Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-01-05
DISCREPANCIES ARE INCONSISTENT
Personal Property and Real Estate Re.
turnsd at Less Than Half Its True
Misunderstanding Saunder6 May
Succeed Governor Swanson in Con.
0ress--5tste House Is Damp
Especial 10 tho Daily rress}

hsAOiihO-\b, u, Juu l. iotLttci'
". w. Sale, Of Norfolk, is at work on
bill Uhicn he is TO present during
the session OF the General Assembly
and which has for its object the crc9t.
ton oil a board OF tax equalization.
Senator Sale says that pecusai OF
the report OF the auditor of public &C.
counts Will disclose tho demand for
such measure. He illustrates the
need for the law by referring to the
valuation placed on sheep In some OF
the counties. Without indicating what
county, and perhaps not giving the eX-
act figures, he says that in some In.
stances sheep arc valued mt ST n head,
and in q county in tho same general
section. equally as noted for It's lamb
and mutton, the value is S1.5O a head.
Land Valuations Not Fair.
AGnin, the senator takes up the SUBJ
jcct Of land valuations. Instances ere
on record in which lands have been
taxed at S. an acre and which have
been sold in less than year following
at $40 to $50, He inclines to the opin.
lon that these things should be reno
died and fair valuation given on all
sorts of property.
Il will go even further than that"
said the senator. Il would have the
board make valuation OF all sorts OF
personal property. l doubt II there IL
SO per cont. Of the valuation given on
the possessions OF any man. In some
Instances | am satisfied that an offer
for the possessions of people at tho
valuation given by them would be re-.
garded as an insult.
Watches Scarce in Certain Counties.
Il am convinced that watches, which
vary in the various counties and cities
from $3.50 to s25 is incorrect. There
are some watches that are not worth
anything, and there are others which
are worth five times their assessed
value. Some counties have SO few
watches that they may be said to have
no time pieces at nil. Everybody knows
that Is not correct.
Again, it Is rather remarkable that
in some OF the counties noted for fino
cattle and horses the values arc so
low that one would think that only the
scrubbiest stock is raised and that. the
cattlo arc OF the 'sassafras bull vari-
ETY.. Some cattle are worth $50 head
and some others arc worth only 80.
Is that fair, just or reasonable?
Square Deal Demanded.
Place fair average valuation on
all sorts of property and the tax rate
could, In ten years Mt most, be reduced
to 20 cents and give the State more
than enough money for all purposes.
1t Is my intention 10 offer the bill and
TO do my utmost to have it enacted
into law. am not satisfied vet ms
to the composition of the board
whether it shall be composed OF three
or five men, or present State officers
and new men, entirely of new men or
wholly of State officials. That ia I'M.
important. The bill Is what I want 10
see the Legislature pass"
Saunders May Succeed Swanson.
Mr.. John w. Carter, lawyer of
Martinsville, is of the opinion that
Judge j.. w. Saunders, of Franklin
county. will succeed Mr.. Swanson in
Congress, and expresses the opinlon
that the jurlst is not even likely to
have opposition in case he announces
his candidacy.
Should Judge Saunders leave the
Circuit bench, there will be several
aspirants for his position. Already
the names of Mr.. William Leigh, OF
Danville, and ex-senator E. ]. Harvey,
OF Patrick, are being mentioned In this
connection.
State House Basement Like a Tomb.
A strenuous kick is coming from the