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

their fnc cattle. except when 1t comes
10 tax returns. We hear them speak
oi their splendid country. which Is su-
perior TO all others save in the eyes OF
inc land assessors and commlss toner's
OF the revenue. Men may profit by
these conditions. but structures buiIdcd
upon Tue affairs OF scI1shncss must in.
evitably fall.
Why should Scott county be per-
hhl'eu 10 draw from tho state Treas
ur! S2:'ZSa3a more than 1t puts in?
Mh! should Patrick county draw out
si''d io.2i more than 1t puts In: why
shouid Pittsylrania draw Sl9.aS733
more 'han II puts In: why should Car
ron oraw out S20.3i3l5 more than il
puts In? There are counties In this
State with largo negro Notwithstanding
populations. which ray their own do
nestic expenses. pay their proportion
OF inc states expenses. and then con-
tribute share to the payment OF the
i"tcfhal expenses Of large white and
prosperous counties. \ horse driven
through the seven magistcrial districts
OF Shenandoah county have seven diff
1eIcnt values on each
iteplyIne to Il suggestion from Mr.
Gillian. Ny. Byrd said he would agree
TO change BY which commiss loncrs
OF the revenue could he removed from
Office by their own local circuit courts
after trial. instead Of by the state Tax
Commission
lie said he realized lie could have
taken a more popular position had he
not tried TO remedy conditions lie
hopcd the members OF the Legislature
would not go home and say the people
arc Incapable OF judging OF this cues
ton +
Mr.. rutherford said the Democratic
party had nothing to fear if it does
its duty. He knew values were vastly
UNEQUAL For his part. and on the part
Of tho counties he represents. they
were willin. 10 face the Issue.
Not obntrnctIuni.t.
MIR WhI:a. of Rockbridgc, rcpudiated
the charge that lie was an obstruc-
ZIONIST. lie saw the need for remedies,
but said care must be taken that they
would not be worse than the disease.
lie called attention to the fact that
the bill provides that commissioners Of
m" revenue would not be paid until
'heir books were examined and APP
proved by the State commission.
Mr.. Byrd said he would be willing
to strike this from the bill "One by
one" said Mr.. White, they ar. going.
u pray God the whole will So" He
said the fact that such changes are
accepted shows that the bin was
drawn carelessly and thoughtlessly, or
ihat II was the WORK OF the distorted
brain OF theorist
Mr. White pictured Virginia as in
death struggle to retain her liberties.
He would oppose a commission with
one-ten- thoCsandth Of the power pro-
posed in the bill The courts. nc said,
can now remove commissioning OF the
revenue.
lie suggested that tho law make Il
mandatory on circuit judges to call
lrNa1
assessors reports are in. and examine
witnesses and indict those who have
not given in their own property a;
fair valuations. This was done in
Danvilic. he said, and people Hooked
in TO change the figures to prevent
their Indictment Further. Judges
might exchange circuits n such times.
Prcfern Segregation.
But lie wanted to stick to his plan
Of segregation. 1t would. he said, give
the counties stable revenue. They
would get back the 35 cents they now
pay In State taxes. and in all but about
thirty counties this would reimburse
for the loss of'liccnsc. Those counties
which would lose arc In the main those
where assessments arc now too low
In the cities the rate could be raised
segregation. he said, would settle the
problem of equalization.
The purchaser of Virginia land now
looks askance at the high levies and
low asSe easements. but with higher
valuations and lower rates he would
be satisfied. Tho report of the Tax
Commission, he argued. shows that
segregation is practicable.
Mr.. Weaver asked some questions
about the effect. feeling that counties
which have railroads would give up
large incomes, while those which have
none would give up nothing. Mr..
White said the counties would not
care. since they had nothing to lose.
The former Attorney General and Tic
former Assistant Acknowledgement
were quoted by Mr. White as saying
that segregation is feasible.
At all events. he thought the bill
unconstitutional. rs the Constitution
requires that all property be assessed
at its fair market value.
|. Colonel Bowman Speaks.
Colonel a. NJ. Bowman. chairman of
the House Finance Committee, spoke
briefly. He was. he said, at one time
as full of the segregation idea Is Mr.
White is now. But his experience on
the State Tax Commission had shown
him the grave injustice it would work
To the state and TO many sections. If
Mr.. White would present just what
he wanted the committee would con-
slider IT,
Mr. Roberts felt that Judge VIII
liams's plan of district equalization
boards Was good. and that they could
agree with each other and do much
TO remedy conditions.
At . o'clock the committee OF the
whole rose and reported TO the House
which adjourned.