Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-11
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS.
Tax Laws Discussed at Cham
Der of Commerce Banquet.
DEMAND FOR NEW SYSTEM
U. s. Court Concludes Term-Clark
Griffith to Be Honor Guest
at Dinner.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, January 10, 1914.
The plan for the segregation Of sub
Jects of taxation. as proposed by c. Lee
Moore. state auditor; the elimination of
the present law providing for tax on
bank deposits, recently resurrected by
the state authorities, and the elimination
OF the state tax on real estate mortgages
were the principal topics of discussion
this afternoon at banquet given by the
chamber of commerce at the Hotel Ram
mel. Those who spoke on the subject in
Guided state senators, representatives in
the house of delegates, bankers and busl-
ness men. The affair was attended by
about fifty guests. among them being a
number from out of the city.
Carroll Pierce, president of the cham
Der OF commerce, was POSTMASTER and
remarks Mr.. Pierce declared that taxa
ton was the paramount issue. He as
serted that money on deposit in banks
should be free from taxes, unless it be
nominal charge.
Owing to the literal enforcement of the
law taxing bank deposits, he declared,
thousands of dollars are annually with
drawn from Virginia banks prior to Feb
ruary l, that date being the time for
handing in list of the moneys on de-
posit He hoped for the passage OF a
law by February Of this year, so as to
prevent repetition Of this.
Defends the Banks.
Gardner l. Boothe, president of the
national bank. was the first speaker
called upon. He said: I'm the first
place we want to impress our legisla-
tors that it is not to save a dollar OF
tax to banks There are no institu-
tons in the state taxed as high as are
evade taxation, but are simply seeking
to protect their customers"
Mr.. Boothe declared that if a man Is
going to be taxed on a certain date for
the amount of money on deposit it is
certain that he is going to remove il
to some other jurisdiction. Bank &C
counts. he declared, are not active cap
ital. In conclusion, he said If there is
one thing the state needs it is capital,
and, he added, I'VE cannot afford to
drive capital out Of the state"
H. R. Burke of the banking house OF
Burke & Herbert thought it would prove
injurious to make bank deposits sub
ject of taxation. Banks, he said. are
helpful to a community, and he hoped
for the speedy passage Of a law to elimi-
nate this tax.
State Senator's Views.
State Senator R. Ewen Thornton of
Fairfax said that he was a member of
the banking and finance committee of
the state legislature and he would rather
go there and be governed by whatever
is introduced before the committee. He
said no doubt a great many people do
remove money from the banks at the
time of presenting statements in order
to avoid taxation. He would have to
be convinced. he said, which was the
best and which would benefit the state
the most. In conclusion, he said he
thought the passage of law to keep
the money in the state would prove bene-
fetal.
In the opinion of W. A. Smoot. jr.,
too much stress cannot be laid on the
question of keeping the money in the
banks Of the state of Virginia. Its re-
buttons a large load to carry at a given
time. which. he declared, would cause
money stringency.
Prosperity is measured by the
amount of money deposited in the
banks Of a community declared Wal
ter T. Oliver. delegate in the legisla-
ture from Fairfax county. Anything
that tends to draw money away he de-
clared to be Injurious. He thought the
tax on real estate mortgages should be
eliminated. and promised to do all
within his power to give relief.
John W. May. chairman of special
committee of the chamber of commerce
which has been investigating the al
legged negotiable system OF taxation
throughout the state. stated the COM
mittee had Endorsed State Auditor
Moore's plan. He also cited the drain
being made on the state by the failure
of seventy-on counties out of the one
hundred to pay operating expenses.
Inequality Alleged.
The inequality of the system of tax
alton is best illustrated when twenty
nine counties bear the burden Of taxa
ton, said J. Fred Birrell. recently
elected member Of the house Of dele
gates from this city and Alexandra
county. Each county he thought should
be self-supporting. He believes, he
said, that the legislature cannot ad-
just the matter in the sixty days of Its
coming session. and thought the ques-
ton should be taken up separately He
also favored the Moore plan.
State Delegate Tiffany of Fauquie'