Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-12-18
STATE TAXERATE
CAN Be REDUCED
That is if Present Sources
Of Revenue to Common
wealth are Retained.
SAVE HALF MILLION
Department Heads Show Needs for
Next Two Years-Morc Pay Asked
For State Judges.


For State Judges.
Richmond, Va, Dec. Is. = State
taxes may be safely reduced from
50 cents on the 500 of valuations to
80 cents, if the present sources of
revenue are retained, said State Au-
ditor of Public Accounts c. Lee Moore
yesterday, at a hearing before the
Senate Finance Committee, which is
preparing the appropr, alton bill for
consideration by the General Assem-
bly, In answer to questions by mem
bers of the committee, Mr.. Moore
said that the States revenue from IL
cense on the sale Of liquor, not
counting the amounts paid either il
licenses to the cities and counties, or
in property taxes, amounted to $685.
931.27 during the last fiscal year.
If any form of legislation is to be
adopted at the approaching session,
looking 10 the abolition of tbs in
come, said Mr.. Moore. it would not
be possible for the State to red"cr IT'S
tax rate. If the state continues - OPP
crate under the existing liquor ard
tax laws, Mr.. Moore advises the con-
mittee that reduction OF cents Oh
the 500 could safely be made III tie
general tax rate, such reduction
amounting to Approximately S5O0,OOO.
The conm;ttcc heard raeMalds OF
various state institutions and re-
viewed The initial craft of the appro-
priation ordinance item by ita!n. The
only vote taken was for an increase
in the salaries of thirty-one circuit
Judges of the State from 5000 10
$4,000 each. The constitution forbids
the increase in the pay of judge dur
ing his term of office. An act has lecn
adop..I increasing the pay 1f the Su-
preme Cour: Judges from S+.5oh II
$4,000, which so far only affects
Judge Whitt!s- The most recently
elected membe..
Senator Fletcher, who opened tie
fight for higher pay for judges. con-
ten3ed that the office should pay So
500. Finally Senator Wcrdenharg
offered :he compromise Vi $4,000,
whicn was adopted by a vo.e ii : IN
4 lhr oes being Senator; Sowcer,
Garrett, Rinehart and Early. Senators
R.ncha.1 protested that Lh:-'; were
too may judges; that the (;"n.E;I As
s"mhly was creating new c:'cn'ts ev-
cly 81 ion and rapidly dri'' IL h"ck
20 ;nc old county SYSTEM which '!t
new constitution aimed to abolish.
Governor-Elect Henry / Stuart
was invited to sit with the committee,
as many of the problems IN connec-
ton with state institutions are unner
his scrutiny at this time, ard n:ay be
referred to in his annual message to
the General Assembly. Senators Ear
" am Massie conveyed the invitation
to the Governor-elect, and later in
the day Mr.. Stuart listened to the
p, ,u,eedings for some TIN.
Second Auditor Page asked for In
ere; ses in pay for his cfticc fore" as
follows: First clerk from S2,lOO. to
s2,5OO; second clerk, from 81 400 tc
s1,5oO; third clerk, from $1,000 te
81, 200; and fourth clerk, fror i,0OC
to SLIGO, making an annual increase
of $500. He also asked for Sl,1OC
for protection of invaluable record:
in his office by steel filing cases.
/ State Librarian, H. R. Mcllwar'
asked an increase in the pay of his a.:
! sistant from 81 800 to $4,000. He ask
ed for So 900 each year for7metal furn
ishings for the manuscript room to
make fireproof papers which could no
be replaced if destroyed, and sl,SO'
for adding to the legislative refer
ence library.
! At the request of r. C.. Stearnes
! superintendent of public instruction
the committee set Friday afternoon
at 8 o'clock for consideration of ap
preparations for public schools.
Auditor Moore advised the commit
Tee that the appropriation of s50o,0o
4 for pension. had not been used b
, about $4,000, which balance reverted
II any change were considered in tn
r rate of pensions. Mr. Moore suggest
led that it be by flat rate, instea3, G