The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-13
EQUALIZATION IS
OBJECT OF BILL
SPEAKER BYRD EXPLAINS HIS
AMENDED COMMISSION
BILL.
NO CE n TR ALI ZATION
TAX COMMISSION MAY CORRECT
ASSESSMENTS AND FINAL AD-
il DICATION Is WITH THE
COURTS.

Speaker Richard Evelyn Byrd gave
out an interesting and illuminating
statement with Seferencc to his
amended tax equalization bill last
night. He said that while the meas
ure was not ideal it was perhaps the
largest measure of reform in tax
equalization II was possible to get at
this session.
He said:
The bill utlizes existing machin-
cry and officials as much as possible
so that though there are three COM
missioners only one additional salary
is to be paid.
The bill provides that the Cover
nor shall appoint one commissioner.
| The other two are the State mineral
assessor and State accountant. who
will become part of the commits
sion. The chief features of the bill
are these:
Il. Ii creates "A commission Of three
mem bers--a body of sufficient size TO
prevent the Capitalization of power
in the hands of one man, and keeps
this commission permanently employ
ed in the examination of values.
Gives All a Hearing.
-. 1t provides that every locality
be given a hearing before it's valuation
commissioners must go to every
county and city of the State and the
whole commission must hold annual
meetings in each congressional dis
triet.
20. 1t will give the locality sufi-
Gent Information on which TO fix its
valuation if it desires honestly to
| assess its property.
-. 1t provides for the correction
of aggregate assessments by the COM
mission. when any county is paying
| too much or too little. This will
| equalize assessments while protect
| ing every community by giving II a
! day in court, should it desire to con-
, test any change made by the COM
! mission.
| 1T Will prevent the assessment of
! aggregate taxes on real and personal
propaFt1-An excess ef-the- amounts
now levied, so that all increases IN
valuation must go TO a reduction OF
| tn tax rate.
| IS. The bill provides that the
valuation of the property of public
| service corporations be equalized with
| that of private citizens. and that no
increase be made in the taxes of in
dividuals or in the assessment of their
property. without a like increase In
the valuation or taxes OF corporations.
After 1918, the railroads and like cor
! porations will be assessed by new
| board. to consist of the tax commits
sion. except the mineral assessor. the
! Corporation Commission. the Cover
nor and the auditor of public ac-
counts
Helps Man Now Paying Too Much.
IF this bill is passed it cannot
fail to reduce the taxes Of every
| citizen who Is now paying more than
| his part OF the taxes. II will bring
the thirty eight counties which are
now an expense to the State to a
fair valuation and it will equalize
assessment throughout the State II
will open the way to segregation.
1 which is a desirable goal OF tax re-
| form. Segregation. az has been
demonstrated. is now an impossibiity.
without grave damage 10 many To-
calities. 1t will practically bankrupt
| every city of the State and Will in
volve the modification Of every tax
/ rate in the State. thus creating a
/ condition OF utter financial chaos. .