Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09
HAS TOUGH PROBLEM
Apportioning State Cash Puz-
zIes Virginians.
TO LOOK UP ASSESSMENTS
Senate Committee Will Try to Raise
Valuations.
PROPOSED NEW PRIMARY LAW
Hardy Case Before Supreme Court
Interests Many-Effort to Sc
cure More Pay for Judges.
PROPOSED NEW PRIMARY LAW
ccial Correspondence Of The Star.

RICHMOND. Va. January s. 30
| The senate finance committee has been
| at work since Wednesday of this week
| figuring out the disposition of the states
money to the several institutions which
are dependent on the commonwealth for
support. Chairman Keezell said today
that it was "a knotty problem The
committee has been making some investi-
cations the subject of property valua-
tons. AT this time the assessors are be-
ing named by the judges of the circuit
and corporation courts to make a new as
seSsment on real estate for the ensuing
five years. They are required to sub
scribe 10 an oath that they will make
fair cash valuation Of all the real
estate
The committee has taken the records of
the court clerks, examining the transfers
of property made since the last assess
ment These show some startling reNela
tionS result of the Investigations
Property which has been sold since the
last assessment WAS made is found 10
have been sold for much three to
four times the taxable value. This is not
confined to any one section of the state.
Nor has the examination been completed.
Just how far the committee Will go in its
search for information on the subject Is
not known. but the fact is established
their duties prescribed by law and ac-
cordng To their oaths of office.
Right on the heels of the discovery the
committee has begun the consideration of
Il measure looking to getting reason
able valuation on all classes of property
real and personal. There has been such
an effort for some years. Senator Sale
endeavorlng TO have a commission OF
equalization named to take up the mat
ter and to visit each section of the state
in the interest of the work and justice
10 the state. This idea did not find much
favor. Gov. Swanson has advanced the
'dea of making the auditor the judge of
the equity and redsonableneSS of the re-
turns made by the assessors and the COM
miSSioners of the revenue. and if these
do not show what is fair and reasonable
and somewhere near the same relative
value in each general section, he is EN-
powered to make such change as shall be
deemed fair and just and in keeping with
the values given in all parts of the state.
New Primary Bill.
The state democratic committee has
agreed on a bill TO be submitted to the
full committee at early date, affecting
the primary election laws. The bill is a
composite affair and makes many changes
in the existing party regulations. First
of ALL the primary elections are to be
Heiu uIlQeT the state laws III every par
ticular The elections are not, however.
obligatory on the parties, that feature be-
ing stricken out and left optional. News
papers are not permitted to print boosts
of candidates In their columns and rece We
pay the efor unless they print the words
paid advertisements at the top of the
article. The cities and counties are to
pay the costs of the election, but there is
to be no fee collected from candidates for
election expenses There is no restriction
on the amount of money which shall bs
expended by the candidates. There is
provision whereby parties can elect dele
gates in the primary and hold state
convention or county or city conven-
ton and let the candidates be nominated
by that method. The change Is one which
will result in considerable saving to the
cincts in the state, and the pay for the
election judges IS more than S1o a day
(rent of polling place includedD, 50 that
it is easy TO see that the cost saved to
the candidates will be a good sum. No
party, as party. can hold an election
under the primary law when it shall have
ia led to poll as many 5000 votes in
the state. But there is nothing to prevent
any person claiming utilization with such
a. party from becoming a candidate.
One of the most interesting cases be-
fore the supreme court of appeals Is that
of Samuel Hardy of Nansemond county,
who was conyicted of the killing of Ii
berius Gracious Jones, a wealthy man
i
land a wealthy man Of the county. was
the cause of the killing. Jones had been
a witness in suit or litigation involving
the will left by Holland. whereby certain
persons would have benefited by the pro-
batting Of the document. Jones claimed
that Hardy had stated certain things to
him regarding the existence of the will,
and this Hardy denied. Jones was re-
turning to his home at night. soon after
hearing of the case, and as he entered
his front yard he was shot down. This
crime created good deal of excitement,
and after several days detectives ar
rested Hardy, charging him with the
crime. The finding Of breech lock OF
81 certain make OF gun near the scene of
the crime gave a clue TO the murderer.
The weapon from which the lock had
fallen was said to have belonged to
Hardy, and so far as known was the only
gun of the kind in the vicinity. The block
from Hardy's gun was missing. The trial
consumed a good many days and was bit
terly fought, Hardy being convicted in
April OF last year. The supreme court
allowed writ of error and supersedeas.
and 1t was on the petition for a new trial
that the case was argued, Attorney Gen
eral Andedson opposing the motion. \ de-
cision is not expected Tor at least two
weeks
More Pay for Judges.
The pay Of the circuit judges of the
state is fixed by law at $500 year.
The cities in which they hold court have
the right to increase this sum, but the
counties are not allowed the privilege of
paying the judges more than is allowed
nv thc state Just why this discrmina-
ton was made is not known, but it has
proven immensely, unpopular and the in
coming general assembly will be asked TO
change the law that the counties will
81, % he
support of the Judges that the cities have.
L.. IN CT county Is given u