physical property and
evidences Of debt Of the roads, ascer-
iainment of the gross transportation
receipts and the assessment OF the
franchise taxes Of Ia per cent fixed
by law.
Furthermore. In response to the roso-
luton the commission addressed a
letter to all railroads operating in Vir-
g!n'a asking that they file tnforma-
ton with the commission In regard to
all tho items necessary to proper
and fair taxation.
The report deplores the fact that the
commission at the present time does
not have the proper data for an expert
conclusion, and that the information
on these subjects possessed by former
members Of the commission is not
available TO the present members.
RAILROADS WE'RE
ASKED TO FILE BRIEFS
When the commission heard the
representatives. OF the steam railroads
on the question of assessment OF the
roads for the year of 1917 these repre-
sentatives were requested TO file briefs
on the question of the correct assess-
ment OF tho roads and the commission
hoped that theRe briefs would furnish
data and information upon which there
could no some differentiation and
equalization as between the roads
Themselves and as between railroad
properties and other property in the
state. But the report says that These
briefs were addressed mainly 10 the
point that all the other property In the
State was being underassessed and
mat the railroad property was By com.
rarison being overasscssed"
In order TO establish the truth or
taisity OF this proposition II Is es-
sentiAl that the data before the com.
mission should be complete as 10 the
enumeration Of all tho property Of the
roada, a. To the market value of such
property. and as to the ratio OF assessed
value TO fair market value OF o,he,
property in the State"
INCREASES MADE IN
MANY ASSESSMENTS
During February and March 1917.
the commission wrote 70 all the local
authorities requesting that they check
up the assessment Of railroad propert.
~ tHelf counties, review the valuation
and ascertain IL IL was correct Asa
result OF this action the commission
was able. from Sugsestions made bv
iocal authorities and from It's own in
Nehllgetlons 10 make In assessments an
80 Items OF real and personal property
ne aGEresate increases in value being
si,oisGat. most of which consisted in
increases In the valuation Of real estate
IN leio the commission added 10 INC
valuation OF road-bed and track a sun,
equal to 3sd9,6S1, which represented an
assessment against 1850 miles OF Side
tracHs OF the roads located in wards
IN citicf towns and counties In 1917
the commission added TO the yalua,ion
81 Foad-oed and track a sum equal 10
sif-''.o, which represented an ASSESS
mch' against !34s miles Of side tracks
.ocaled In yards and along the line Of
me ROADS, and Increase OF sS2aato over
the previous year.
Inc report Included table showinp
'hc cost OF nineteen roads and The
average value Of stocks and bonds for
the years 1915 and inlT.
mo report concluded with the state
n'tht; II follows from what Is sat
OUT anove that the commission has Nh,
suhcient information IN it's nile nor ,hs
MEANS 70 procure such informatio, ,s
70 he able TO express n DEFINITE oninion
N response to many OF the thinrs which
me resolution calls for In order o.
'he commission 10 come to a definite
opinion II would be necessary 10 m,tn
physical valuation Of these roads ANA
20 settle many veXcd questions which
arise in such work"