The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-27
Here and There in the Legislature

| Putting express companies In the
same class with railroads. under the
State Corporation Commission, and
with license taxes upon their gross
earnings, was the proposition made
yesterday by a representative of the
Southern Express Company before the
House Finance Committee. The COM
mittee had under consideration the bill
of Mr.. Cox, OF Richmond, increasing
| the tax on express companies from %
per mile to $50 per mile.
| Major Shelton. Tor the Southern Com
| pany. argued that the net income iast
year amounted to $500 per mile. and
X take all of this. He admitted that
business has increased during the pres,
| ent fiscal year, since June ~ lase, anu
| that the company could STAND an III
to pay.
one-half of the gross earnings, he
said go to the railroads for cars, trans
portaton, station use ana othe ep neee es
he asserted, are only 10 per cent. Oh
the gross receipts. In virginia last
year the company earned Soe,esa net
and paid 81 per cent. Of this to the
state. Let the Corporation Commits
SION he said. draw bill placing us
under It's control on the same basis
with the railways of the state. II this
is done, we will pay an increase IN
taxes OF from 20 to 80 per cent;
In reply to a question from Mr. Cox.
Major Shelton said that the presen.
system of taxing express ana Pul,i il
companies by the mile was unquestion,-
, ably unconstitutional. But ne SAID
!. his company would not fight the STATE
: of Virginia. Virsinia's express rates
!. he said are the e, m most fea honh" he con.
. cluded, could be marked. HehrS
/ Stuart, author.
: The gross earnings OF the compan!
/ last year in Virginia were $9l0,ooo. OF
, which. under Major Shelton's proposi
ton, a / per cent. tax would DE leVieu
Questions of increases In taxation
!, were fought out yesterday BEFORE tht
: House Committee on Finance The
first bill taken UP was that increaslne
the license tax on commerclai asen-
cies from $3.50 to S25oo. s Represe nrith
| members of the legislative commlttee
: of the Chamber of Commerce ana OF
the Credit Mems Association OF tslcn-
mond appeared before the ro,,.llit tpat
I commercial agencies did iesitimaee
. business. and that the object of taxa IA,
y ton could be only to raise revenue ana
. not to prohibit them.
: Mr.. johnston, of Montgomery. the
patron Of the bill. called attention 70
. the wide volume OF business zone =, oy
these companies. He said that hat, they aa
had inquisitorial powers. and could de-
ledger or safe under penalty of Inn
paired credit. The volume, he thought.
/ would justify the increase ;.
Rradstreet's man didn't think so. IN
i fact he said that the volume OF BUST
d ness was in research and not IN re-
l. CENTS. and that if a tax Of $4,000 were
imposed would taks all all Tn Inc a met ,e sf
J I-comparatvely speaking
! r, p Giles, of the Stephen Putney
II shoe Company. and the. Credit Bureau
IL ,Ny SNnr MO &
q explained that his credit concern was
chants and would be put out OF pusl-
"a ness by such tax.
10 4 representative of the, Bureau Of
e Credits said that It's total income wa.
4. q between $4,000 and $1,000. a year, out
,r of which salaries and all other operat'
n. ing expenses are paid. Action was de-
lie rerred by the committee.
e. Senate bill No. /. to change certain
Sc portions OF the road law of August
Is county, was reported unfavorably t
RS the House yesterday by the Commute
e :. This is the first Senate bill to reael
Ia the House calendar. The objection Q
% the. COMMITTEES to the bin lies in tn !,
20 fact that It seeks to convert certai
~ macadamized roads, built with Stat
: aid. into toll roads. The committe
q. thought such a measure would destro
o. State help In road matters The to
roads would be under control or tn
e. Board of Supervisors, according to tn
la bill
or
IS. The anti-pstol bill of Mr. johnson
of Russell, was introduced in the Hogs
es Yesterday. 1t forhids the general sal
h of pistols In this State.
500
OF The unsanitary condition OF Bible
70 used in courtrooms caused the pro
~ posal In the House yesterday by M
To- Topniprs NJ Tynchh,,rr of n hill sta,
ne ing that inttakfng an oath the placn
), or the hand on the Bible should j