The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-04
REVENUES TO INCREASE.
CoUsITrEB TO BE HARD At WoBK.
They VIII Inspect the Mineral Lands and
Report a Proper Assessm ent-At Pres
ent but little Tax 10 Paid.

During the early part OF the last 80 ssion
of the Legislature the following resolution
was referred to the Finance Committee OF
the House Of Delegates:
Whereas there are great inequalities in
the assessment Of the personal property Of
the State: and
Whereas the burden Of taxation now
rests upon the agricultural community.
while large tracts Of mineral lands are con-
stantly changing hands at advancing prices.
and many thousands of acres cannot DO
bought at any price, while for purposes Of
taxation they are assessed at but few cents
per acre. while adjoining farm lands are
assessed OF from sl0 10 $50 per acre; there
fore be il
Resolved That committee be az
pointed whose duty it shall DO % examine
the books OF the seyeral commissioners II
the Auditors Office, with view Of reaching
some plan for the equalization Of taxation,
and that said committee shall report by Dlii
or otherwise
After due consideration the Finance CON-
mittee reported the resolution back % the
committee with the following:
A RECOMMENDATION.
The Finance Committee respectfully re-
port that IN view OF the great importance
Of the subject and the investigation Of re-
cords required 10 properly present the mat
ter for legislation, request 70 be discharged
from its further consideration and sugg est
the adoption Of the following resolution:
Resolved That special committee Of
three be appointed by the Speaker to whom
shall be referred the resolution alluded TO-
which committee shall make thorough IN
vestigation Of the subject and report by bill
| or otherwise. Said investigation shall be
made during tho present session OF the Gen
eTal Assembly"
The Speaker appointed Messrs. a. +. With
! row Of Bath; Merritt f. Cooke OF Norfolk,
and p. W. Magruder. of Shenandoah, mem
bers of that committee.
This committee subsequently submitted
report stating:
That they have examined tho assessors
| books i'm the Auditors Office and find great
inequality in the assessments as between
! the different counties OF the State and IN
some instances what seems to them grossly
inadequate assessments In some counties
! Indicated by reduction over of 30 per cent,
Notwithstanding the fact that railroad facili-
ties are opening up aud the mineral lands
! coming into the market
We therefore recommend that some i'm
| mediate action be taken 20 remedy said
evils. that the State may derive proper
revenue therefrom, and thus in a large
measure relieve the Strengthened condition
! of her treasury"
WAS ADOPTED.
| A few days later Mr. Withrow offered the
! following resolution. which was adopted
Resolved by the General Assembly Of
! Virginia the Senate cOncuTing, That a
| committee Of eight be appointed five from
! the House and three from the Senate to in
| vestigate and report 10 the next General
Assembly the real value and the assessed
| value of the mineral lands in the State, IN
| order that the same may be reasaessed and
! taxed according 20 the real valve. SAID CON-
| mittee 10 report by bin or otherwise"
| The resolution was cOncurred III by the
Senate. and the following members
of the committee were appointed: From
! the House of Delegates Mr.. A. +.
| Withrow of Bath. chairman; Mr.. X. i.
| Anderson Of Pittsylvania, Mr. W. A..
| Fentress Of Portsmouth. Mr. nj. =. Jackson
of Buchanan. Mr.. J. E. Mason of King
! George From the Senate--Mr. Henry FAIR
| fax Of FauQuier, Mr.. James W, Marshall Of
! Roanoke, and Afr. Conway r. Sands Of Rich
moDd.
Az INTERVIEW.
Mr. Withrow the chairman Of the COM
| mittee, arrived In this city on Monday eve
ming from Newport News. where ne is erect
| ing some buildings for the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad Company. During his stay
! here / had the privilege Of having quite a
lengthy conversation with him on tho pro
| posed work OF the special committee Mr.
| Witbrow had come here in part 10 make his
necessary arrangements for the converting
| Of the committee. lie stated 10 $40 that his
| original idea had been TO have the commit
| tee start out from Luray the middle
| of this month. but that ne has since
changed his mind. he has notified the
members to meet at Coyington, Allie
/ ghRuy county. on August 18th. He Is thor
! oughly familiar with that part of the State
aud thought II would greatly expedite mat
ters if the committee would hold its first
| meeting on territory we'll known 10 him. In
| order that he might make the Tne@beFs &C
| Quainted with the nature of the work eX-
! pscted from them. From Coyington q tour
/ of inspection viii be made through the van
Gus mineral lands in this State, and the fol-
| lowing will be visited by the committee
! Allegheny, Bath. Craig, BotetOurt. Roanoke,
| Rockbridge, Augusta. Page, Wise, DECKER
| son, Russell, TaZewell and buchanan
GATHERING nT0RWATIos.
The committee has secured the services Of
! a competent stenographer and the clerical
] work 20 be done in the several county Offices
| with a view Of gathering the desired intor-
/ nation will DO rather YOluminous so that
| the committee will probably have to employ
| an additional clerk
| Mr.. Withrow is confident that the work
! about to be undertaken by the committee
| will be greatly beneficial TO tho State. and
! that the investigation will be the means OF
| considerably increasing the revenues Of the
! State Ever since the adjournment OF the
session he has been very busy IN building
| uu his private business as contractor. and
/ he has therefore not yet been able 10 lay out
a general plan for the work to DO done
| bv the committee, and ne knew all
! the members were deeply interested In
! the problem and would do their utmost
| TO bring about some good results.
| Mr.. WithroW expressed the tear that SEN
| ator Marshall. whose name Is mentioned
! as candidate for Congress in the Ninth dis
| trict. il nominated. would not be able to
! serve on the committee Mr.. Marshall IS
! thoroughly familiar with the subject ana
| his knowledge would DO of great value 10
| his colleagues. In case he should decide 10
RESIGN from the committee Lieutenant
! Governor Tyler would have to appoint
| another Senator 70 fill the vacancy,
LIFT Of TUESDAY.
Mr.. Withrow left on Tuesday evening for
! West Virginia. where be IS carrying out
| another contract. He also has the contract
| Tor the rebuilding of the hotel az Natural
! Bridge. which burned down last summer.
| He told NE that the building IS well pro
| crossing and will be completed late tals tA..'
At THE NEW CITY HAIL.
nIuas of Wire are Now Being Put In the
Granite Building.