The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-31

600 by September 30, 1913, when the
fiscal year closes, which is $4,000 more
than my estimate calls for
This $4,000 is included in the amount
| have set aside for expenditures for
uublic roads. Under the present appro-
rriation public roads receive $500. Oo0
20 which add $4,000 for maintenance
Of Jail prisoners. which l have taken
from criminal charges, and $4,000 au-
tomobile license tax. the total will be
s4oVooO the amount provided for pub
lie roads in my statement of expendi-
lures. / am adding no additional tax
To automobiles. My efforts, aided by
the Secretary of the Commonwealth
nave resulted in more efficiently col
letting this tax; moreover. automobiles
are being more generally used every
Gay.
q The question is asked: Did I in
my estimate OF receipts from hire OF
convicts in the penitentiary AT $125, 600
take into consideration the fact that
room the working force at the peniten-
fiary was TO be reduced TO 5OO?"
Answer The working force at the
pcnitcntiary had already been reduced
&c 500 when / made the estimate OF
Si25.00o for receipts from hire of con
victs at the penitentiary, and pro-
cured the figures from the Superinten-
dent of the Penitentiary. He esti-
ccipts from the labor of the 500 con
victs remaining In the pcnitentiary
after all over that number had been
placed upon the public roads, and the
receipts he has been paying into the
treasury since the operation of this
new law more than justify his estimate.
Capitntion Taxes.
S. 1t is claimed that under the "pro-
vision of section 173 of the Constitu-
ton, which provides that one third of
the capitation taxes collected shall
Ne returned and paid by the State into
the treasury OF the county or city in
which it was collected, to be appro-
rriated by the proper county or city
authorities to such county or city pur
poses they shall respectively deter
mine" the State cannot retain this
one-third of the capitation tax which
my estimate of receipts does retain for
the state.
Answer: Section 169 of the Constitu-
ton contains the following provision:
Nothing in this Constitution shall
prevent the General Assembly. after the
LIST day of January, 1913 from segre-
eating for the purposes OF taxation the
several kinds or classes of property. so
a. to specify and determine upon what
subjects State taxes, and upon what
subjects local taxes. may be levied"
My construction Of this provision is
that if it be determined to segregate
Tor the purposes VI tdSNtiOit, Tie sew
cral kinds or classes Of property. then
the General Assembly can determine
upon what subjects q. e., persons or
property State taxes shall be levied.
and upon what subjects q. e., persons
or property local taxes shall be placed
.. 1t is claimed my estimate of S125.-
600 for assessing and collecting the
revenue is excessive.
Answer: 1t Is to be borne in mind
that the amount of revenue to be as
sessed and collected for license taxes on
businesses and professions is $3.50. 000
on liquor 100000, and for capitation
taxes, $4,000, a total of S1,S60,000 and
these taxes are to be assessed and coll
lectcd in every county and city In the
State.
They must be assessed and collected
by competent and efficient officers
moreover, in my opinion. these amounts
will substantially increase annually.
and all things considered, / regard the
estimate OF s125.O00 for assessing and
collecting the revenue as conserva-
tive.
Provides Sufficient Revenue.
10. The most general objection to tho
proposed plan is that the estimate does
not provide sufficient revenue and that
the annual surplus Will not be ade-
far as to say that the annual surplus
OF the State should be 100000 or
100000, which is from to 10 per cent
more than the revenue estimated.
Answer: 1t has been many years since