The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-17
SPECIAL TAX SESSION
MAY BE. HELD IN MARCH
Commission Will Not Have Report
Ready for Governor by
November 1.
TWO MONTHS TO INTERVENE
Act Contemplates Time for Study of
Report Of Commission and Its
General Discussion. Before General
Assembly Convenes.

The State Tax Commission may find
1t impracticable to complete Its report
in time to submit it to the Governor
In November. The date agreed upon
Tor converting the General Assembly in
extraordinary session may be changed
While no statement bearing upon the
subject has been authorized by the
commission. the impression prevails
among those who have been following
closely the progress made by the tax
reTlsers that the report will not be
ready until January. This unexpected
delay would mako desirable n change
In the date for the special session. de-
ferring the opening to some time in
March.
When the act creating the joint COM
mittce on tax revision was passed by
the General Assembly, it was contem-
plated that about two months should
Intervene between the time the report
of the commission is given to the pub-
lie, after being submitted to the Gov
ernor. and the date for the beginning
of legislative action on that report.
COMMISSION DESIRES
SOME LATER DATE
1t has been made apparent already
That date later than the time named
in the act for submitting the report
Is desired by the commission. The
petition to the Governor making a
formal request for the extra session,
specifies the second Wednesday i'm
January as the time for convening the
lawmaking body. q.
In section OF the act. approved
March "a, 1914, the commission is di-
rectcd "as soon as 1t has prepared it's
report as to the systems OF taxation to
be recommended, and the necessary
Diils 70 carry the same into effect"
that the report Shall be prepared not
later than November l. 1914" And,
further. that "the Governor. upon re-
ceipt OF the said report, is hereby re-
Huested to call special session of the
General Assembly to meet not later
than the first "Wednesday in January"
SECTION NOT MANDATORY,
TT MERELY DIRECTS
This section. however. is not 'manda
tory; 1t merely directs In any event
the members OF the General Assembly
who signed the petition so understand
It. The Tax Commission is therefore
at liberty 10 extend the time for pre-
pairing the report, and it seems likely
that 1t will not reach Governor Stuart
as early as was anticipated.
Members of the Tax Commission ex-
blamed yesterday afternoon the real
significance. OF the term ,"seSrega ton.
as applied to the method devised by
that body I'm it's work Of revision
The segregation plan," It was said,
does not increase the tax rate in q
single instance, but, adopting the rates
recommended by the committee, segre-
gates for purposes of State revenue GER
tain subjects that are general in their
nature, and releases to the counties and
cities those subjects that are purely
local In character and should be re-
tanned by the communities, such as the
tax on real estate, and tangible per-
sonal property.
by the adjustment of the tax sys-
tenn. according to tho segregation plan,
IL is hoped that nearly every communi-
~ may find 1t entirely feasible to mako
a substantial: reduction in its tax rate"