The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-14
Sends Strong Tax Message to
General Assembly on Open
ing Day of Session
Commission Plan
Is I ooCurnbersome
Stuart Says Plan of Separation
Is No New Thing In Vr-
ginia Rich Counties Must
Help Poor

The tax message of Governor stuart
Was read yesterday. shortly after noon,
III both houses of the General AS
semblN. convened on his cali to re-
form the tax laws OF Virginia.
The message was heard with att
tentiop by members OF both houses
DEd was frees commented upon AZ
te, wards Expressions of opinion were
= nsraily favorable, the advocates ns
the partial segregation plan. apparent
~ the rms jority. being especially
pleased with it.
Aside from its flat declaration in
favor of segregation, the outstand-
Inc feature of the message was de-
Tense OF some of the su-called
Though declaring that ne did not
wish to be understood as defending
assessments below the general aver
aea, the Governor pointed out that
there is something to he said for
those counties that receive from the
state more han they pay ana hal
some of them are justified bg small
tn'ome ana high expenses. Esreci-
ally. he said. IL this trne in the case
OF large counties with heavy pension
hstS and lar.c school population.
Theory of school system.
"our free school system" he says.
lis based on The theory tina, the strong
must protect the weak and, in some
respects, provide for the weak: that
the rich shall. ont of his substance.
educate NOT only his own child, but
many other children OF his less for
tunGte neighhor. Under this princi-
pie Il naturally follows that men OF
wealth and communities of wealth
pun more into the state treasury tor
educational purposes than they take
out. and equally that poor men and
poor communities put less into the
trea sury than they take out"
the Governor took county in the
western part Of the state as an illus
tratson pointing out that in that
county the aggregate true value, as
estimated by the tax commission,
amounted - se7 100000, while in
another county tiise aggregate true
vaic is only s5,0po 900 In the
wealthier county the school popuia-
ton numbers $40; in the poorer
county II numbers s.2sS Naturally.
ne says thu state must pay more
to enc for school purposes than 1t
receives therefrom and less To the
other.
= The Governor concluded with an
appeal for action, saying that the
hour has struck for readjustment OF
the tax system of our state" and that
message In full follows.
The GOVERNORS Message.
To the General Assembl Of Virginia:
In q message sent by me to the Gen.
erai Assembly on February :. 1914. 1
Ised the following language.
Relieving that the long standing
demand for lax reform in Virginia,
involving a general revision of our
and revenue laws. reached
Is elimination in our, last general
Election. and that the legislative and
executive branches of the Government.
IS now constituted. are looked 10 by
he people for a substantial Response
o this demand. ] feel justified In CALI
ng your special attention to the re-
under which we rest, and
n making il the subject OF my first :
Message to the General Assembly.
Repeated expressions
II individual members of the General
Assembly lead me to the belief that
hare Is quite general concurrence in
ne view that tax revision Is a matter
# such vital importance as not only
O Justify. but to demand an extraor-
iipary session of the General Assemb-
y Cor the sole consideration OF that
question, to which all tax measures.
bending or hereafter proposed, shall
,e referred.
II therefore. Announce my readl>
less TO exercise the constitutional au-
hority vested in me to call an extra
ordinary session for the purpose men
Toned, and venture to recommend thar~
ne General assembly proceed, a soon
is possible. 10 the work OF constitut-
ng q body of competent persons. COM
,osea, In part at least, OF members
# the Senate and House Of Delegates.
o consider the subject OF taxation in
is entirety. and 10 report recommen-
a'ions with proper bills. together with
code of tax laws. for the c0nstdera-
ion of the General Assembly IN an
session. TO be called for
date not later than January IL
9i5."
Suggestion Followed.
] am happy to say that nay H1Gges-
ion met with cordial assent on the
art of your honorable body, ana that
tier. by act approved March ~. 1914,
law WAS enacted 4constituttn9 = -
iAf joint Committee on T1xntton.
The act referred n furtat Il Qaa1 rs /
q the GovernQr "a cMlI ~ n ~ ~
lon Of the Gen&Fel 1opGn h15 II II = nv