The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-09

constituents is not ttaxedfe
INl COLLOQUY.
Mr.: NNillis-'1f all We're taxed fairly
and equally, those who already pay would
he relieved from q part of the burdens
by contributions from those who co not
row pay.
Continuing, Mr.. Barnes said the APP
pointed power ought not to be placed
in the hands Of the judges or of boards
of supervisors. 1t was TOO great a
temptation. It was best to keep the
power among the people, where it be-
longe6 ~
Judge Portiock said the proposition to
take away from the people the privilege
of selecting their own officers was ut
terly subversive Of the principle OF re-
publican forms Of government. state or
Federal He asserted that the present
evils arose more from a defective sys-
tenn of arriving at the valuation OF prop
erty than from the manner of selectlon
of the officer.
Commissioners of the revenue were as
much disposed to do their duty as any
other class of officers i'll the State, lie
did not think a political, duty like the app.
pointment Of these officers Should pe'
placed on the judges AS to placing the
power in the hands of the county SUI
.pervisors to elect commissioners OF rev
commissioners We're much higher men
than a majority of the boards of SUI
pervisors. If this board had the power
of appointment they would be SuiJect;
to influences much more corrupting than
would the great body of the people VINO
now had the selection of these officers.
He thought placing this power IN tue
hands of, judges or boards OF supervisors
would prove disastrous in, a very snort
=, tod no m
ton of the committee report, providing
for the election of commissioners OF the
revenue by the people, as at present
AMENDMENT WiIIIDRAWN.
Mr. Stebbins here withdrew his substl-
tute providing FOR the appointment OF
commissioners by judges, and urged the
adoption of the amendment providing that
the whole question be left to the Legisla-
ture to adopt such means as it saw 1T.
Mr.. iO,F1aherty said he promised his
people that they should have the power to
elect all officers. frorl governor to coil
stable. He declared that The threat Oh
the convention not. to submit this Con-
stitution to them had cost the Democrat
ic party thousa nds of white votes in the
Valley in the election last Tuesday. Lie
people were jealous of their power ana
wer not satisfied with these propositions
to pass laws. adopt constitutions or select
officers without their approval, thels
knowledge or consent
Judge Harrison offered substitute,
striking out all that part of the commit
tees report which refers to the COM
missioners of the revenue This would
leav tn whole mattr with the Legislature.
He hoped the convention at the proper
time would revise the whole system o.
taxation and he did not think there was
any profit in taking these side bites at
particular officers
"A STRONG SPEECH.
Mr. Withers favored the amendment
oferd by Mr.. EGg;eton. He said ne
had shown in his speech on this question
before the recess that the trouble OF
the present taxsassessment came from the
system and not from the officers, and ina
no reflection was cast upon their c1'lcle
cy.or integrity.
He contended that delegates were sent.
here by the people to correct what evils
in their Judgment existed in the present