The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-03

by which the bill failed or passage on
Friday.
Hugh A White on the ground thai
enough time had been given TO it.
Its own friends now thought ii worth
less, and he did not sec why II should
be gone into again.
The object of this legislation. said
Robinson Moncurc. waa TO equalize the
taxa bic values of tho state. He had
noted that the Republicans had voted
against the bill SO had tho Democrats
from the Southwest. with one or TWO
exceptions. He wanted the bill re-
considered and passed.
Question of Hones,y.
u snail say but few words" said
Harry r. Houston. II am sick at
heart over this proposition. During
the four terms have served. tax re-
form has been a paramount Issue. Yet
il always meets with innumerablc Oh
jections. It docs seem as thdusn the
people OF the State do not want
honest taxation.
This is purely question Of hon
esty. OF whether or not locality Is
willing TO bear its just burdens.
here and now warn tho House of Del
ogates that those counties witch have
tried 10 do their honest duty and havc
asked in vain for relief. will not ask
again. They Will do like the others
reduce their assessments and Increase
their local levlss."
Not much that was good was left in
the BILL in the opinion of William
Watts. But /; was nevertheless a step
in the right direction. The present
system, or rather lack of system, was
unfair TO many counties.
Taxes In Southwest.
Judge Williams said he would 10 moth
ing save defend the Southwest. Its
members. he said, had been charged
with association with Republicans, as
though it were the acme of crime Yet
if the Republicans had come TO the
rescue against a proposition which
would attack the interests of the South
west. he wished for moro Republicans
OF the same kind. He repeated again
the assertion that the thirteen counties
west OF New River, counting in tn,
franchises and eliminating tho cities, pay
into the State treasury % per cent. OF
all the taxes. The real inequality in
assessment. he insisted. is against the
live stock interests of tho Southwest
and other sections. Tho farmer of
Eastern Virginia pays no taxes on his
crop Yet n colt or a calf foaled In
is assessed on February /, and
Il tax is paid on him as long as h,
lives. He repealed the slurs which have
been cast Oh the Southwest, where The
added burden of taxes on minerals In
the ground ana timber Oh the stump is
laid.
1t was time. said Mr.. Cox. TO con-;
slider the whole State. 1t was evidently
necessary 10 educate public sentiment.
"a L., t...
tionablc form. If the Southwest IS
inequitably treated. the matter should
be corrected. The tax system now is
Ike sailboat without sails, drifting
with the wind.
People Demand reform.
The people of the Eastern Shore are
for tax reform. said William
Built Fitahugh. H. hoped TIC mem
bcrs would not leave their seats until
they had passed this bill.
Let us be men and a least show the
people that we have tried TO relieve
conditions" lie sold.
The Richmond members seem 10 feel
tina; the people from out in the Stat.
have grievance against this city,
continued Mr. fitzhugh. so far IS
am concerned, there is no such feel.
ing / am proud Of my capital city,
and it is tho sweetest spo, in tho world
TO ms"
The tiouso agreed 10 reconsider. ana
the bill was then placed on it's passage.
As its friends rallied to its support
II was evident that 1t would \. mar
row shave 10 get the required nfty-on
votes for measure carrying an appro-
pria tion. But there were enough. The
vote follows:
Vote on INK Reform.
Ayes Baker, of Chest ,:hcll: Banks.
Gcll Bowman, Brewer. Brown. If Dam
vile: Burt ChaIlslcy. Christian, Cole
man. of Norfolk; Coleman. Of Spotsyl-
vania, Cox, Dreamer. Curtis, Daniel,
Evans. Ewing, Fitzhush. Gillian, Har-
wood, Houston. Iio@crton. Jennings.
J crdan, Kent. Land. Love. NIalhon.
Mcetz,. Milstcad, Moncurc, Montague
Moselcy, Old, Oliver. Page, Peek. Rich
lrdaon. Row. rutherford. Sm,sh, Steb-
bins. Stephenson. of James City: Te,.-
rcll. ThrocSmorton. Tiffany. utz, Watts,
White. OF Albcmarlc: Williams, MISC
ana SPEAKER Byrd Up.
Noes--Andcrson, Borden, Browning,
Buck. Clarke. Earman, Flanagan. Fal3
ton, Grant Kemper. Kinscy. Lunsford,
Martin, MassIe. Mustard. Parker, pey.