The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-01
HOUSE

In the House yesterday, several
matters on the calendar were reached
before the hour Of 1850 arrived.
bringing with IL the special ordcr---the
TAX commission bill Tue motion 10
reconsider the vote by which the Rich
mond charter bill was ordered 10 It's
endorsement Was aguin .,asscd by. at
the suggestion of Mr.. Con
SENATE bill No. % came UP and WAS
read third time. AMI passed by n
vote Of II TO Z. Mr.. Gillian moved TO
reconsider saying the measure, which
provides that the State Insurance Com
missioner shall arrange for fire insur-
ance on state property. would work
great hardship on COMMUNITIES where
thrSc institutions are sill uatcd. The
motion 10 reconsider whs passed by.
The House passed Tie following
Senate bills:
Amthori~ing the supervisors Of Isle
or Wight county TO bui;d Il bridge
across Jones'g Creek.
Providing reasonable comp cnsation
for the road commissioners OF Neck
lenhurg county for directing the cx-
pcnditurc OF road funds
Tax NH Up AEnfn.
The hour of 1890 having arrived. the
House went into Committee OF the
consider the special order--IIousc bill
No. 20.
Judge Williams resumed the floor
which he yielded the deg before for
adjournment. lie spoke OF the spirit
OF restlcssncss over the administra-
tlon Of the tax laws. and freely ad-
mittcd the demand for change Ie
commended the evident desire on the
part Of members TO do what Is best for
thc state.
Tor his own section OF the State, he
had 10 say that the thirteen counties
west OF New River, counting franchise
taxes. pay one fourth OF tho entire
revenue Of the state. Somehow, he
continued,'all efforts to increase taxes
finally end in burdeninB the agricul-
tnrnI interests. He read n letter just
received from a Montgomery county
farmer. who said lie pays 90 per cent.
OF HIS gross Income In taxes.
There was no telling. pJrsucd Judge
Williams. how much the proposed bin
would increase tho tax burdens OF the
people Of the State. II was the duty
OF the Legislature. in his judgment 10
rather decrease public expenditure IL
possible.
Growing Officers.
II recall when all he dcpa rtments
of the government were in the old
Capitol building" he said. Now we
have two wings. and ~. have tho
splendid library building, and yet we
mittcc meetings without trespassing
on what some board nr department
thinks arc its vested rights. we have
too many boards. and should seek TO
reduce their number. instead of const!
tutns new department. FOR the pur-
pose of reaching out after more taxes
Certainly the people would be better
satisfied.
This bill creates II board which
would have the DOwer 10 cmpiov nm
unlimited number OF leuutics: these
men would have unlim,teG expenses,
could summon unlimited witnesses
consume unlimited time. suspend coun-
- officers elected by The people pend
ing trial and the commission could
remove them after a hearing
rs this Democratic govcrnment?"
Fears Capitalization.
Judge Williams told hor the com
mission could send a little deputy TO
Giles ..ounty, pay his cNper ses. allow
him TO summon witnesses and suspend
an officer chosen by popular vote. IL
the commissioner OF the revenue had
not, in the dcputys opinion. assessed
horse at sufficiently high figure
$50 man." he said. can tell what all
this Will cost. IT is Capitalization TO
mn extent unprecedented in legisla-
ton"
Again. the commission could pre-
scribe uniform systems OF bookkeep-
Ing. In Giles county there is n treas
urer who has been III Office for many
years. AMI WHO has paid every dollar
due the State and the county. To bur
don him with certain system OF
bookkeeping might require him 10 en-
ploy an expert accountant at such fig
ure as TO consume most OF his com