Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-02-03
DISCUSS TAX
EQUALIZATION
Senator Folkes Brings Matter Up.
Would Assess Mineral Lands
INSTEAD Of Farms.

Again she equalization Of taxes was
the subject OF discussion today In the
senate. and the nrst speech was by
Senator FolRes. OF this city. who went
right after IN mineral and blue grass
lands OF the pc. IN doing 50 ne re-
viewed. in hl inimieal way. the re-
port OF the Sbnate Finance Commit
tee Tie declared that he wanted 60
see the taxation on mineral lands.
worth many millions. taxed as min
AraS hands rather than as farm lands.
&Cn The desks OF the members was
| q report oh the mineral resources Of
/ the state Joy the state Geologist. II
showed that S3O.0O0.oOO was taken
from thel mines. and on this was an
! ossessnep OF SIC 200. 600 OF property.
\ The mineral interests declared that
they waited the same system when
obtainedl in West Virginia, and the
I Senator lsaid ne would accept that
+ He read a report showing that tne
mineral taN ia that State was much
/ greater than in Virginia.
He said that lc 81 as not Frohlbl-
ZIONIST. and that he would rather be
a Republican. lie Was opposed 60 pro-
hibitiOn and was moi prepared 10 dis
cuss that matter.
but gentlemen. you viii hear from
them" shouted Senator Folkes.
They are coming, and they are
coming strong. and you VIII hear from
them. Oh. yes Xoull hear from
? them" and the senators began 60
? laugh.
Senator Folkes said that the Fl
2 nance Committee had raised the 10
E Quor taxes some $4,000. That was
good. IL was a step Ia the right dlrec-
= ton The liquor men had said moth
' ing. being glad 10 be allowed 10 stay
n in business.
e But the three greatest bar rooms
h the express companies-had agreed L
}. an increase OF $1,000 in taxes. sal
e Senator FOlkes- Those great ant
e crease OF $1,000. thus making tota
= OF $4,000" He did not believe tina
y the Finance Committee would alloy
o them 10 pass thus easily,
- We have got 10 have 100000,
y said Senator FolkeS. let Us get some
thing from the mineral lands Let U
Il put IL in the tax bill and make
v good and certain and get what Is du
Z. by vesting the power 20 NIX the vslua
e lions in the auditor
y Senator Foikes was given close al
l. tention. his speech attracting intere'
y and causing q good deal OF laughte
he by his humorous references tS the r
= nance Committee and the position {
N the speakers who had preceded HIN
Senator Hart. OF Roanoke. fOlIowe'
,r he replied 10 the speech Of Senate
As Strobe. Senator Hart discussed a
D general question. but devoted some
te time 10 discussing Amherst count
"a reading from a handbook" TO sho
- that Amherst was one OF the richie
in the State I'm minerals. agricultur
" fruits and natural resources Yet q
~ county was paying very much lie
~ than any OF the counties In that Sc
e, ton. not excluding the county OF Al
pomattox. known as one OF the poo
= est In Virginia. He contended tn
v the cities were paying their fun sha
- -. OF taxes. but were not paying Il
much
- Senator Hart said that the Virgi
a., ian Railway. one OF the most magni
"a cent in the country. had never earn'
~, dollar for its owners. II the IA
- was low on that property he thong
= IL was a wise proposition.
a., Senator Holland. OF Nansemon
- supported the bill as IL came fro
- the Finance Committee. he was u
"a lalterably opposed to the proposals
81 of Senator Folkes TO provide for {
or assessment OF mineral lands under {
- present bill. II the Senator from Ric
- mond will prepare a bill dealing wi
the mineral interests he will supp,
a. it
at Senator Holland said that every Sc
ator on the floor was willing 10 q
90 NIT that the assessments are unequ
am and they should be corrected.
a % Amendment. he explained. was 10 liz
the auditor 10 not more than %
mo- cent. increase on any assessment ms
tro- by the commissioner OF the revenue