The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-19


,nent he said, Is based on that i'm
mortal truth written by Gergo Mason
that the Legislative, executive and ju-
dlcia1 departments should he separate
and independent" 1t IL In hia view
Improper to put the taxing power in
the hands of any but the deneral AS
semb1y.
Not Gloss to People.
Not single member Of the commits
sion proposed In the Holland biil, ne
emphasized would be amenablteto INC
peoplc, The Governor Is not SUD
iect to reelection, the chairman or
the state Corporation Commission ls
nm appointivc officer not elected by
the ncople, and the expert would come
under the same criticism. TO put inc
duties OF the tax commission upon
those suggested In the Holiaho
amendment would put the Genera rs
sembly in the attitude of Shrinking
from assuming the responsibility anu
putting It into the power of those no.
amenable to the people
When other institutions are inVesl-
gated. he argued none but legisia-
tive Investigating committee IS thousht
of. The system of taxation Is JUST as
important as any other institution,
and there is no reason to depart from
tho long-sett1cd precedent and prln-
| cfpIe in order to appoint a committee
| Of outsiders.
| Another reason Senator King ad-
yanced against the Holland amendment
| ifs that the Governor and the chairman
of the state Corporation Commission
already have oncrous duties to per-
| form.
| 81 want commission" he declared,
that will bring in results. ] want one
from which report may be exacted.
New Idea Proposed.
J Citing the experience OF other states.
| he demonstrated that no other had eves
| nut It's Governor on a tax commission.
He saw no reason why Virginia should
attempt to walk in new and untried
/ path and adopt something neve. tried
/ elsewhere.
At this juncture Delegate Williams
! brought a message from the House,
stating the passage of the Garter Dill
allowing interstate trains to run on
Sunday with an amendment. me
4 amendment was adopted by the Senate.
4 Senator strobe taking occasion to say
that he had not been present during
the deliberations on the bill. but that
IL he had been. he would have opposed
4 the bill as abrogating the settled poiicS
Il
! Taking up his argument, Senate:
? King opposed the idea of combining
> the legislative and executive depart
uents. In this State, he pointed out
l II has never been done. save In the
case of the State Corporation Commits
t sion. which is the creature of al
. amendment to the Constitution, com
e bining some of all three Of the powers
of the government.
After pointing out the wonderful re
r suits achieved in other States By
: small outlay, no larger than that pro
e posed in the bill. he said that the ques
e ton of expense was small, IN con
y sideration of what might be done.
y with an eloquent explanation OF M
j. posi.ion on the bill. calling upon TN
General Assembly to shoulder the re
.e sponsibIlity like men and patriots,
y as to alleviate the present distressln
j. condition of the tax system, he close
id snIe for King Dill.
l. Declaring that as the representad'
10 of a district that paid more taxes ina
Oh any other district. Senator Sale sa
rs that he favored the King bill as
sy stands. He would offer an amendmel
adding to IT the Speaker of the Hou
al and the Lieutenant Governor. on a
Id count of their long experience IN q
ey legislative business of the state.
he II see no reason to dcpreciate q
r. value OF the services OF the legislator
es he said THE Governor, the memoe
ell of the State Corporation Commissic
\, the Judges for the most part. nave
Is been members of this body. An orc
nd nary Virginia Legislature would,
is my opinion, have done as much
sixty days for Virginia as the Cons
tutional Convention did in its long Sc
To- sion The principal benefits receiS
nd from the session of that convention q
nm the franchise tax and corporation &C
ir Speaking in high terms of the cha
is- man of the state Corporation Comm
sion. he said that he thought him 81
a. cere in his utterances on the taNati
h, of railroads Yet he thought that I
tn commission was just as liable as
atei other body to make mistakes lie "
nd of opinion that the assessment OF
NOT trackaEe of the railroads IN the St'
m is too low. and he thinks the comm
as sion probably agrees in that oplni
ate 1t seems very inconsistent that
mo assessment urged by the railroads
taxation had been upon the basis
een $4,000 per mile while, when Il
ave wished to raise their rates from
us 2Ia per cent. they claimed vaiua'
cid of $4,000 per mile.
n.y. think me uoNei NO nossi
we shall hear from him later, Nirsl
nd needs modern system oil taAatlo