The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-12
No "Bitterncss," Says weaver.


Chairman Weaver. OF the House FL
nance Committee said last night that
reports circulated yesterday after
noon to the effect that there was
bitter fight over the appointing pow
er" was wholly erroneous.
AS a matter of fact" continued Mr..
Weaver, 1T WAS conceded by all that
| il the committee was to come from
the Legislature the Governor would
not care to make the appointment. or
any part thereof. There was absolute
| ~ no bitterness on any question, and
the statement to the contrary was
based on vivid Imagination rather
than n fact. 1t is unfortunate that the
zeal of some is constantly and unncccs-
sarily involving the Governor in such
matters, which, in my opinion, IS un-
fair To him and places others In q false
light"
AR. Weaver added that he strongly
favored the idea OF a large committee,
as giving representation TO every sec
toE OF the state and giving the re-
port an impetus and dignity when It
reaches the floor in the special session.
The matter was a topic of general dis
cussion yesterday. with widely diver
gent views.
! The expense involved. it was held,
would be small In comparison to the
benefits TO the State from an cquali-
zation OF the burden OF taxation. A
committee OF twenty members with the
necessary clerks. stcnographers and eX
| perts, together with printing and other
costs. ii was pointed out, could not be
operated for less than from 5000 to
!. $3.50 per day To have such n com
mittce In session for from six to nine
months would entail a cost OF from
/ $4,000 TO $4,000, which would not in
cludc the cost OF the extra session.
Friends OF the measure pointed out
that the committee would probably not
he in continuous session for anything
| like all OF the time. 1t could meet soon
after adjournment of the present ses-
sion, start It's experts and clerks to
gathering needed data, and take a re-
cess and adjourn from time to time
to consider the various plans sub
mitted.
! Object 10 Date Selected.
| The most serious objection raised to
/ the report OF the committee was in
regard 10 the date specified for the ex-
| ira session. January Is. 1915. Prop
erty is taxed in Virginia as OF Febru-
AIRY J.. The taxing date for this year
| has passed. special session called
for the middle OF next January, 1t is
held. would be too late To consider
and enact new tax Legislation In time
for 1t to affect the assessments for
1915. Furthermore. 1915 is the period
for tho general State real estate as
, sessment. made only once In five years.
| IL Is argued. therefore. that the spe-
ciai session should be held in October
or November, so that the new tax law
proposed could be In actual effect BY
the opening OF 1915. and affect the en-
tire real estate and personal property
assessments for that year.
| Chairman Weaver said last night
that special session meeting in Jan
uary could. by simple resolution, de-
fer the taxing date for that year for
month. and thus allow the new law
to take effect.
Chamber Committee Not Heard.
Representatives of the legislative
committee OF the Chamber of Commerce
went to the Capitol yesterday morning
| i'll The hope of getting hearing, but
tho joint committees had gone into
executive session. Tho Chamber COM
mittee desired TO favor the Walker bill,
which substantially represents the
views of the Tax Conference which
met in RichuSnd January 20-21, and
which stGured the Endorsement of the
state Farmers Union at its meeting
here on January 1920.
| The Walker bill provides for n tax
commission OF five members. One
member is to be Dr. Thomas w. Page,
| OF the University of Virginia, who is
named in the bills Each branch of the
General Assembly acting separately.
under the terms of the bill, is TO elect
one member, and two members are to
| be appointed by the Governor. the COM
mission to hold office until the adj
journment of the next session OF the
! General Assembly, special or general.
The bill proposes that the commission
chall study the tax question and re-
port Its findings to tho Governor, who
should call special session OF the
~ III,