The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-17

ing in decreasing the general tax rate
cf the states and at the same time
Increasing their revenues. The pres
ent bill Is q composite OF his views
and those of Senator King.
No Objection to Governor.
Taking UP the Holland amendment.
he said that he was not In favor OF
1T as 1t stands. He had no criticism
TO pass upon the proposition to have
the Governor serve on the tax COM
tached from other departments.
1T Is a fundamental error, though.
he declared, ito put on the commission
a member of a body whose work in as
sessing certain taxes 1t VIII be the
duty OF the tax commission to re-
view. Thus. II, as proposed in the
Holland amendment. the chairman OF
the State Corporation Commission were
put on the tax commission, he would
review the corporation assessment of
a case Is wrong In principle"
Senator Strobe went on to say that
he did not like the idea OF putting
a man on the tax commission who
acts OF that body especially when
they have assessed the physical prop
erty OF railroads at from Is per cent.
to 81 per cent. OF their market value.
After man had put himself on record
as considering that fair assessment.
he. would be liable to carry that
opinion with him into the delibera-
tons OF the tax commission.
Put the duty of assessment on men
moi mo COMMITTED nIn, to any partisular meth,
ON men who will take broad gauge
view of every subject"
He thought the Holland amendment
would destroy the beneficial effects of
salary amendment would be unnec-
essary.
There is nc objection. in his view.
to tax commission composed of mem
bers OF the General Assembly Pay
ment 10 such members of the usual
per diem and mileage would solve the
constitutional question OF double COM
pensation.
keczcII's Views.
Senator Keezell desired to strike out
the provision in the bill making the
ehairmen of the House and Senate FL
of the commission. He thought that
no such limitation should be put on the
appointlve power.
He felt that the commission should
be one that would do work and do
1t well. He doubted the wisdom of
putting the Governor or the commits
sion. on account of his multitudinous
duties. and he thought the same OBJ
lection fitted the case of the chairman
OF the State Corporation Commission
IL
valuable man. and he must be relied
upon TO get the greater part of the
information from the various parts
OF the state and from other States.
Crittcfzes the Commission.
Il agree with Senator Strobe as to
the undesirability of placing the chair
man of the State Corpora ton Commits
sion on this tax commission" said SEN
ator keezell with great emphasis. THE
Corporation Commission controls tho
corporation tax with almost a cars
power. 1t has controlled this power
in the interest of corporations rather
than in the interest OF the people.
When / take up the record and as
certain that the great public service
corporations have been assessed at less
than one-ffth of the value of their
properties. than I am con-
strained to say that commission that
thus intervenes between the people and
these big corporations is the last COM
mission on the face of the earth which
should have one of its members on
the tax commission"
Taking up the figures in tho case, he
dem onstrated that the taxes now paid
by railroads in the State are about
one-siNth Of the market value.
I will not mince words" exclaimed
Senator Keezell. II think the time has
come to talk out in open court. Let
the people know that If the State
Corporation Commission had properly
taxed the physical properties of our
great public service corporations, the
General Assembly would not now be
raising assessments and looking around
the plain facts
Sanotor Holland declorad that l..