The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-10
NOTEOF CAUT|ONIS
SOUNDED BY BYRD
icontlnusd From second Page,


suulo uniformity IL brought about, be-
cause congregation iB not practical up-
less each county hns enough reul und
personal property subjected to taxG-
ton to nieusuinbly support it's purely
domestic acurItioS TO bore q segro-
gation plum upon tho present unequal
assessment wound bo to give perma
nent and dishonest advantage to the
un.Acr-assessed counties. 1t lie. there.
fore. apparent that tho nrst stone
wnich must be lad In the foundut ion
y. the house OF tax reform Is the
o. :.lizaton of assessments. The
Tax Commission has reported In
faY OF u permanent unpaid rax Com
mission. with g. salnried commissioner
upon whom the executive duties OF
the, commission Will be placed. 1t
VIII be the duty of this commission
to pass upon and coordinate tho work
OF the local assessors. to establish In
the various communities q standard
OF values and TO give TO the assess
ment and collection OF State taxes d
supervision behind which would stand
the authority of the state Itself.
Unless this central authority Is
created and given the machinery ncces-
sary 10 make IT effective. the old game
of beggar my ncighbor wall go OH be-
tween the counties, certain counties
Will continue by under nsscssr nents to
graft upon the State Treasury. and
systom Will continue Indefinitely. AS
long as local pssessors arc controlled
3y local Influences and ntc RESPONSE
ole 20 no State authority. assessment
Of certain counties Will be kept low
III order TO SHIFT the burden upon
counties and cities more honestly as
Sehscd, and the present intoierable con-
iitions viii continue OF wealthy coun-
lies a.anding year after year with hat
n hand as mendlcants ut the door OF
the state Treasury and constituting
permanent finuncial burdens upon the
Commonwealth.
from the CAUCUS then the mass con-
IGNITION, then the delegated conven
:ton. II hus como TO stay. The Con-
stitution Of this state. which to-mor-
oy section SO that the General AS
kembly shall enact laws for the pur-
pose of occurring the regularity and
purity OF primury elections and pre-
tees In connection herewith. We
are. therefore, impeiled by our con-
stitutional duty, by the force OF en-
lightened public opinion. by an obvious
conditions IN certain sections OF thls
state TO enact comprehensive. eth
Gent and clearly expressed legalized
primary law which VIII keep our con-
stitutionRl promise TO the hopes as
we'll az the ear of those who desire
pure politics In Virginia
Our Repatriation laws arc In urgent
need OF amendment; There is ample
Is unjustly refused registration. but
there is no effective method by which
registration lists may be purged OF
names illegally placed thereon. This
defect has been In some localities
utilized 10 put large numbers OF illegal
voters. especially negroes. upon tho
list. which. II permitted to continue.
Will debauch the ballot and nullify
the suffrage reforms which the Consu-
tuition OF 1902 endeavored TO estab-
fish
This General Assembly has an un-
cquullcd opportunity TO accomplish
great and enduring public service.
With information before Il OF the most
deanite character. II has in It's power
TO remedy long standing abuses.
abuses which sap the collective
strength OF the State and prevent the
orderly development OF our institu-
ti,ns. II individual members Will
stand upon tho broad principles OF
civic equity, II we are Inspired by a
patriotism which comprehends the
whole body polite, II We can bring
ourselves TO recog nizc the rule OF duty.
10 sacrifice our small local sclhshness
upon the eternal affairs Of the COM
mon good. II We labor With realizing
aenee of that most true and most nobl @