The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-24
WOULD SIMPLIFY
THE TAX SYSTEM
Senator Sale Offers Bill Provid-
ing for Tax Com
mission.
'EQUALlzE ALL ASSESSMENTS
One OF Duties Of the Commission
Will Be to Even Up Tax
Bearers Burdens.

Bearers Burdens.
Tax matters were again before the SEN
ate yesterday In the shape OF q new bill
offered by Mr.. Sale, of Norfolk, for the
creation OF a commission charged with
general supervision over tax matters and
execution of all tax laws looking to equal
ization and other necessary improvements
upon the system now operating in the
State.
The Sale bill provides for a permanent
commission OF three members, to be
known as the State Tax Commission, the
general duty OF which will be the exect-
ton OF all laws now in force.or which
may hereafter be enacted relative to the
assessment or re-assess,ncnt of lands and
lots, persons and properly, and the grant
ing OF Licenses within this State. The
commissioners will be elected by a JOINT
vote of the two houses of the General
Assembly and their regular terms of Office
will be six years, respectively, except
those first elected und critic act, of whom
one will be elected to hold office for two
years, ono for four and tho third for
SIN. Appointments to vacancies on the
commission Will be made by the Governor.
Bond will be executed by each commits
sioner In the sum of $4,000. Each will
receive IL salary of $1,000 Il year Provis-
ion Is made for such subortlinates as may
be necessary. The salary of the clerk will
be s1,3O0.
The chief office of the commissioners
Will be located and It's public sessions will
fIn aif ne DinI,,,
vided, however, that the commission may
In It's discretion, If public necessity or the
convenience OF the parties require, hold
public sessions elsewhere in the State
| using the courtroom of the courthouse
OF the city or county wherein such ses-
sion may be held. Travelling expenses
Will be paid out of the public treasury
For tho purpose of providing suitable
quarters for the commissioner the act
| appropriates $3.50 to be used by the regis
ter Of the land office in fitting up rooms
in the Capitol building.
Simplify the Books.
Under the act, as already pointed out
the State Tax Commission will be the
department of government charged with
the execution of all laws now in force or
which may hereafter be enacted relative
to tax matters. 1t will be the particular
duty of the commission to prescribe the
forms of all assessment books and re-
ports which may be required by the as
SCISSORS of land and the commissioners
| of revenue. with a view to simplifying
| them and making them uniform through
out the State: and to supervise. regulate
! and control the assessment of lands and
lots, persons and property. and the grant
| ing OF licenses within the State The
commission will appoint the land assess
ors In all the counties and cities of the
State and all the commissioners OF the
revenue in the counties and cities of the
State upon the expiration OF the terms
of those now in office, and will enforce
NIL existing laws relative to both the as
SCISSORS and the commissioners.
] With view to enualizing the val,,a-
ton of lands and properties throughout
! the State, the commission will supervise
all assessments of lands and properties
and will cause to be filed in its office
copy OF every assessment book and book
| of the commissioners of the revenue,
and to compile from the books all data
and information possible each year, which
will be reported to the Governor. with
such recommendations as the commits
sion may see fit looking to a gradual
equalization of land and property taxes
! within the State including forms of nee
essary enactnents to put the recon-
mendations into effect. Either as a body
or by one of It's members duly desig-
mated the commission will visit every
! city and county, where the land books
and property books are kept at least
once in every four years for the purpose
of gaining information as to the correct
ness of the assessment OF land and
property by the officers of the sew
era cities and counties with view
to compiling the information desired
as heretofore set forth. and for tho adj
ditional purpose of making any changes
in the assessments of the local officers
| that may be deemed necessary. 1t Is
specially provided that the act shall not
be construed to take away or impair the
| jurisdiction of any court OF this Com
monwcalth to hear and determine any
complaint or petition for the correction
or changing OF any assessment as now
prescribed by law. The powers and Ju-
risdiction OF tho tax commission to hear,
review, alter or fix such assessments
I Will be concurrent as far as the courts
have jurisdiction In such matters.