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

pensation. Then. ,rcasurcrs meet men
in their rounds on the roads and cred
| IL their tax tickets with warrants
which they may have. II Is impossibie
he said. for a treasurer to tell To the
cent what he may owe the State on
any particular day. and yet this little
deputy might suspend him for not
knowing.
rs TO equalization. he told Of Bland
county. where - per cert. Of the land
brings In no revenue 10 the owner
| The trees on ii are counted and taxed,
| The mineral beneath Is assessed and
taxed. ana the surface IS taxed On
the north side OF these ranges there
are lime groupings: on the south side,
worthless shaic. Local people know
| these conditions no boG-d in Rich
! mond can know them.
without prophesying. he referred to
the result OF tax equalization in West
Virginia, where the Republican party
has been swent from power.
Wants District boards.
II necessary to have tax commits
sions, and he admitted "a public clam
or for some change. he suggested that
! there be local boards in congressional
districts at per diem. soy. OF five
leading citizens IN each district, to con-
suit with local assessing officials. and
get together once year in a State
! meeting to try to work out better con
ditions. Or let there be "A board in
Richmond with which these district
boards could confer. He thought a
tax commissioner II good Thing; he was
prepared to say that the report Of the
Tax Commission now bcfurc the Leg
sla.ur" vas an Indispensable com
pendulum for the guidance of the Cen
cral Assembly. but do not he said,
"lct the commissions: he dictator:
1f Inn, lnt. .,,f, tgO,, a
| have It ready for tho state officials"
Mr.. Montague inquired II Judge Will
| liams had not better prepare his own
plan rather than offer opposition TO
that under discussion. He replied that
he should not be censured for doing
what nc thought his duty. MIR. IIous-
ton asked II he objected TO commits
sion with members from three differ
ent sections of the Stat. He said
that would still be Capitalization; it
was the power he opposed.
Judge Williams concluded with the
statement that he reflected upon the
motives Of IA" one, that IN honorcd the
men who arg trying 10 solve the p.ob-
lem. and that Inc was willing Ia join
conditions in regard 10 an equal shar
! ing Of the burdens Of taxation.
Duty of Democratic Party.
MIR. Byrd replied. He said. in the
first place, that this should not be a
poiltical matter I, was the duty of
the Democratic ma jori;t to do the
right thing. whether il were the cx-
pedicnt thing or not. In regard to
West Virginia. he knew the clroum-
stances. and had himself mad a speech
| for the Democrats there, taking the
same line just pursued by Judge VIII
liams. This speech he now regretted.
AS a result of tax equalization in West
Virginia, the state rate has been re-
duced to Il cents on the sioo. com
pared with 50 cents In Virginia No
one there would now go back to the
old system, and. as a matter OF fact,
Republican defeat was caused By
crimes not connected with tax prob
lens.
TO consider that thu Tax Commission
bill contcmplates niincrease in taxes
was, he said n fundamental miscon-
ccption. II was really Aimed nj Il re-
duction. He would, he continued, offer
an amendment 10 make an automatic
decrease In tho levy whcn there IS an
! Increase In the assessment. Then ne
proceeded To show inequalities.
In Grayson county horses arc as
scssed at an average of sl9.1i each:
in Loudoun county. at sSi.oI. Not that
Grayson horsas are worth as much as
in Loudoun, but such discrepancy docs
not exist Grayson cattle arc valued
at s5.li each, and Loudoun cattle at
ScS,al.
Southwcsfs Taxes.
We hear Southwest people talk Of