The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-15
srEAkER BYRD INTRODUCES A
MEASURE. Considered OF
GREAT IMPORTANCE.
TO REFORM TAXATION
PERMANENT BOARD PROVIDED AND
-oyr- COMMISSION Eh---
AND ASSISTANT ARE
SET FORTH

The most important measure from
financial standpoint introduced in
the Assembly thus TAR this session WAS
that providing for a permanent state
Tax Commission, Speaker Byrd is the
patrcn Of the mcasure-----
Reform in taxation and more bust
nessiike conduct in making assess
ments and the providing oi such ma
chinery as is necessary Tor the WORK
liz the object al the measure. The
title OF the bin quite fully indicates
its scope--'-To establish State Tax
Commission. 10 define the duties
thereof. to put the State Accountant
under the control of said commission.
TO define the duties OF such account
ant and to repeal an act entitled an
act 10 esta biish "a uniform system OF
bookkeeping and accounting and for
the appointment Of a state Account
ant and defining his duties ana To pro-
vide for the examination or the BOOKS
OF all officers entrusted with the coll
lection. receipt. custody and disourse-
ment OF the revenues OF the state, ap-
prov ed March IA. lSl0,----.--
Personnel Of Commission.
The measure provides that the COM
mission shall be composed of the gov
ernor, the president of the Senat. the
speaker of the House of Delegates,
the chairman OF the finance commit
tees OF the House and Senate, the
chairman of the State Corporation
COMMUNICATIVE attorHay-g ATseFa,
the treasurer Of the Commonwealth,
the auditor of public accounts, and
the State tax commissioner provided
for in the measure.
State tax comm issioner shall be
appointed by the governor for a term
OF six SearS-~- ------------
Members of the commission, except
the commissioner, shall receive no
compensation except actual travelling
expenses.
II shall he lie duty of the commits
eioner or his deputy to visit the sev-
eral counties and cities to see that
assessment laws are properly en-
forced The salary of the State tax
commissioner is placed at four thou
sand dollars n year.
Has Full Power.
For the purposes of the act. the
commission shall have all the powers
vested In u committee of the General
Assembly by the code relative TO the
attendance and examination OF wit
. nesses.
The commissioner IL charged with
the duty of visiting the several coun-
ties. and cities of the Commonwealth
ment laws are properly enforced.
The measure sets out the duties oi
the commissioners of revenue and re.
Quires them to assess ell persona
property AT fair cash value.
Under the provision OF the act this
governor shall designate State &C
countant who shall act as deput,
to the tax commissioner. and Il shall
be the duty of the accountant under
ha af he Ill al u,
In the opinion OF the commission IL 4
4 necessary, TO establish a unified mod
s. ern system of bookkeeping and &C
counting In all the departments o
the State government.
1t ts generally believed that tn
measure will become law. The oni,
man whose name has thus far beef
mentioned In connection with the OF
fee OF tax commissioners is DR.. Doug
lass s. Freeman, whose work as sec
Rotary OF the commission has evoke,
much favorable comment