The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-17
TO SEGREGATE OR
TO EQUAL|zE TAX
Chamber Committee Seeks Aid
OF Auditor in Solving OF
Tax Problem.
DATA READY IN TEN DAYS
Chairman Cannon Thinks Model
Measures Will Be Ready for
Convention in July.
DATA READY IN TEN DAYS

Shall the Chamber of Commerce
recommend to the next General Assem-
bly, tax reform measure based on
the idea OF segregation. or shall il adj
Vocato general recastng of tho tax
system now in force In accordance
with tho Capitalization and euualiza
ton plans which underlie the reforms
desired by Or. Douglas s. Freeman
and the Wisconsin, Kansas school OF
tax men to which no belongs?
This is the big problem to which the
legislative committee OF the chamber
has addressed itself sinco II took IN
tho work last January OF drafting q tax
reform bill designed TO remedy the in
equalitics and DETERMINATIONS worked
by the laws now In force The daily
growth OF the tax reform wave and In
sistent demand aor reform as evil
depced by the popularity ot the subject
at pubic gatherings OF all kinds makes
the committees work of Immediate in
terest TO the business men of Virginia
we are not welded to any particu
lar plan of tax reform" said Chairman
Arthur NJ. Cannon OF the Chamber of
Commerce committee on legislation
last night. AT present we are en-
gagged in the securing and tabulatinc of
large amount Of data from the office
of tho Auditor of PuSiic Accounts. Tho
work has been temporarily halted N,
the illness OF Mr.. Powell. of tho Audi
tors Office. who has been aiding us In
compiling the figures, but 1t VIII be
resumed shortly"
The required data. said Mr. Cannon.
VIII probably be ready for submission
to the committee in about ten days.
VITO these figures before it, he said
the committee Will proceed at once TO
the task of framing n measure to re-
lieve the disabilities which the data
reveal. unhampered by prcconccived
notions of segregation, Capitalization
or other theoretical formula. If it's
Investigations justify. said Mr.. Cannon.
the committee will not hesitate to
recommend segregation despite the
TACT that the idea is dstasteful to GER
tain tax reformers. If. Capitalization
and equalization appears to be the best
solution, the committee Will seize upon
This plan OF reform Just as readily
The general awakening of the public
conscience in matters OF taxation. as
well as the wholesome effect of the
several grand jury Investigations
said Mr., Cannon, have produced in this
state situation which is decidedly
diiferent from that which existed when
tho tax reform measures of Mr. Byrd
were placed before the General AS
sembly I'm 1910. II may be possible nv
careful analysis OF tho sources of
revenue as revealed by the Auditors
figures. TO set aside certain classes of
property as subject to taxation only by
the state and to leave other classes of
property TO be taxed by the local com
munities for their own purposes That
would be segregation. II II could be
done equitably, 4 would offer posi-
bio solution of the present problem"
unless thCe Is an unforeseen hitch
the Chamber OF Commerce will call n
State convention of business men To
meet In this city in July for the pur-
pose OF taking counsel on the pronosi-
ton to submit to the next General AS
semply n model measure TO servo as n
basis for general tax reform law
president CaNington, of the chamber
said last night that he would have pre-
TERED to call the gathering in June
but that IT will necessarily have to wait
until the legislative committee Is fully
prepared 10 submit its information Mr.
Cannon thought that II will not be
possible TO tabulate the data and draft
the model bills In time for n conven-
ton earlier than July.
Secretary Dunlop. of the Chaubcr of
Commerce, has for some time been at
work compiling list OF the various
commercial organizations of the State
The information has been difficult TO
secure, and is still incomplete. 1t is
planned 10 make the convention. as far
as possible. a congress of business men
and representative gathering is
sought. With the business men Will
probably be asked TO meet n number
of delegates from tho agricultural and
professional interests. as we'll as stu
dents OF the tax problem generally.
Early Meeting Desirable.
There liz no denying the fact that
unless the State tax congress is held
sufficiently in advance OF the primaries
next August" said AR. Cannon, lit may
as well not bo held at all. No tax re-
form measure, however desirable and
promising II may be. Will pass the Leg
islature without n struggle. The agi-
tation for reform must be brought into
the elections. and candidates for the
House must be made to declare them
selves on the Issue. K convention in
July. think. ought to give time enough
to sound the candidates."
Besides Mr.. Cannon, the Chamber OF
Commerce committee on legislation
which is at work on the tax reform
problem consists Of Il. J.. Giles. j. f.
Ryland. G. G. Valesitine. Q. A. Hawkins
and q. II. Funston.