The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-18
Only, However, if Pres
ent Sources of Reve-
nue. Are Retained.
TAXPAYERS SAVE
HALF A MILLION
Senate Finance Committee Be
gins Work on Appropriation
Bill, Department Heads Show
ing Their Needs for Next
Two Years-Morc
Pay for Judges.

state taxes may be safely reduced
from 50 cents on the 500 of yalua-
tions to 80 cents If the present
sources OF revenue arc retained, said
state Auditor of Public Accounts c.
Lee Moore yesterday. nt hearing be-
fore the Senate Finance Committee
which is preparing the appropriation
bll for consideration by the General
Assembly. In answer to questions by
members OF the committee, Mr.. Moore
said that tho States revenue from
licenses on the sale OF liquor. not
counting tho amounts paid either in
licenses to the cities and counties. or
in property taxes. amounted To $52S.-
93i27 during the last fiscal year.
II any form OF legislation Is to be
adopted at the approaching session,
looking to the abolition OF thi sincOme
said Mr.. Moore it would not be pos
sibie for the state TO reduce it's tax
rate Ii the state continues to opcr-
ate under the existing liquor and tax
laws Mr. Moore advised the committee
that n reduction OF cents on the 800
could safely he made in tho general
tax rate. such reduction amounting to
approximately 100000.
Pay of Judges Increased.
Tho committee heard demands OF
various State institutions and re-
viewed the initial draft OF the appro-
printton ordinance item by item. The
only vote taken was for an increase
in the salaries of the thirty-one cir
cult Judges of the State from s2.500
70 $4,000 each. The Constitution forbids
an Increase in tho pay OF a Judge dur
ing his term OF office. An act has
been adopted increasing the pay of
the SunrpYr-e
to $4,000, which SO far only affects
Judge Whttle--the most recently
elected member
The new member to succeed Judge
buchanan will come in at the higher
rate. The increase OF salaries voted tn
the circuit judges. if adopted. viii af-
fect all those to he elected at the jan
uary session, as the new term begin
but will not greatly add to the appro-
priation burden for some years
senator Fletcher who opened the
fight for higher pay for Judges, con-
tended that tho Office should pay Sd
800. Finally Senator WendcnburG Of
Tered the compromise OF $4,000, which
was adopted by a vote of to 4. the
noes BEING Senators SowGcr. Garrett
R!nchar: and Early. Senator R!nc-
hart protested that there were too
many judges; that the General Assem-
bly, was creating new circuits every
session and rapidly drifting back to
nc otd county system which the new
constitution aimed to abolish
No Raise for city Judges
The ncNt item in the skeleton bud
get was the salary of the judge of the
T,nth Judicial circuit. Judge r. Car
ter Scott. now paid by the State So
400. which The city OF Richmond sup
PIGMENTS. Judge Scott does not come
up for reelection for six years. so
Chairman Echols insisted on passing
the matter by. City Judges did no.
f@rc so wei as those OF the country
circuits. When the item was reached
as To the salaries OF the Judges OF the
ChanccrN. Law and Equity, HuStings
hustinss, Part II, OF Richmond and
the Law and Chancery and Corpora
ton Courts. of Norfolk, an effort was
made 10 have the pay increased from
$4,000 10 $4,000 Several OF these
Judges come up for reelection at this
timo. 1t was pointed out that the
cities already supplement the salaries
until the sum is the same rs is paid
Judges Of the supreme Court. ana that
there was always a sharp contest Tor
the positions. Senator Harmans mo-
non as 10 .hc city Judges resulted in
"a tie votc-G 10 G-and Chairman
fchols cast the deciding vote in the
negative. y typographical error In
the rough draft OF the bill which. If
adopted. would nave cut the pay of
Ine' lbcrH and officers of the General
Assembly from $4,000 to $4,000. AL
! most caused hcart-failure until il was
corrected.
Stuart Sits with Committee.
/ Governor Elect Henry G. Stuart was
invited to sit with the committee. as
many of the problems in connection
with State institutions are under his
! scrutiny at this time. and may be re-
/ icrrcu To IN his first annual message TO
! the General Assembly. Senators Early
/ ana Massie conveyed tho invitation TO
I inc Governor elect, and later in the
| Dag Mr. Stuart listened to the proceed
ings for some time. Members of the
| committee and the Governor-clcct wer,.
/ ihe quests OF senator Wendcnburg at
/ luncheon during the brief recess taken
/ py IN" committee. which is pressing
! otWard with the hope Of closing all
! public hearings on appropriations hv
/ to-,norrow night. \ new item of $4,000
/ vas inserted for advertising the re
I sources of the state in the Arriclu-
/ tural Department budget to be paid
I Tor out OF the fertilizer tax, and was
! passed without dissent
second Auditor Page asked for in
crcascs in pay for his office force. as
follows: first clerk, from s2iOo to
| $9'ooo; second clerk, from sl,i0o TO
/ 300: third clerk. from $1,000 to
Sl.2Oo, and fourth clerk from 81 600 to
+ Ti.loV. making IN annual Increase OF
] $500. He also asked for $l.700 for pro-
! lection OF invaluable records in his
office 10y steel filing cases
To Protect Documents.
state Librarian IL. II. McIlwanc
asked an increase In The pay OF his
assistant from S1,S0O 10 $4,000. IIe
J asked for $4,000 each year for metal |
| fun inishin&s for ;hc manuscript room
! to make hIcrroof papers which could
not ro rcpicccd IL destroyed. and S1,S00