The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-03

VUUvUJUII WII
To &c REPORTED
SCentinued from First paws.l
this principle OF equitable distribu-
ton In farm lands. Why not so fur
Their and let II apply TO railroads.
Tho piAn II Anticipated. Stocks and
bonds should be taxed In towns where
headquarters Of railroads are located.
We 40 not ark for this.
AT Newport News there are tugs
that stay In the harbor all the time.
They tie up 1t their wharves ut night
and are protected by our flrsmen and
police. Richmond gets the oenetit OF
tho tax on them. At the last session
There II mono now. the bail N be-
fore the Legislature on iz merits.
AnAsrssN oppesss Dill.
Mr.. Anderson admitted the present
aystem OF taxation ID unjust. but said
the holt bill did not bring proper re-
tho Holt bill did not bring proper re-
lief. He did not object to Newport
News and othsr towns getting fair
share Of the tar, but declared II was
unfair 10 give 1t to counties. He
brought out the fact that on railroad
property ~ whole counties are al
ready getting 4 large share OF the
taxes paid. Schools. he SAID. In coun-
ties are now supported Wy the tax
from towns and put into the hands OF
counties 1t would bring q heavy drain
on the State treasury to support the
annual def,cit of ~ counties.
When q county, he said, "is get
ting taxes on railroads At the rate OF
$4,000 a mile II 10 getting It's pro-
portionats part. Sometimes the track
IL not halfway paying for itself. A
road might have twenty-five miles OF
track in county not at all profitable
and therefore valusless.
The bill would destroy the growing
prosperit yof the city OF Roanoke. 1t
would take away one-half Of ito reve-
nae.'
The speaker named list OF towns he
said would be absolutely crippled II the
bill passed. Mine railroads were NAM
ed that pay into county treasures
more In taxes than are paid 10 cities.
"As It In the counties Get the big
end Of tho deal. There 10 no in3us-
tice TO counties: II II to cities. Out
OF }11S.00o, 900 Of assessed railway
property, counties would receive Ses,-
600, zoe. u this equitable? The amount
10 already ssa.0oo 900 that COUNTIES ~
ceive In excess.
ciaims eehss,s Would Suffer.
County schools are now paid for
by cities. Thirty seven counties In
the State cost the State every year
sil4,o0o. GIVE them this tax and It
does not relieve the situation because
the money would BE- spent locally. and
would not 20 into tho State treasury.
Granted that Newport News has the
right to protest, this bill creates new
wrong. Instead Of the million dollars
In the State treasury for poverty
stricken counties there would be less
than half million.
MIR. Anderson read from the report
of the tax commission showing wide
variance In assessed values. Richmond.
no said, with per cent. OF the popu-
laticn of tho State pays much larger
percentage OF the States taxes.
while cities pay only 50 per cent.
Of tho gross tax OF the state they pay
Is per cent. OF the not tax.
Returning to the support OF state
schools, Mr. Anderson said:
Counties get back to run schools
1900. 900 more than they pay to tho
State. This comes from the cities.
Harris Hart, superintendent OF the
Roanoke city schools. spoke against
the bill.
Means Heavy Loss to Richmond.
Richmond. Roanoke and Norfolk
will be heaviest losers In railroad as
sessments. The 40 per cent. allow
ed them under the substitute bill will
lessen the amount Of loss. but the
blow will be heavy. In Richmond
this will be felt especially in revenue
derived from tax on rolling stock OF
tho Chesapeake and Ohio. But Rich
mond members are Of the opinion
half = loaf--or 40 per CENTS better
than no loaf at all. Newport News.
while receiving taxes on only tts pro-
portionate share OF go per cent. OF
the rolling stock. will still get \ great
deal more than formerly. With an
immense amount OF physical property
this city's proportionate share Of the
tax based on the value Of other prop
erty will amount to large sum.
Towns in which are located head
offices will not share In the pro rata
apportionment Of the so per cent.
tax. %
The compromise Is accepted gladly
by county members. who doubted Sc
riously II the Holt bill could pass.