The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-01-11
BANQUET SPEAKERS
DISCUSS TAX Plan
Bankers and Oilers Take Up Susses-
lions Of State Auditor at Dinner
in Alexandra.



Alexandria, Va. Jan. 1o.-Many MEM
beers of the State Legislature. representa-
tives of business organisations. and
others attended the banquet given by the
Chamber of Commerce this afternoon at
the Hotel Rammell and discussed the
seerexations of subjects Of taxation. a.
provided for In the plan Of c. Lee Moore.
State auditor The repeal Of the law
taxing bank depositors each year on Feb
ruary /, was advocated. as was MI.
Moore's plan to repeal the tax on real
estate mortgages.
Carroll Pierce. president OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce, was POSTMASTER. MI.
Pierce declared the present system of
taxation to be half a century old. He
said money on deposit in banks should
be freed from taxes unless II be a nomi-
nal amount. In view of the fact thar
the tax on bank deposits IL reckoned
from February / each year. he said,
thousands Of dollars annually are drawn
from the banks at that time throughout
the State. He hoped the legislature would
repeal this law, which only during the
last year has been literally enforced.
The first speaker was Gardner l..
Boothe. president of the First National
Bank He declared the banks are not
trying to save anything in advocating the
repeal Of the law, as such institutions
already are taxed very high. Banks, he
said, are seeking to protect their Gus
toners.
H. r. Burke, Of the banking house OF
Burke & Herbert also urged the repeal
Of the law.
In the opinion Of Walter T. Oliver.
State delegate from Fairfax. prosperity Is
measured by the amount of money de-
Anything that would draw money away
he declared to be injurious. Mr.. Oliver
favored repeating the law placing a tax
on mortgages. and added that he would
do all in his power to secure relief.
According to John W. May. chairman
of a special committee that investi-
gated the system Of State taxation, ap-
pointed some time ago by the chamber
of commerce. his committee favors the
plans of Mr.. Moore. Mr.. May briefly
outlined the results Of the committees
work, showing the burden of taxation
to be borne by 9 out of the 100 coun-
ties in the State.
J. Fred Birrell. recently elected dele
gate in the legislature from this city
and county, declared each county should
be self-supporting. Owing to the COM
plexity of the tax question he thought
the sixty days session of the legisla-
ture would be Inadequate to properly
consider the matter and he thought that
there should be either a special ses-
sion of the legislature to take up the
matter. or otherwise that II lay over un-
til the next session.
81 am In accord with the proposed
change" said State Delegate Tiffany,
of Fauuuier. He said the people in
the Southwestern part OF the State are
not paying enough taxes. He also said
he would vote to eliminate the tax on
bank deposits.
Julian Y. Williams favored the appoint
ment of three members of the legislature
and three other persons by the governor
to consider the matter. He also expressed
the hope that those present would ex-
change views on the subject with J. 7.
Preston, secretary of the chamber of
commerce.
81 feel that the chamber OF commerce
desires only the enactment OF such legis-
lation as will help all in the State" said
A. d. Brockett-
Worth Hulfish favored repeating the
law taxing real estate mortgages He
also decried the present tax sale system,
sometimes known as the "land-grabbers
act" This. he said, benefits number of
land grabbers to the detriment OF delin-
quent home owners.
Senator r. Ewell Thornton and W. A.
Smoot, 1r.. also spoke
The invited guests were: State Senator
r. Ewell Thornton. Fairfax; Walter T.
Oliver. State delegate, Fairfax; j. Fred
Birrell, State delegate, Alexandria; W.
n. Tiffany. Fauquier: W. T. Hodges.
superintendent of schools. Alexandria
County; DR.. Trueman a. Parker. presi-
dent broad of trade. Leesburg, Va;
Judge r. H. Tebbs. Leesburg; DIR. W. r.
Tulloss. Prince William; r. S. Cochran,
The Plains; w. L. Hueser. Prince Will
lam; Harry Hammond, president Retail
Merchants Association: r. E. knight,
Retail Merchants Associa-
ton; Harrie White, secretary Retail
Association; John G.
Graham and G. Washington Lewis, Real
Estate and Investment Corporation,
Robert S. Barrett, NJ. T.
Dwyer. J. +. Peyton, Alexander ]. We'd
derburn, newspaper representatives.
Members Of the Chamber Of Commerce