The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-28

both plans presented and to argue
in favor of his substitute.
Mr.. Reed began by saying that many
would sing their own swan songs at
this session OF the General Assembly,
and he possibly among them. For"
said he, "my city of Portsmouth will
yer buchanan bill. But my people are
honest people and l do not fear that
they will wish to rob others for their
own gain"
That existing confusion on this ques-
ton Of taxation had become worse
COMPOUNDED was his declaration.
The members OF the tax commits
sion have spent months in study ana
in formulating a report and now they
repudiate IL They engaged six
teen dollar a day so-called expert sta
tlstician' and his figures are proven
absurdly inaccurate. The Governor
has changed his mind"
Arguing for single tax commits
sioner. with powers to perform the
duties imposed upon him. the Ports
mouth man said that one man would
be more likely to work hard and seek
to make good. because responsibility
could be placed He would receive
credit for doing well and blame for
doing wrong, while members of a com
mission or board could shift the blame
for others To buttress his argument
that the single commissioner be elect
ed by the people he cited the case Of
the state Corporation Commission.
II honor and respect those men"
he said, but their viewpoint differs
from mine and from that of the peo-
pie OF the State. Perhaps their en-
vironment had much 10 do with it.
their earlier associations with the
railroads. perhaps. A. any rate. the
assessment ON real estate made by
local assessors, close TO the people,
have been largely increased. while tho
corporation commission has increased
assessments en- railroad real estate
by a much smaller per cent
Clashes With Montague.
II was when Mr. Reed attacked the
figures in tables prepared by the $50
called expert statistician" OF the Joint
committee on tax revision. that he
ciashed with Mr.. Montague. who de-
sired to ask n question,
Gated for lunch, Mr.. Reed resuming
his argument when the House recon
vened at 4 o'clock.
MIR. Reed concluded At SIS o'clock
and was followed by Delegate Robert
son. of Northampton. speaking 10 his
substitute bill providing for a single
supervisor Of assessments.
II was sent here to help squalize
the assessments throughout the
I state" said Mr.. Robertson. Ito make
he tax burden equal To attain this
end there must be supervisor OF
taxes with power to correct assess
ments. We will all be at sea until
I his ia done"
Mr.. Robertson emphasized the fact
that whatever system be adopted
must be "a central authority, He did
not discuss equalization as between
individuals of locality, saying that
that constituted another question. He,
he said in answer To n question from
Mr.. Powell. of Spotsylvania- was dis
cussing equalization as between local
tiles
In reply 10 a question from Mr..
Gum, OF HenriCo, he said that he
thought that If the supervisor, whose
Office was created by his bill. was q
man OF ordinary intelligence. he could
do much toward correcting the great
difference between assessments in the
various counties.
IF we equaiize first" he declared
we will then be in position to sep
/ arate taxes. part to the State and part
TO the localities, If we wish. The
/ first, however. is funda mental.'
No Answers Expected.
When Mr.. Robertson had conclud,
ed Mr. Weaver. who wished a vot:
on the tax commission bill last night
moved that the chair he vacated un'
| til 3 o'clock. so that the rest of tn,
| speeches might he made and. II pos
| sible. vote reached He was out
voted, however. the House adopting
the motion of Mr.. oliver, of FairraA
to adjourn.
Several speeches will be made thi.
morning and continued to the after.
noon session, but it is hoped to reach
n vote before adjournment Is taker
today. Delegates Leedy and Love and
few others will make short ad-
dresses this morning and Hill Mon
tague, OF Richmond, will close for the
raliza tionists.
The segregationists will not con-
sumo much. ii any. time in making
speeches on the tax commission bill
reserying their ammunition until the
Weaver segre cation bill is reached on
the calendar. When you are in a
minority talk; when in majority
vote" advised wise Senator Sherman
OF Ohio, AMI both seem TO be follow
ing that advice. Advocates OF the
commission plan are talking. while its
/ opponents are planning to vote at the
earliest possible moment.
In the opening engagement in the
Senate over the segregation and TAX
com ission plans yesterday both sides
claim the advantage. the segregation
lists because their bin was set for a
special and continuing order for FRI
day at 1880 o'clock and because the
Senate refused 10 suspend the rules
and set the tax commiss on bill for
a special order either at the same
hour or at 1915 o'clock. Immediately
preceding, Commission champions
point to the fact that the vote by
which the Senate refused their con-
tentions was still a majority vote Of
1916, twenty seven votes having
been necessary under the rules of the
Senate to suspend the rules on the
point raised by their motion.
Not n Real Test.
The vote is not taken generally as q
real test vote. however, although il
serves as "a basis for mary busy cal
culations as &c the real sentiments OF
the Senate
One striking fact brought out In
the course of the debate over setting
the special order Is that practically no
senator will openly champion the
cause OF the Inflated tax commission
idea, Statements by both strong and
moderate segregationists constitute
conclusive evidence on this point,
Said Senator Fletcher. VINO led the
fiehf for settiug the fax comm sSi or