Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-03

chants Association in that city, sup
ported the i.csncr amendment lie
stated that to his certain Knowledge
many merchants doing nm enormous
business were only paying u license
tax OF s. a year.
Senator Buchanan made the point
that when the State Tax Commission
conducted It's hearing no one appeared
before the commission to defend the So
tax on merchants. lie said that many
merchants appeared to recognize that
they are not bearing their share of the
burden Of taxation, ana no thought all
merchants. large and small. should be
put on a like basis.
The vote On tho adoption OF the Les
ner amendments was divided. The pro-
posed amendment placing wholesale and
retail merchants In separate classes
was strick en- out and amendments were
adopted placing the minimum license
tax at 81 on purchases up to $1,000:
over $1,000 and up to $4,000. $40: over
$4,000 and uu to 100000, So per $1,000
and over 100000 5 per 81. 900.
Resolutions In honor OF s. Fletcher
Clement, member OF the House of Dele
gates from Pittsylvania County, who
died early yesterday. were offered in
the Senate by Senator Rison. of Pittsyl-
vanta. and unanimously adopted by n
rising vote. Several Of the Senator's
paid glowing tribute to the memory of
the departed legislator.
CANNON ARGUES FOR
TAX E0UAIIZATION
Delayed pr an hour by discussion
on tho license tax bill, the special
ordcr--thc segregation measurc-was
taken up for discussion at | 80 o'clock
When Senator Cannon. OF Richmond
had fairly launched his defense Of the
commission plan. and was hurting vol
ley after volley of oratorical broadsides
against segregation, the chair was va
Gated at o'clock, and the Senator from
Richmond was Obliged TO delay further
opposition until o'clock, when the
Senate again convened
Equalization is what the people
want" said Senator Cannon. and seq
regation will never bring ii about :.
! The Senator continued that complete
segregation is unwise and undemo-
| cratic. and that such remedy applied
TO existing tax inequalities would be
far worse than the disease. The Scna-
tor predicted that the adoption of n
plan of complete segregation would pre-
cipitate the greatest riot of extraya-
gance this Commonwealth has ever
seen"
The task of the Senate. as see IT,
said Senator Cannon. rs to bring about
equalization, and when that Is done II
Is Time enough to talk about segrega-
ton Senator Cannon feared that un-
able to raise sufficient revenue, and
| asked what the remedy or the recourse
would be should the Commonwealth find
! itself In such Dredicament "Will Won
iisten, he said in conclusion, ito the
siren voice of segregation, or Will YOU
steer with safety in the haven of CEN
| tralization?"
"ENDENBURG LAUNCHES
ATTACK ON RAILROADS.
arf n
zation under segregation or any other
reform plan unless the true values 80.
t2Naoie properties are ascertained Sen
ator Wendenburg. of Henrico. called Mt :
tention to oversights and inaccuracies
IN the segregation bill. and declare
the TAX commission had apparently
made no effort to correct one of the
greatest evils existing under tho nres
ent system. lie referred to the under
valuation OF railroad property and made
the astounding assertion that railroads
IN Virginia are saving annually more
than S2,oOO,OoO which should be applied
10 the states revenue because OF nm
dervaluation OF properties. Senator
ehdenburS, declaring that assess
mehts or railroad properties should ut
once be adjusted. said with the proner
segregation to the State of such proper-
ties no further segregation is needed.
j thank God that this Legislative hody
l.
roads" he said. and they must be made
TO bear their just share OF the
| burdens of taxation" In his spcerb
the Senator presented statistics in SIM.
port OF his assertions. He said he he
neved 1t necessary for the State to have
| central board of review He did nor
care, he explained. what the reform
| pian Is called-centralization or sepre-
gation--so it is made to correct as "a =
as possible existing evils.
senator Wendenburg introduced tho
following bill:
To segreeate for the purpose of t,,a
| ZION pursuant to section l6s of the Con
stitution of Virginia several kinds and
classes OF property so AS to spccifv and
determine upon what subjects state
/ taxes and upon what subjects loci
taxes may be levied. and to provide for
school tax of 10 cents on every s1oo
OF the assessed value Of all lands ana
the improvements thereon, and on nj,
tangible personal property, not exemnt
| from taxation by the provision of arti-
Gle Is, OF the Constitution of virginia
| 10 be paid out of the State taxes and
TO abolish the State franchise t,x ~
steam railroads. and to provide for n
state assessment on said steam r, ilro,d
property Referred to tho Commute
on Finance. 'c'