The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-23
TAXATION WAS
LIVELY TOPIC
Report Taken Up by the Con-
yention Yesterday.
TO REMAIN IN PRESENT HALL
Body Decides Not 10 Move Out OF the Mccllan
les Institute Building - The
Work Of Last
Week.

at yesterdays session OF the conven-
ton the report of the Committee on Tax
alton and Finance was gone. into and
several sections disposed OF.
Tho convention refused to adjourn in
honor OF Washington's birthday. The
hall was tastefully draped IN Ilic national
colors.
BY d decisive vote tho convention re-
fused TO change from It's present place
of meeting to the hall of the House of
Delegates
DAYS PROCEEDINGS
Or. DunaWaE opened the convention
with prayer at 10 o'clock, sixty-three
members being present.
Mr.. Summers offered = resolution OF
adjournment for the day in honor OF
George Washington.
1t was rejected by a. big majority.
by request of Mr.. HARRISON next Fri
day at T. O'Clock was made a special or
Ger for considcrati ton of the uncompleted
report of the COMMITTEES ON Cities and
Towns.
On ,lnotion of Chairman Fairfax. the
convention went into Committee of the
Whole to consider the report on finance
and taxation.
Chairman Fairfax, With a few -appro-
alluded TO the loss from the committee
of it's able and highly esteemed member
and chairman, Hon. Virginius Newton,
who had been compelled by sickness to
resign. He did not enter into q detailed
statement Of its provisions of the re-
port, saying that he had assigned to those
best identified with the feature Of each
section the defense of the same as they
came up for consideration.
Section 1 was taken up. Tt declares
that ali property, except as hereinafter
provided. shall be taxed all taxes what
socvcr, whether State, local or municipal.
shall be uniform upon the same class OF
subjects within the territorial limits CT
the authority levying the tax"
FIRST AMENDMENT
Mr. Hamilton moved to amend by strik-
nj, out all after the word uniform and
insert the words .and equal" He spoke
earnestly in opposition to dividing sub
iects Of property for taxation into classes.
Tie underlying principle was wrong. II
destroyed the principle Of equal rights
all and special privileges to none. AL
property should tie taxed equal and uni
form. Great harm might come from ar
slitrary classification. Because the cor
,oration report had ravished the railroad
corporations was no excuse for adopting
| principle that would make IT pOSSloie
II effect for a board of assessment under
he form of classification to ravish the
property of individuals The LeSisla-
sure was given the arbitrary power OF
classifying all subjects of taxation and
it opened the door for all manner Oh
pressure upon that body for favorltlsnl'
to some classes of property or oppression
on others. 1t was a dangerous power.
1t was not needed and should not DC
adopted.
Mr.. Hatton made an able argument IN
support of the amendment
DESTROY GREAT PRINCIPLE;
Ex-Governor Cameron said the placing
Of a greater burden upon one hundred
dollars, worth of one class OF property
than upon the same amount OF another
class was nothing short of robbery. The
committee had gone the length of de-
siroyinr the great principle of equality
of taxation in its efforts to get at the
property of corporations. 1t had acted
on the same plane with the Chinaman
who burned down his residence to roast
one pig. It was inherently wrong and
repugnant to every sense of fairness and
good government. A radical departure