The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-14
Given Broad Powers in
Equalization of AS
SeSSmentS.
BOOK COMPANY
WILL BE PROBED
House Will Investigate School
Book, School Furniture and
School Architect Contracts.
Women Fighting Suffrage.
Lively Scenes in Com
mittee Meeting.

Introduction OF scr.es Of bills com
prls!ng a portion Of the legislative
program or the State Tax Commission
Was the feature oil yesterdays session
OF the House Of Delegates. Foremost
smong thesc bills was That constituting
permanent tax COMMISSION VITA
power TO equal!ze assessments on
realty and personally, and 10 remove
local assessing officials tor failure to
perform tns.r uulIeB.
RESOLUTIONS were introduced and APP
proved Ia the iiouSe looking to In
vestyat!ons OF tho business OF The
virginia Book Company anu it's rcla-
tioh TO the school book supplies; vi
the sums paid TO school architects with
view 10 the employment OF a State
afcniteot. aud OF the contracts tor
furniture with the Virginia School
supply Company.
Surfing Scene In Committee
lheTe were Strenuous moments yes
terdty morning IN the meeting of the
House Committee for Courts OF JUS
Wee 4 motion 1as made and carried
10 near all persons who w!sucd 10 say
ih!tLihS ana then 80 INTO executive
hss!or This was objected 10 on the
srouGd that outsiders would not know
what was TO be acted on, and that
the committee should indicate in open
session Just what bills /; intended to
dispose OF ia secret session. The com
m.ttee did rot see II in this light. and
an attorney present said tina, It's ac-
ton VAS unjust and unfair, the public
not being advised OF what Was 10 be
taken up.
Out OF this argument grew move
ntht 10 nave all House bills printed
when introduced. Just as Senate bills
are. ne committee Instructed Chair
man zen TO prepare Il resolution TO
TINS effect and present 1t Monday
morning.
Petitions are In circulation among
the women OF Rich' ond in opposition
70 the woman suffrage amendments.
The paper sets forth that the sex as
a rule does not desire the ballot.
The R!chmcnd charter b'l went
through the Joint Committee on
Special. Private and Local LEGISLATION
yesterday morning. was reported to
the House and went 10 the Committee
Oh Counties, Cities and Towns, where
II comes UP on Tuesday.
Inc 1cnatc was not In session.
Details of Tax BilI.
Speaker Richard Evelyn Byrd is the
patron OF the bill ITO establish n
State Tax Commission. TINS meas
u!e is TO be of paramount Importance
before General Assembly, ana arounc
II VIII cluster perhaps the hottest
usHtS OF Inc session Its radical ma
ture when COMPARED with existing con
oiuons' comprising System" which
Is regarded as sucn In name only. win
at once direct attention 10 its far
reaching effect and draw upon il the
combined attack Of interrsts when
will be affected
The bill provides that the cornmis
sion shall be composed Of the Cover
nor the President Of the senate, the
Speaker OF the House OF Delegates.
enc chairman Of the Committee on
Finance OF the Senate. the chairman
OF the Committee IN Finance OF the
House. the chairman of the State Cor
porauoH Commission. the Attorney
General. the State Treasurer. the
Auditor of Public Accounts ana IN.
state Tax Commissioner. The latter
onccr Is TO be appointed by the Cover
nor and hold Office for six wears "a, n
salary OF $4,000 year. IN. Other
members Of the commission, not r,
siding in Richmond. are To receive
their actual traveiin expenses only.
while those living in this city se,
nothing III case Of a vacancy oc
curing. the successor IN office OF such
person shall become "a member, save
that IL vacancy occurs Of any Of
the members who are aucn because
they are In the General Assembly IA.
Governor shall appoint
Given Wide Powers.
The commission is given tho nowrr.
TO summon witnesses and To cNanip.
all books of officers charged with III.
assessment. collection and uisburs,
ment OF the public revenues .rhc
commissions: is to visit an secttotts
and ENFORCE the laws. advising vim
local authorities. Among his duties &c
to report. one month before the meet :
TINS OF the Legislature, his cSti,na,. 81.
The receipts and probable expenditure,
OF the state during the Two succeed
ing years.
commissioners OF the average value OF
personal property in the various la
colities. This he Is to ascertain l..
inquiry and he may take testimony on
the subject. Fair market values are
70 be the basis Upon his report tb,.
commission shall decide what t. 'h ~
be the average valuation of pcrson,i
property OF all classes in each rn,1,,,,
Dnd city. and II Is TO adopt rcncrnl
regulations looking 10 the ciiua,i,:ntin,,
nf assessments in all parts of III"
state.
Hhscd on Transfer Prices.
Coming to the question OF real ca.
.ate valuations, it Is provided that ,bc
commission shall examine transfers or
property. to ascertain tho ceiling values.
No clerk may accept deed of sal,
unless 1t is accompanied by an affi.
baIit showing the actual considerat ton.
whether mentioned in the deed of MOI
This affidavit is to be kept secret n
Its maker SO desires, and Is to be held
In that case for the inspection onIy
OF the State Tax Commissioner. for
the purpose of arriving at average
values. ANY person swearing falsely
70 such consideration Is to be deemed