Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-14
STEARNEs PRESENTS BILL
FOR RIGID SEGREGATION
Delegate From Roanoke County Says
He Carries Out Stuart's
Views.
WOULD Make RAILROADS PAY
Author OF Simon-Pure Segregation
Plan Says Roads Pay in Virginia
Only Fraction OF Taxes Paid In
Other States.

o. L. Stearnes, of Salem, member of
the House of Delegates from Roanoke
County. is convinced that he has worked
out the only solution OF the tax problem
practicable at this time
Whatever of lingering doubt re-
inained In his mind was dispelled yes
terday when he read the message OF
Governor Stuart to the General Assem-
bly, on the tax question.
The Governor comes over to my
plan about 80 per cent" Mr.. Stearnes
exclaimed. He was carrying the bill
cmbodying his Ideas in his coat pocket.
intending to introduce It later OH. The
strong similarity between his own
ideas and those expressed by Governor
Stuart prompted him to present tho
bill yesterday. 1t was the last bill
filed at the opening session OF the
House.
STEAItNES BILL PROVIDES
ABSOLUTE SEGREGATION
The Stearnes bin Is the only abso-
lutte. simon-pure segregation measure
that has appeared on the General AS
sembly's horizon. Governor Stuarts
propositions constitute so per cent OF
what Mr.. Stearnes's bin represents, the
Roanoke member reasons.
So impressed with the bill was Mr..
Stearnes after the nattering encour-
agement he drew from the Governors
message that he hurried down town
and had printed many copies Of re-
sumo OF the measure. reinforced by his
own arguments for II. These printed
copies will be distributed In both
houses of tho Legislature at this morn
ings session. The proposition Of Mr..
Stearnes is to levy an excise tax upon
the public utility corporations of the
State. to segregate and make them
liable to taxation by the State alone. to
fix eho method and rate of taxation
Ia
real and personal property Of the
State.
SAYS RAILROADS DO NOT
PAY ENOUGH TAXES
The railroads passing through Nir-
Einia should pay for their franchises
and privileges" he said last night.
They don't begin to do II. That Is,
they don't pay anything like the taxes
they pay In other States through which
they pass Why should they be per-
United TO derive enormous revenues In
this State and escape with small taxek
when other States make them pay
what Is Just and fair? II the rail-
roads would pay their just dues to the
state. the question OF revenues would
he settled. My bill Is the practical
solution OF tho whole tax problem. so
far as the problem can be solved by
this Legislature"
The resume and argument, which
has been printed for distribution to-
day. Is lengthy. There are thirty one
printed pages. Mr.. Stearnes says he
believes that II his exhibits are read
and understood by the members Of the
General Assembly. his bill will be
passed. He remarked that he had some
time ago discussed his taxation plan
with Carlton Mccarthy. OF the Admin
istratIvc Board, and his former Mayor
Of Richmond was greatly. impressed.
The former Mayor agreed with him
.ltt.. ~.
or railway company has In Virginia is
It's franchise. Mr.. Mccarthy told Mr..
Stearncs that he had mentioned that
fact TO an officer of the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company when the Of
iicer was boast!nS of the splendid en-
hibit his company was making, and
the latter Immediately dropped the con-
versatton. apparently taking umbrage
at the reminder.
EXCISE TAX WOULD
bring $4.46o. 900
In his printed argument for absolute
segregation and tax reform. Mr..
Stearnes shows that an excise tax of
ll-l0 per cent on the estimated value
OF steam railroads and other public
service corporations in tho State will
amount to i4,450.000, and says:
'Of the $4.f50.000 excise tax to be
raised, as set forth above. three
eleventh of 1t Is to be returned to the
cities and counties Of the State. In lieu
OF all local taxes on these corporations,
viz: sl,6ls.lSl.Sl.
The balance teight- elevenths. viz:
s3.24o.ooo) VIII offset and be In lieu OF
the present State taxes on all realty
and personal property of the State,
s2,76i,SlS.lS. and the revenue from the
liquor licenses and dispensaries. $780,
t93.05, when the State goes dry"
after November /, 1916.
The only change in the proposed
excise tax bill, which was introduced
January 20. 1914. is occasioned by the
prospective loss of the States revenue
from liquor licenses and dispcnsarics-
the state being voted dry" last Sep
tember. This loss Is made up by segre-
eating the rolling stock tax OF the
railroads for State purposes only.
FAVORs AID vAI.OREI
SYSTEM OF TAXATION
II am In favor OF the ad valorem
system OF taxation OF the railroads, and
Of the rest of our public utility cor
porations, too, for that matter, the
same to be laid by the State Corpora
state Tax Commission, or even State
Board of Taxation to do this work un-
less the present State Corporation Com
mission Is abolished. which can only
he done by amending the Constitu-
ton
w nat TINS STATE HeeuS, ana should
have had before this. is the enactment
OF law by the Legislature, making
the members of the State Corpora
ton Commission elective by the people,
as by the new Constitution, it is now
permitted to do.
Partial segregation will not cure
our tax troubles. Any levying of taxes
In bulk upon tho counties and cities
of the State to make up deficit OF
million dollars or more, by an OK
oh1cio board Of taxation, not to mem
ton Its illegality, would provoke end
less trouble. confusion and claims of
lcniency TO some cities and counties.
or charges Of hardship and inequality
upon others"