The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-08


~, N[ARCH s, 1910.
- -.
city Of Richmond will suffer-
would support Biti.
However, In view Of the passage OF
Tho other bills, Mr.. Cox thought 1t no
1883 than justice to the road to pass
the measure allowing 1t to merge.
Mr.. Powers, in d few words, urged
tile passage or the Bill. He thought
" Just 10 the people Of the state.
Mr.. Williams, oil Giles, said lie had
consistently voted against merger
proposals. but he was now ready 70
vote OH the bill. He wanted to know
the effect OF the substitute. II was
explained by Mr.. Page.
Mr.. Throckmorton said that the
Committee on Roads and Internal
Navigation. Of which he is cf,airnaE,
had reported the original bill u1fa.
vorably because OF criticisms by tile
Attorney General, the eX-Attorney-
General the Sinking Fund Connlnis
sioners and the State proxies. Ii the
objection found In that measure lad
been removed, he would vote for the
substitute.
Mr. Ienper offered an amendment
adding the state Treasurer to the
commission on the part Of tho State
lie said that this official is familiar
with the situations. being one OF the
Sinking Fund Commissioners.
Mr.. Page opposed the amendment.
While he greatly admired Mr.. Hartman.
that officer was no more familiar with
conditions than any one OF number
of others.
II The amendment was lost, and the
substitute agreed TO. The bill was en-
crossed. the constitutional readings
dispensed with by vote OF IS to 1.
and the BILL finally passed by q vote
Of 20 to 9.
Governor Mann returned without his
approval the DILL providing a new
charter for the city OF ltadford. One
section was held to be unconstitution-
al and he suggested that 1t be
amended.
Taxes on Insurance.
Senate bills being taken up under
the special order as to revenue meas
ures, the insurance tax bill came first
The Senate had placed the tax on lite
insurance companies at 1 1-2 per cent
on the gross receipts instead OF pei
cent. as at present, and on fire COM
panies It was increased from Ia TO
143-4 per cent. The House Committee
L
Ping tho tax OF life companies at 14-10
per cent. and on fire companies with
gross receipts OF less than 100000
had left the tax as at present. Ia
Amendments were sent to the clerks
/ desk by Nlessrs. Wingo, thinner and
West, of Nansemond. The latter pro-
| posed to tax small fire insurance COM
| panies only Ia OF / per cent.
Speaking to his amendment. Colonel
| West said that small companies are
taxed very htavily In Virginia. 1t was
| almost impossible to pay taxes and
continue them in operation. 1t cost
/ the company with which he is cons
I nectcd % per cent. to do business.
4 while in North Carolina 1t cost only
SO per cent. The biggest fire insur-
ance company in America had paid In
| Virginia last year only per cent,
| and the smallest New York company
doing business in this State had paid
ia per. cent. The average for New
| York companies was 5 per cent. Yet
| his little Virginia company had to pay
90 per cent
Nothing. ha said draws money from
| the South like insurance companies.
yet Virginia taxes her home companies
to death.
Mr.. 5Keyser said the small companie s
| cannot compete with the larger con-
Germs.
Taxed Six Ways.
| A strong and earnest argument for
| reduction to the present rate was
| made by Mr.. thinner He said that
! life insurance companies are taxed N
! Virginia six different ways. Virginia
/ was one Of the six States In the Unior
1 which allows counties and cities t.
/ tax insurance companies. It was wei
\ established. he said, that INSURANCE
companies had been a powerful fore
4 in the reduction of pauperism. Yet !
4 is proposed heavily to tax the MAI
i who by economy and unselfshnes!
l takes care of his family and carrie:
q insurance.
He wanted to know why there was
4 such a strong sentiment to tax every
4 thing. The members can hardly wal,
to vote aye or Il measure !ncreas,na
. taxation. They ought not to sit ~
their seats and vote to increase t Lane.
! on something they know nothlns
!, about, he said.
Sneaker Byrd (Nfr. Stubs in the
\ Echair1 said there are many arguments
), against taxation. He could adduce
! quite number of reasons why he
Il should not be taxed. But the State
must tax to have civilized society or
y organized government. When an Ell
4 fort is made. he said, to tax big things
Il the little things are always put up ms
an argument against increases. Ee
! said that Virginia has not been able
a to- make the Southeastern Tariff Assoc
J citation behave itself. It will protect
? those companies which it9controls.
. AS to life companies. he personally
: had maid eXtravagant premiums to let
the Hydes and their associates dance
E and make merry out Of the money
a wruns from toll. Yet when he wanted
a to borrow on his policies they had
IIlike Shylock. demanded the last
e pound Of flesh.
4 Must Get Revenue.
:, .'Wc WILL" continued the Speaker
4 Iafall into a condition OF political lis
I may il we leave here on Saturday
having provided for the cS-
t penses Of our government. We car
9 stand many things. but We cannot
J, stand deficit in tho treasury. Some
! men say that the consumer has to pay
4 II this is true, and 1t probably is. !
u would be reason against any form
Q Of taxation. It would be an argu
e ment against taxing real estate, be
= cause the renter has to pay more o.
4 account of it,
o ltb3 IIa urged the House to stand by TIL