The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-31
HOUSE

Among the bills reported favorably
to the House from committees yester-
day were three from General Laws
amending the hotel inspection law by
making it apply to hotels OF more
than seven rooms instead OF more than
ten, and making the inspection fees
more elastic; the Fitzhugh bill pro-
hibitng treating in saloons; the anti
gambling bill, with very important
amendments.
Mr.. Houston read a petition from
the Retail Merchants Association, of
Elizabeth City county, asking for the
passage of the Byrd Tax Commission
bill.
The majority and minority reports
of the special committee appointed to
Investigate the Virginia Book Com
pany were fled and ordered printed
The Senate bin amending the char
ter of tho town of Warrenton, was
taken up out OF it's order. On motion
of MIR. Weaver. the constitutional read
ings were dispensed with, and 1t was
passed.
Tax Dill Considered.
The hour of 1890 having arrived,
the Tax Commission bill, made the
special order. was read By the clerk
The House agreed TO go into commit
tee of the whole for consideration
OF the measure. and Edwin P. Cox
was elected chairman of the commit
tee.
Addressing the committee, Richard
Evelyn Byrd said he desired the mat
ter thoroughly discussed from the
standpoint of the good CT the State,
and that when the measure passes Il
i should be the tax bill of the House OF
! toe nf ipln Il <f
individual. To that end. when changes
in It were agreed to, he would move
| that It be recommitted to the Com
mittee on Finance. for redrafting in
| accordance with the ideas of a ma
jority of the House.
| Conditions, said Mr.. Byrd have be-
| come a byword in Virginia. a re-
form was imperative.
! Segregation, In his opinion. const.
tuted the Ideal reform II II were pos.
sible to divide the sources and ex.
pendttures of revenue so that each
locality could regulate It's own as
sessments and tax rate. without at.
fecting the state Or any other sec.
ton. he would gladly support It, Blu
assessments are SO unequal at pres
ent that segregation was impossibl,
without grave injustice TO many coun
ties In the State. AT present II wa.
not q practical solution, but woulc
become SO after a few yenrs of equal
ization.
Initial Clause Fought.
Mr.. Byrd read the first clause OF IN,
first section of the bill, this being tn
only feature considered Throughout
the day. 1t is as follows:
BE II enacted by the General AS
senbly Of Virginia that Il Stat
Tax Commission be. and the same !.
hereby created to be composed OF tn
Governor the chairman OF the Financ
Committee OF the Senate. the chair
man Of the Finance Committee of tn
House, the chairman of the State Cor
poration Commission. the Attorney.
General, the Treasurer Of the Com
? inonwcalth, the Auditor OF Public Ac
! counts and the State Tax Commits
sioner hereinafter provided for"
The Speaker said he was full
aware that there was quite a powerful
sentiment in favor OF commissio
composed OF three paid men. to dc
vote al their time to the work. in
stead OF tho honorary membership q
State officials. The extra salaries. sal
Mr.. Byrd, would be but a drop |
! the bucket, and he would make n
night against such a change. If tn