The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-10

+ k1l ~ " J 5ASA@ ~as ~ ~ GA AL
Democratic party were In control i
would give 1t that power"
EN- E
AT 1880 A. NJ. the Senate came to
order. Discussion arose over the adop-
ton OF the House amendments to the
tax commission bill, adding TO the
commission tho chalrrnen OF the Sem
ate and House Finance Committees.
the Speaker OF the House, and the
President OF the Senate. Tho original
Senate bill providcdaonly tho Cover
nor, tho chairman Of the State Corr
poration Commission and q financial
expert.
Believing that concurrence IN the
amendment was the only way to secure
a tax commission at all, Senators King,
Fletcher, STROBE and, 1Ialscy favored,
such action.
Opposition was offered by Senators
Holland, Holt and Wickham.
BY the close margin OF 80 to 10 the
amendment was c%oncurred In.
The House amendments to the In
|'surance tax bill were also agreed to.
Income Tnx.
Senator Halsey called up the pros
posed income tax amendment to the
Constitution Of tho United States.
..This measure" said he, ought not
to be relcgated to the realm of the
things that were. We should take 1t
up and give the House an opportunity
L MAJ 1,u tynbHa rrvnfEn6
their own actions before. This propo-
sition has received the appreciation OF
President Taft and both parties"
The BILL was set as a special order
for the night session. over the We
lhemcnt protest of Senator Echols, who
thought that the Senate had no time
to consume on a bill which had all
ready been killed by the House.
Secretary owen brought q message
from the Governor pointing out the
necessity OF a tax equalization law OF
by reason OF the failure Of the House
to pass the Fletcher tax equalization
bill.
Governors Message.
The text OF the message follows:
ITO the General Assembly OF Vir-
ginia,-The failure OF Senate bill No
III In the House on yesterday requires
me to call the attention Of the General
Assembly to the imperative reed OF
!; some method for the equalization OF
i taxes in the State. Unless a plan hay
Ing this end in view is adopted at this
session OF the Legislature the greatest
inequality will exist, ana the greatest
injustice will result to those sections
in which assessors, following the rule
established by the Constitution, assess
the land In their respective districts
at its fair market value. Under the
Constitution the assessment OF this
year will be the basis of taxation until,
1916. and the Importance Of having 9
uniform assessment throughout tho
State cannot DO ovcrestimated.
'At this late day of the session 81
may not be possible to adopt the wtsest
measure of equalization, but as gu,
%nnanccs Will be affected for five years
and our plans OF progress halted. I an
confident that tho wisdom and patriot
ism Of the General Assembly is equn
to the emergency, and that O measure
Will be adopted which will result In
great good wen II 1t does not per-
fectly meet the views of all of the
peoples representatives.
''Wc arc all interested in the welfare
r and progress OF the State, and al
working together for the advancement
0 OF her best interests, and I am sur
o that by making mutual concessions
and by giving aud taking help one
from another q law may be passed
which Will be Just to land owners AMI
meet the requirements of the State.
Respectfully submitted,
Q "NM. HODGES MANN, Governor.
o March o. 1902
Tax Equalization.
; Speaking as to the message, Senato'
Fletcher referred to the defeat Of hi!
4 bill by the House as most unfortunate
!. He had consulted with the Governor
who is much worried over the situa
i ton, and hoped the Senate would TAX,
same action Immediately.
Senator Keezell said:
I'VE are in nm unfortunate %conditio,
as a result OF the Houses action OF
: the Fletcher bill. If nothing Is done
Instead OF q fair valuation. we shall
/ have the same old undesirable competl
, ton in many places between local as
/ SCISSORS as to which one can get tn,
! lowest valuation for his ~neigllborhood
Our revenue bills are framed o,
4 the assumption that the Fletcher bill
! would become law
, Fletcher Offers New bill.
!, Senator Fletcher introduced a ney
gency created by tho death OF TIL
Fletcher bill in the House, Hesmove'
that consideration OF tho bill by til
Finance Committee be dispensed wit
over the objection OF Senator Wick
!, ham. It was 81 ordered.
= Senator Keezell introduced a bill t
require railroads to pay their fran
chise taxes on November i, instead Q
December i, so that the money do
rived therefrom may be legally avail
able then for the school fund. Til
bill was taken lip and passed.
Governor Mann sent a communica
ton. notifying the Senate Of the up
%pointnent Of Tucker C. Watkins. Q
South Boston, as q member OF tn,
Eonrd OF visitors of the State Femal
Normal School. ut E'armvillc. in llel
OF Thomas S, Wilson. Who has lef
/, the State.
Then came up the Lesner bill. pro
viding that where a. part OF account,
n I'm a S1,eor1 nnr6ycd,fOWa city. snOAOthe