The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-10
COMMITTEE ONFrNANCE
Settled Down 20 Business and Considered
Several Important BILLS.


Settled Down 20 Business and Considered
Several Important Bills.
The Finance Committee ~ the House
Of Delegates held It's first session this
morning I'm room No ]. on the upper
floor OF the Capitol building. Mr.. Joseph
y. Willard. of FairfnX. called the meet
ing TO order. in the absence Of MIR. Mer-
ritt r. Cooke. Of Norfolk. the chairman.
who had been called home on account OF
the Illness OF one OF his children.
Mr. Boaz stated that during the last
session the committee had established the
rule Of voting on all bills In secret SEES
sion after all parties interested in the
same had been heard in opposition. lie
explained that IL was often embarrassing
10 vote on the merits Of a friend bill
in his presence.
on motion Of Mr.. Craig, tho same rule
was adopted for the present session.
Mr. BOaz also stated that during the
last session a special committee OF three
members had been appointed by the chair
man TO whom all pension legislation WAS
ON motion OF Mr.. r. ID. Jennings. Of
Lyachburg II vas decided that the chair
man be requested to appoint similar
committee for the present session.
DELINQUENT LANDS.
The first bill taken up was one intro
duced by Judge Watkins. providing for
the suspension OF the operation OF the
present law in regard TO the sale of de-
mOnWcaith for sixty days from the date
of December 18th.
'rhe chair stated that the present law in
regard 10 these rules worked hardship.
and t-is bill had been introduced 10 gain
time 'n order that the Senate bill amend
inP the Drcsent law. might be perfected.
Mr.. r. ID. Jennings, Of Lynchburc.
pointed out that very often the owners
Of certain property sold had never re-
CciVcd any notice of such sale, ana That
this had especially happened i'm Roanoke
ard vicinity.
Mr. Murphy Moved that the bill be nj
once reported favorably TO the House.
The chair said the question was only
whether 1t was constitutional 90 suspend
a law. but such legislation had been pass
ed repeatedly. If the bill was passed, II
would simply be q stay law.
Mr. Murphys motion was adopted after
some fYrtber discussion
personal PROPERTY TAX.
Another bill taken sip was ono introduce
ed by Mr.. Btaz. PROVIDING for a better
3gscssm mt Of pers Onal property under the
control of hnuCiarics and the several
courts Of the state
Mr. BOaz explained that during the last
session ~ bill was passed providing Tor
,he appointment Of an examiner of such
accounts. and that theNlaw gave him
compensation OF ten cent on each hum
dred dollars worth OF property ascct-
tanned by him or cnc-fOurth of the state
tax. In that manner the. examiner for
Richmond had received the sum of Sl.o29 ~
per year and the one for the Norfolk DIS
trict S2S72S9. All these sums were eXces-
sivc and one Of the objects Of his bill
wants 20 reduce these allowances. for
the city of Norfolk 10 one-twoniieth and
for the city of Richmond 10 one hfuetn
Of one per cent.
Another amendment OF his bill. Mr.
BOaz said. was to strike from the law
the provision Of examining accounts OF
bank receivers or Of other persons, firms,
and corporations, cOniinlng the eXamina-
ton to iduciarcs alone.
Mr Cary stated II had been iniimated
to him that these officers listed the same
property every year While II shoulh DC
listed after the first year by the respec-
tive commissioner of the revenue. 30 as
10 save the additional percentage. II had
also been intmated that some COLLISION
had been IN existence in certain cases
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT.
Mr.. BOaz submitted a comparative
statement showing that in 1895 such prop
erty had been listed IN the entire State
amounting TO about one million OF dollars.
while IN 1897. after the enactment OF the
new law. this amount had increased 10
over twentv-ono million dollars. The ex-
penses Of listing this additional property
amounted TO about S2lul0. while the total
amount turned into the treasury from
1t amounted to about $4,000
IL was suggested that the pending bul
be SO amended that no commission shall
be pad on property where the courts
had refunded the money, or where the
property had been listed once.
The Chair said the questions was whe-
Their the commissioner OF the revenue
could perform his duty and Messrs. Muir
ply and PendletOn took the lround that
the commissioner could, but would not DO
II. as long as he was elected by the
people and that in that manner the state
was losing great amount OF money
The bill was finally referred TO sub
committee, consisting OF McsSrs. craig
Boaz, and Jennings. 10 perfect the same.
PRIVATE BILLS.
The next bill taken up was one nitro
duced by Mr.. Cooke of Norfolk, provid-
ing that a tax or fee shall be PAID Tor
the printing and binding OF all private
bills I'm the Acts Of Asset bly. referring
TO railroad, street road. and Joint stock
companies. TO the erection Of wharveS
and piers by individuals and relief bills
except for the relief Of Confederate sol
ders.
II was decided TO report the bill favor
ably.
II was dec!ied that the bills concerning
the sale of delinquent lands in the name
of the Commonwealth. introduced by
Messrs. Hicks of Roanoke; Montague,
Of Elizabeth City. and Parker, Of South
ampton. be referred 10 the Committee on
Courts of Justice.
The committee decided to report favor
ably joint resolution introduced by Mr.
Turpin, Of Bedford. directing the Audi
or OF Public Accounts TO submit the sta
tus OF the various accounts Of the treas
urcrs and other officers with the State.
At the suggestion OF the Chair IL was
deci led that the committee should meet
during the last session every Tuesday.
Thursday, and Saturday morning at 10
o'clock.