Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-01-13
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1922.
WOULD SAVE MONEY
FOR TAXPAYERS

out the following statement:
The condition of the farmers
as we'll as the general business
depression demands the utmost
. udence in the administration Of
public affairs. Farm products
are selling below pre-war values
and with the future uncertain as
to Improvements. 1t is obvious
that the amounts the farmer must
pay in taxes, labor and other me-
cessities must be in proportion to
the prices he receives: otherwise
financial disaster will soon result.
Every proper economy, no matter
how small, must be instituted in
public affairs. l do not believe
that within the past forty years
has the need Of the elimination
Of efficiency and extravaganza
been so pressing as now. What
we want is not talk, but definite
proposals so that our state and
national government will be adj
iusted to present conditions and
placed on a sound business basis.
At the same time we must recog.
nize that the operation of the
affairs Of Virginia is vast bust
ness enterprise. Nothing should
be done under the stress of present
conditions, by unwise methods to
impair the machinery necessary to
adequately operate our govern.
mental affairs. Unnecessary of.
fees must be eliminated or consoli.
dated and all public officers should
be held to a strict accountability
for business efficiency. l have in
mind several plans for securing
additional efficiency and at the
same time reduction in public
costs and will outline one plan
which commends itself strongly
to me. In Frederick county there
are two Commissioners of Rev.
enue who were paid in 1921 as
follows:
Commissions on Co. taxes 1926
Commissions on state taxes $l358
TOTAL $3784
One Commissioners of Revenue
ia Frederick county would have
been paid for the same work the
sum of $21z5.
In 1921 the land assessors in
Frederick county for making the
five year assessment were paid
S26l6, one-half paid by the state
and one-half by the county.
In Shenandoah county there
are six Commissioners of Revenue
In 1921 they were paid as follows:
Commissions on Co. taxes $500.
Commissions on state taxes S2367.
TOTAL S7567.
(The above, as to other Co.'S
does not include certain fees
which are not large in their ag-
gregate.) If there had been one
Commissioner of Revenue in
Shenandoah county he would
have been paid for the same work
the sum of 1925. The land as
SCISSORS in Shenandoah county
were paid for the FIVE year as
sessment the sum of S4686, one
half paid by the state and one-ha a f
by the county. One Commissioner
OF Revenue in each county, by
devoting his entire time to his
work. can serve the public much
more efficiently than several who
only work part Of the year. He
should be required to maintain
an office at the county seat so as
to be accessible for the transaction
of public affairs.
One Commissioner of Revenue
will save in Shenandoah county
the sum of S4342 yearly, and in
Frederick county the sum of ST. i
$50 yearly. They provide for the
abolishment of the Office of land
assessor and require the Commits
sioners of Revenue to perform
this work at reasonable compen-
sation and BY this another SUBJ
stantial saving can be made. Al!
qualified Commissioner of Reve-
nue. could in my Judgment render
much more efficient service in
assessing land than citizen
without previous experience ap-
pointed BY the court.
The reason that one Commits
Iioner of Revenue in each county,
will save the taxpayers is that
commissioners of Revenue areI,
,aid By 4 sliding scale as folio VS.
in the first ten thousand dollars
il taxes paid. S per cent; on the
,econd ten thousand dollars, 3Hl Il
YER cent; on the third ten thous.I
nd dollass. 2H per cent; and on
~ fonsth ~ thpagand dollars, d