The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-28
Central Station Power

He had. he said. been mindful of
the objection to his previous mcas-
ure, that 1t had concentrated too
much power IN the hands of one man.
Hence the commission, in his new
bill, was composed OF three members,
the tSate accountant the mineral as
SCISSOR and one member to be appoint
ed by the Governor. When asked by
Mr.. Smith, OF Essex. whether or not
the two officials named were not al
ready occupied with the present du-
ties of their office, Mr.. Byrd decla1 Ell
that these gentlemen did not have
enough to do to occupy more than
one-tenth OF their time.
Advisory Power and Suasion.
Mr. Byrd ssid that the suggestions
made OF placing too much power in
the State accountant the mineral as
the hands Of the commission had been
met by making the commission largely
an advisory body. which. however,
would have nporal effect upor, ON
cials with whom it worked. In case
assessors fail 10 do their duty the
commission may have "A process issued
and the matter tried IN the courts Of
the assessors own counties.
Mr.. Byrd explained an amendment
to the bin providing for taxing the
normal increment" OF the personal
and real PROF erty. The bill. he ex-
planned. contained provision for the
automatic decrease on the rate of
taxation as thu equalization of values
produced more revenues He told of a
letter he had Just received from q
gentleman in West Virginia, whose
taxes had been reduced under the
capitalization system. from more than
$500 to less than $50.
Constitutional Question.
Mr.. Chaikley suggested that he I'M
deratuou mat the measure was to be
sssaiied along constitutional grounds
with reference to the Legislature deie-
eating its taxing power. AIR. Byrd
said that he would meet the sugges-
ton that while the Legislature could
not delegate its taxing power II could
require lis ofl,ciaIs to do purely
ministerial act. -
The speaker WAS the center Of a
number OF friendly questioners until
o'clock. when the House took re-
-cess.-Tbe sentiment for the measure
seemed increasing yesterday. 1t viii
be taken up again at O'clock today.
and vote will be probably reach
ed before 2 o'clock this afternoon.
The following Bills were passed
during the morning session:
A bill to prevent the sale OF cider.
except the pure Juice of the apple.
A bill to amend an act to provide
far the proper construction and i'm
provenent of the public roads.
A bill to prevent deception in the
sale of ice cream. with Senate amend
ment.
Senate bill to authorize the ascer-
tainment OF taxes due on real es-
tate.
Senate bin in relation to the pun
ishment of forgery.
Senate bin with reference to burg
larry. making the possession of burg
lars tools prima facie evidence OF
guilt.
Senate bill 10 extend the time eight
years before possession OF the prop
erty OF Lee Camp Soldiers Home
shall pass to the State. making such
date of control 1922. 49,.
&ewass S...- to- prS4kt!s.t tn 4 &ses OF
the name. photograph or likeness Of
any deceased officer of the Confed-
crate army or navy as the name,
brand or trade mark or trade name
ton.
for any intoxicating liquor beverage
and providing a penalty for viola
Afternoon Session,
Within forty minutes after the
House resumed its session yesterday
afternoon 1t had called through the
list Of local and uncontested bills on
their third reading and gone back to
the front Of Its books on the more
serious measures before the body.
During the first half hour OF the
session the following uncontested bills
were passed:
To authorize the board Of super
visors Of Rockingham county to es-
tablish toll gates for the purpose of
maintaining the macadam roads in
the county.
To amend an act with reference to
working the public roads Of Shenan-
doah county.
To repeal an act to permit Grafton
School district. York county. to bor-
row $4,000.
To permit the school board Of Graf
ton district York county. to borrow
$4,000.
To authorize the submission Of the
legal voters OF the city OF Winches-
ter the question OF issuing $160,000 of
gravity water bonds"
To authorize the submission to the
legal voters the question OF $4,000
worth OF Town Run improvement
bonds.
A bill in relation to the Hastings
Court Of the city Of Richmond.
A bill to suthorixe juatices Of the
peace and judges Of the court of
Northampton county to sentence per-
sons convicted OF vagrancy to work
upon the roads.
A bin to authorize the payment
Of q salary to the c'sairman OF the
board Of supervisors of AlbemarIe
county
A bill to amend the charter OF the
city Of Norfolk.
A bill to amend an act entitled m
act to annex additional territory Il
the city OF Norfolk.
A bill entitled ali act to protect
and advance agriculture by regulat-
ing tho sale and purity Of CONNER
n1Nl fertlliserA.