The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-09
high honor You conferred upon me.
VIRGINIUS NEWTON,
Chairman Committee on. Taxation and

Chairman Committee on. Taxation and
l'inal &C.
Mr.. Meredith, in a few well-chosen re-
marks, referred to the earnest labors of
Mr.. Newton as a member of the body,
and expressed great regret at his being
resign his seat. He then moved that
the resignation be accepted. Adopted.
WRIT is ISSUED.
The President Immediately issued the
following writ for a special election to be
held on Thursday: IA atioila
The Commonwealth of yirginia-To the
SCI eant of the City Of Richmond
Greeting:
Whereas, vacancy has occurred in
the representation in the Constitutional
Convention from the city of Richmond,
occasioned by the resignation of vir-
ginius Newton, a delegate of the said
city:
These are, therefore, in the name OF
the Commonwealth, to require you to
cause an election to be held in your said
city on Thursday, the 21st day Of No
ven Der, 1901, for n delegate to fill the
vacancy aforesaid. ,tl9
In testimony whereof; witness John
Goode. President of the Constitutional
Convention. this the 7ft) day of Novem-
Der, A D., 1901, ana in the 126th year. of
the Common wealth.. JOHN GOODE,
President of the Constitutional ConNen-
ton.
BY the President of the Constitutional
Convention.
Teste: JOSEPH BUTTON,
Secretary of the Constitutional Conven-
CHAIRMAN FAIRFAX.
President Goode appointed Mr.. R..
Walton Moore as member of the Com
naittee on FINANCE, to supply the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Mr.. New
ton.
Mr.. Fairfax becomes the chairman, by
precedence.
On motion of Mr.. r. Walton Moore, the
president was authorized to appoint
committee of five. including the presl-
Gent, who shall be chairman, to consider
and report what action, if any, should
be taken with reference to the meeuns
of the General Assembly.
DR.. Thomas H. Barnes. chairman OF the
Committee on County Government, then
moved that the convention go into Com
mittee of the Whole to consider that re-
port. Adopted.
Captain George D. Wise was called to
the chair
The amendment offered by Mr.. Esgies-
ton that commissioners OF the revenue
be selected by the Legislature. their du-1
ties and manner of election to be pre-
scribet, by law, was first discussed
Mr. EgglestoI said 1t would De 1nuch
better to leave this matter with the Leg
islature. There might come time when
some better means than the one now IN
operation would be devised for the listing
and assessing of property, and If 1T was
continued as a constitutional office, II
would be difficult to effect q change.
JUDGE KENDALL OPPOSES.
Judge Kendall. in opposing the amend
ment. said it would place the LeSlsla-
ture in the power of a horde OF commits
sicners of the revenue, and the adopt,oA
Of Mr.. Eggleston's amendment Woula sim
ply amount to continuation OF TIC pres ~
snt undesirable system
He favored the selection of commits
sioners of the revenue by the County
Board of SUPERVISORS.
Mr. Meredith objected to the amend
ment because it left it in the power OF
the Legislature TO elect the commission
ers of revenue for every county
Mr.. Egsleston said he had no idea the
LegisIatu re would ever desire to select
these officers. 1t had not been the case
as to assessors. He only wished to see
that in future the evil of dictatin the
OF the revenue by influences which desired
to escape taxation, could be broken UP.
He referred to the enormous amount of
certain classes of personal property that
escaped taxation.
Judge Kendall said it was not alone the
of equalization of taxes among
the counties. 1t was also a question of
of taxes among the inoi-
yiduals of the same county. There We're
glaring Inequalities in this respect and
it was largely caused by the fact that
off jcarS were subject to influences which
would be largely removed If they did not
have to be elected. a. < &
Mr.. Manly Barnes claimed that these
attacks on commissioners of the reve--3
nue. and school superintendent were ull-g
just and unwarranted. He declared that
a comparison had been made by him be-
tween the work of commissioners Of the
revenue. who were elected by the peo-s
pie, and the sassessors of real estate who
were appointed by the. judges and the
comparison showed that the officers elect
ed by the people were the best.
Mr.. Willis The trouble is that a vast
amount Off personal property5ts never list list;
ed at all