Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-12
WHITE COMES OUT
FOR SEGREGATION
Rockbridge Delegate Discusses
Tax Revision Before House
Committee.
OPPOSES JUDGE MANN's BILL
Says That Offered by Delegate
Martin Williams, of Giles, Is
pure Politics."

Several small sections of tho Tax
Commissions report were digested by
the Finance Committee of the House
of Delegates at yestcrday's sessions,
the process of digestion bringing little
of distress to advocates of the COM
mission system Of taxation and none to
the segrcgationists.
These were the interesting features
of the day:
The statistical tables prepared by tho
expert stntistician employed by the Tax
Commission were further riddlcd.
The committee took under considera-
tion for its guidance tables prepared
under the direction OF Governor Stuart.
The popularity Of the partial segre-
CATION form of taxation over the COM
mission system was more strongly in
evidence in the committee.
!. Judge Roger T. Gregory denounced as
"a blur upon our statute books and a
premium on incfficiency" the law which
gives to treasurers. in addition TO the
3 per cent allowed for collections Of
delinquent taxes. three-ffths of the
amount of the penalties paid by de-
linQuents.
HUGH 4. WHITE; Is
FOR SEGREGATION
The greater part of the morning ses-
sion vas devoted to hearing the views
Of Hugh A. White, OF Rockbridgc. who
had been invited to address the COM
mittee. Mr.. White is regarded as the
leader of the progressive element in
the House of Delegates. He preluded
his remarks with the statement that he
represented no interests before the
committee. He presented his views by
special invitation OF the body. He said
he was advocating no particular tax
plan.
II am ready to follow any leader
ship" he declared. that will bring us
TO prompt, intelligent and decisive ac-
tion on the tax question. / have no
tax bill TO offer. l will introduce none
during the coming special session. We
are assembling for a specific purpose,
and, in my opinion. We should get down
as committee of the whole Immediate
~ and try to work out n satisfactory
tax measure.
IL Will say frankly that am for n
modified form of segregation. 1 am
not wholly convinced that a partial
segregation plan is the best, but 1
think 1t is tho best available"
SOME LOCALITIES MUST
ALWAYS HE HELPED BY STATE
Discussing the so-called "pauper
counties" MIR. White said:
There arc certain localities and
counties that must be helped by the
State. 1t was never expected that n
county should turn surplus into the
State treasury. If each county were
thrown upon itself in that manner.
great many Of the counties would soon
be bankrupt"
| Asked II the same conditions would
not continue under the segregation
plan. II adopted, he replied:
Yes. or under the commission plan"
He added that n good many counties
will continue to depend to some extent
/ on the State. no matter what the plan
of taxation may be. He said: Some
OF the counties now get the bulk of
| their revenues from one or two rail-
roads. and If you take the taxes de-
rived from the railroads from them,
they will have little left Other coun-
| ties get their revenues by taxing their
citizens
We cannot hope TO perfect a system
of taxation at this time. We can only
| make start in the right direction
with this Legislature"
WILLIAMS
BILL. AS PURE POLITICS
During the progress OF the discus
sion. he was asked If he had read Judge
William Hodges Mann's tax bill. He
said he had not examined 1t. but, from
his cursory reading he was inclined
| to oppose 1t. at does not In the least
impress me as n desirable thing" he
| said. Asked If he had read Judge Mar
tin Williams bill. Mr.. White replied:
yes. / read ii. I am opposed to II.
That bill is politics. out and out"
In the course of the discussion, refer
ence was made to the State Auditor as
member Of the proposed General
Board Of Tax Commissioners. Mr..
Gregory. who was participating. re-
marked:
81 have heard that the State Audi
tors office Is headquarters for all the
politics of Virginia"
That's new to me-" commented Hill
Montague. II never knew that be-
| fore.'
NORFOLK DELEGATION
PROPOSES TAX BILL
State Senator John 4. Lcsner and At
torney j. l.. Heard, Of Norfolk, con
stitutins committee from Norfolk,
| arrived yesterday morning, and sub
mittcd the draft of joint tax meas
urc, which is said to have the indorse-
/ ment OF the business and professional
| men OF Norfolk. The measure was re-
Gently given scme publicity, being q
matter of discussion between Senator
Lesner and o. a. Hawkins, former
Commissioner of the Revenue for Rich
mond. Among the interested specta-
tors during the sessions were Delegates
George II. Browning. Of Orange:
Francis w. Smith. of King and Queen:
John W. Stephenson. of Bath. and
Judge Wingfield. of the State Corpora
tion Commission.
After hearing briefly from w. a.
Clarke, Jr.. secretary OF the. Retail
| Merchants Association, of Richmond,
who asked for an equitable adjustment
of merchants licenses. the committee
listened to an address by S. Hamilton