The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-01

SCISSOR. Judge Williams pronounced
James A. Stone TO be strikingly
valuable public servant. The State
/ was to be congratulated, he thought
in that Judge Rhea, who Is in charge
| or the assessment of mineral lands
had found such a man. But Mr.. Stone
has no direct connection with agricul-
| tural interests.
Proposes Amendments.
Thereupon Judge Williams offered
! two amendments, upon whose adpotiou
he predicated his vote for the bill. One
was that the commission was to be
composed of three persuasive whose
| principal occupation at the time of
their election to be farming or asri-
| cultural, and tho State Accountant.
The other amendment was TO strike
out the section which permits Circuit
Courts TO remove commissioners of the
revenue for failure to perform the
duties prescribed by the bill.
The State Accountant. who has been
Mayor of the largest city in the State.
could look after the assessment on
city property, and tho others could
tended 10 reach--the values of the ag-
ricultural lands and products lie did
not believe that she people would
stand for proposition to turn over
the equalization to a commission
| whose members do not own a foot OF
| agricultural land.
Addressing himself then to the SEQ
ton regarding the duties of the com
missioner, Judge Williams said that
the proceedings would give locnl
courts no discretion, but would make
| them remove officers elected by the
people If they did not obey tho orders
OF the commission. lis would never
vote to have man from one county
| NEEDLE with tho Internal affairs Of
| another, nor did he believe the people
Of the state would stand 1t.
Might Elect Farmer.
Speaking briefly, Mr.. White said
that the idea OF having men interested
| in agriculture made the commissioners
was good ono. Mr.. Evans inquired
If the Legislature. under the Burt
| amendment accepted by Speaker BYRD.
! could not elect farmer as conmis-
sioner. The Rockbridge man replied
that such things usually so by friend
ship, and that he preferred to have 1t
] in the law.
w. a. Land offered q substitute for
the Williams amendments. TO provide
| that one OF the commissioners should
| be an agriculturist. AIR. Land op-
posed the striking out OF the section
lht shIci Va aSoCooIil6
officers. believing that such action
would nulilfy the bill. The matter
would be thrashed out. he said, In the
courts, and the judge would try the
case, which must be fully established.
before the commissioner OF tho reve-
nue. is removed from office.
Mr.. Lunsford's Argument.
The next speaker was c. NJ. Luns-
ford. of Botetourt. who opposed the
bill in its existing form. Tho COM
plant in regard to taxation. he said,
has for It's basis the fact that some
| counties do not assess property ut as a
high rate as others. This being
! true, tax commission would at once
begin 10 try to make it equal. Where,
| he asked. would the commission so
| for information? 1t is said that the
present commission has secured Its
data from clerks of courts and others
| in the county towns.
| Clerks have NOT the necessary mtl
mate knowledge of values. commended
AIr. Lunsford The commissioner Of
the revenue has seen the horses and
cattle and sheep and farm machinery
with his natural eyes. He wondered
how long II would take Il tax commits
| sion to View every piece of personal
property and Judge OF its relative
value considering its location.
| He was interrupted in his argument
| by the hour for vacating the chair.