The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-15

entifesk I'd by Mr.. Freeman In
his repOi - IT. Freeman gives his
objections ~ segregation. and says
on pages IL to 10 as follows: The
plan will work a hardship to small
towns, "A number OF counties will
lose He also says that localities will
De deprived OF corporation taxes. but
nowhere mentions the loss OF license
tax to cities, nor indeed mentions any
detriment to large cities This Is n
sample OF the constitutionality OF the
report, even of Mr.. Byrd's figures are
correct. which I am advised and be-
live are very misleading and Incorrect
Mr. Byrd says that tax will be
lost TOT 1918. while as matter OF fact
my Dill does not go into effect until
July 1. 1918, so that all taxes will
be assessed and collected for that
year as at present.
In the second place he says that
the State could not in any case get
what the cities are getting now, be-
cause the licenses vary and the State
rate must be uniform. The slightest
attention to the matter must have
SHOWN that our tax assessment law
must be changed to meet the condi-
tons. so that the State would nut n
uniform rate of license in lieu of the
city license. IL it be decided to take
them' which may or may not be neces-
sary.
AS to any machinery being pro-
'ANS0 III NAAS payment OF criminal
penses by localities, If these cannot be
easily provided, IL II does not exist.
we would like to know why.
DENY that any city or county
would be bankrupt under proper pro-
visions. 1t is fact that enough reve-
nue. Is now raised for both local and
state purposes. To say that il cannot
be done separately, instead of Jointly.
is TO deny common intelligence to the
people of Virginia. Segregation de-
inanus tair consideration, and its ad-
vocates VIII not take two years. or n
bility."
MIR. Byrds Statement.
Mr.. Byrds attack upon the White
seer egatlon Dill was given out last
night. In part it is as follows:
The great difficulty attending any
reform OF our outra geously unequal
and unjust tax system is Illustrated
by Mr. Whites proposed segregation
blH. MIR. White opposes tax eQuaIiza-
ton on the ground that segregation
Is now feasible and proper. When
challenged to offer bill TO such eff
Iect. he offers measure which pro
VldeS that the subjects of taxation
snail be segregated so that the cities
and counties shall have all the real
estate and tangible personal property
taxes ana the State all the railroad.
bank. insurance. license and intanyi
pie property taxes. and that the coun-
ties and cities shall pay the cost of
criminal expenses in all r,isdarnao,,or
cases and in all felony cases where tpa
costs are less than 500. This law he
proposes shall go into effect on July
1, 1913.
The very obvious objections to this
bill are: Ills
L. When the law goes into erract
in 1913 the license taxes will have ali
been paid into the municipaI treas
uries as of March LIST. and the land
ana personal property tax will have
Deeh assessed as of February /, 1913.
Inc state would get only 35 cents on
the 500 of intangible personal prom
erty for 1913, and the State would
neither then nor at any time under
TINS law get any of the municipal IL
censes. AS the law prohibits the cities
from getting these licenses and does
not provide how the State can get
them. they would. after 1918, be lost
entirely.
"a. The sufficient objection to this
Dill Is that IL would bankrupt every
city and practically every town in the
State. 80 '''e
The net loss to the cities would be
as follows. estimating that the Grim
maj expenses payable by them under
.ne white bill would be 20 per cent.
OF the total expenses:
Alexandria, $44.SsS.ss; Bristol,
S47.s4s.41; Charlottesville. $20,646.4O;
Danville. S52.815.39; FredericksburV'
$ll.7lO.64; Lynchburg. s2Ss.679ss;
Newport News. $40.65s.2s: Norfolk
1918. Ss1.47; Petersburg. S72.53e.6O;
Portsmouth. $60.445.2s: Richmond
SSSl. 4SS.16; Roanoke. 53,16Oso;
Suffolk. $19.6s2.s9: Staunton. S42
S5l sc; Winchester. $24,S6s
D. The assessment of intangible |
property would be left to the local |
commissioners OF the revenue. who
would not have even the incentive OF |
iocal revenue TO assess this property :
honestly