The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-04
FREEMAN To TALK
ON SEGREGATION
Expert of Tax Commission to
Make Report at Meeting in
Milwaukee.
SYSTEM MAY BE ADOPTED
Contemplates Allowing State and
municipalities to Share in Taxes
From Corporations.

report on segregation Of taxable
dfproperty. part to the State and the
remainder to the municipality, will be
made TO the Virginia Tax Commission
by Or. Douglas S. Freeman. technical
member and secretary. at it's meeting
to be held during the International
Tax Conference in Milwaukee on Au-
gust 20.
DIR. Freeman has been working ear
nestly and long IN the preparation OF
his report and compiled numerous
complex tables of figures and com
piled a quantity of data on which to
base his report
The commission is composed of
Governor Mann. Lieutenant Governor
Ellyson, Speaker Byrd, Senator Kee-
cell, chairman Of the Senate finance
committee. Delegate Bowman, chair
man of the House finance committee:
Judge Prentis. chairman OF the Cor
poration Commission. and DR.. Free
man. AT the initial meeting OF the
commission four weeks ago when Or.
Freeman was elected secretary be-
cause of his wide knowledge of min
eral values, political economy and tax
systems, IL was decided to attend the
best tax experts of all nations will
assemble.
May Adopt Plan.
While the conference is In session
the Virginia commission will hold its
second meeting. and DIR. F'reeman's
report will be the chief topic OF dis
cussion and consideration. IL the Sc
gregation plan is feasible 1t Will be
adpoted in Virginia to correct the
multiple evils Of the present tax sys-
tenn.
In speaking of the meeting Thurs
day DR. Freeman said The entire
commission win attend the meeting
at Milwaukee on the 28th. with the
exception of Judge Prentis, of the
Corporation Commission. now in Eu-
rope. The commission decided to be
present at the international tax con-
r9rence, because the representatives
OF all the States who are ut work IN
tax reform will be in attendance and
many problems will be discussed
which have q direct bearing on Viz
ginia.
The commission will hold a meet
ing while at Milwaukee. and will then
receive the report on segregation.
which I n preparing. The act
which authorized the appointment Of
this commission, passed at the last
session of assembly. required us to
specially investigate this question and
to make recommendations as to TIE
possibility of giving over part gof
the taxable property of the State 10
the exclusive use OF the common
wealth and a part to the local au-
thoritfes. This policy of tax refotfn
is also suggested by the State con-
stitution, which provides that the as
sembly may authorize segregation
after September /. 1918.
Discuss All Phases.
THE report on segregation will dis-
cuss the question In all its phases and
will contain some facts regarding the
taxable property of the State Witch
have never before been publish cd
1t will show. for instance. how much
the various counties. towns and cities
of the State collect from public ser
vice corporations, what the annual
revenue of these counties and cities
Is from license taxes, and how the
revenues of the State will have to be
readjusted under any plan of segre-
cation. II we find that segregation
la possible, table will be prepared
and presented before the commission
showing the exact operation OF segre-
cation on every county and city OF
the State, the necessary changes In
the tax laws. the increases and the
possible reductions in all the local
revenue laws. This Is not only a le-
climate part of our work. but 1t is
absolutely necessary in justice to all,
since the commission will not con-
| slider any plan of tax reform which
is not demonstratably for the benefit
of great majority OF the people OF
thu State.
Until all of these tables can be
prepared. 1t Is impossible to forecast
the possibility of segregation. All l
can say in advance Is that the ques-
ton will be considered In all it's bear
ings and that the people of the State
who are interested in tax reform will
be given every opportunity to discuss
the subject. There will be no gum
shoe recommendations to the assem-
bly,