The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-13
new TAXING PLAN
PROPOSED BY BYRD
Would Have Commissioners to
Visit and Examine Ali
MHITE FOR SEGREGATION
ID ebate Before Committee.
Speaker Explains Merits
Of Proposition.
FOR SEGREGATION

Before the House Committee on FL
nance yesterday morning, Speaker
Byrd argued his new proposition for
8 state Tax Commission. He ex-
planned the provisions already out
tined in the press.
One new point brought out was that
tine Speaker does not think the State
Corporation Commission assesses rail-
road property At a sufficiently high
ngure. When the railroads were re-
sisting the reduction of their pas
senger rates. he said, they claimed
that their lines were worth $4,000
mile. and when appearing on the
fubteot of being assessed, they said
they were worth only $4,000. While
tbc railroads claim that their franchise
tax should DC considered in mitigation,
she Speaker said he did not agree to
This proposition, as II Is a license tax
for doing business. and should be paid
Es merchants and lawyers and physi-
S.hns pay such taxes.
WANTS Segregation.
( Hugh a. White did not believe the
commission as proposed would reach
fhc Intangible personal property of the
State lie insisted that segregation
was the feasible plan, and that the
counties which would be hurt the
worst by It are those where the as
fessmepts are now miserably low.
Further, he said. the State does not
need a Tax Commission TO equaiize
assessments, because there is nothing
+, to equali2e save live stock and house
hold furniture until 1915, when the
new realty assessment is made. He
thought the byrd plan an invitation
to corporations to get into politics.
Mir. White said no new facts are
contained In the Tar Commission re-
port, and that 1t does not furnish tho
Information on which TO base a culcu-
lation az to the effects OF segrega-
zion. He thought the committee should
report some plan by which 10 secure
Ethis information. PROBABLY for the next
Vie gislaturc.
nyrd's Analysis.
Speaker Byrd last night Issued the
Rollow 'ng authorized interview on hls
laew tax plan.
The amended equalization bin, which
wss considered by the Finance Com
uiittee this morning. while not, in my
opinion, an ideal BIN, is perhaps the
largest measure OF reform in tax equal
ization possible at this session. The
bill utilizes existing machinery and
though there are three commissioners.
only one additional salary Is 10 be
paid.
THE bill provides that the Governor
shall appoint one commissioner. The
other two are the State Mineral AS
SCISSOR and q State accountant, who Will
become part OF tho commits sion The
nh.ef features OF the bill are these:
81. II creates a commission az three
S1emb ers-a body of sufficient size to
prevent the Capitalization OF power In
the hands OF ono mnn--nnd keeps this
commission permanently employed in
4 bn I'M ~
az II provides that every locality
he given q hearing before It's valua
rion can DC fixed by assessment, for the
commissioners must go TO every coun-
~ and city Of the state, and tho whole
commission must hold annual meanings
in each con Eressional district.
- 1t will give the lccalitios suffi-
,r.ent information on which 10 hN tia
( valuations Il ii desires honestly TO
lrsscss its property.
". II provides for the correction o,