The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-27

I
which, he declared, was the only bill
proposing to correct tho glaring evils
of unequal assessments.
Mr., Pitts denied the charge that the
tax commission deprived localities OF
their rights or that the bill creating
1T sets up an autocratic body at Rich
mond.
1T ia objected said he. that this
bin provides for great Capitalization
OF power in the hands of three men
and that those men will he handicap
Iped by ignorance of conditions
Throughout the State. Yet II has
worked well elsewhere, and the pro-
posed commission has the same
power. with few exceptions, as COM
missions in other States
Weaver Bill Ineffective.
| Our opponents want to make a
radical change without effecting what
the people have been clamorinS for
and that is equal assessments.
Mr.. Pitts attacked the figures pa
lpared by the segregation leaders, rid
Iculng especially those setting forth
! that 5000, 100000 of intangibIes Will
be assessed for taxation, under the
provisions of one OF the supplemental
bills offered by Chairman Weaver.
with numerous others as joint patrons
He pointed out that in 1914 the
figures were but $l3f,3l7, 600, and de-
manded to Know where the increase
was to come from. He took up the
various classes of intangible property
4 In order, attempting to show that no
increase could be expected from som
/ of them and little from the others.
/ He denied. too. that the proposed
measures of the opposition provided
/ FIR segregation, pointing at that ther
! Is to be ten cent levy for school pur-
poses. There is nothing in any of tie
! for segregation. pointing out that there
providing for equalization of assess
ments for this tax either as between
individuals or localities
Mr.. Pitts was interrupted freely by
members asking questions, among
them being Delegates Meyers. Francis
Smith, Gordon and Weaver. Mr. Wea-
yer asked how tho advocates of n CEN
trail commission hoped to equalize as
easements If it's powers are as limited
as Mr.. Pitts stated them. The Able
marie delegate replied that the bill
did not contemplate full equalization
at one jump.
In closing Mr.. Pitts brought ap-
plause by declaring: Il stand here
for equal taxes, just assessments and
"a square deal to all tho state"
MIR. ChaIkley's Argument
ne statement mas gone tHTpuE u
out the state" said Mr.. Chalkley In
opening hts argument for the commits
sion bill. that the tax commission plan
| is an experiment. l wish to deny
! that. 1t has been tried in very many
other states and tried successfully"
! Mr.. Chalkiey thereupon read the list
| of States having tax commission, read
extracts from the laws creating them
and bestowing powers upon them and
analysed the work they have done.
! Mr. Chalkley also denied that the
! proposed board has any drastic powers.
| The great trouble with oAt tax system
| is inequality of assessm en- ~ Ns between
| individuals as we'll as between iocali-
ties. he said at has been a stencil
| in the nostrils of the State. and cried
aloud for correction"
! Pausing moment, he added:
| II challenge the advocates OF segre-
cation to point out single effort their
| measures make toward the correction
| of unequal assessments of individuals -
| Mr. Chalkley was in the midst of his
speech when he yielded to allow Dele
gate Houston, OF Elizabeth city. to
move an adjournment until this morn
| Ing at 10 O'Clock.
Resume Debate To-day.
Mr.. Chalkley will resume this morn
| ing when, 1t is understood. he viii be
/ followed by Mr. Montague, OF Rich
mond, the secretary OF the joint com
mittee on tax revision, which frame ed
the commission bill. IT is not known
| that any others wish to speak in ad
vocacy of the measure, though one or
! two may make brief remarks The
lsegregationists do not intend to debate
| the question extensively at this time,
| reserving their ammunition for the
! dc bafe ha r.Il
gregation bill. which is next on the
| calendar. However. as the morning
| hour will be consumed by routine mat =
| ters and as there are a number of
| substitutes and amendments to be read,
| debated and voted upon. 1t Is hardly
probable that vote will be reached
before tomorrow. though it may come
| late this afternoon.
| Segreeate Rolling Stock.
| The Weaver buchanan segregation
| bill, as has often been pointed out by
advocates of segregation. is merely a
skeleton measure, esta blishing the
principle of segregation OF certain
taxes to the state and not in itself
complete. number of supplemental
measures have been drawn. one OF
which Is to empower the auditor to
discover the presence of intangibles
and another to establish means for
IeQudii2dti0D OF assessments as between
the individuals of locality.
| The latest of these supplemental
measures proposed. and yet to be pre-
sented to the house is that providing
/ for the segregation to the State OF the
tax on the rolling stock of the rail-
roads. The State TAX on rolling stock
| chairman Weaver. of the House
! Finance Committee. said last night
will be $3.50 on the hundred Of as
sessed valuation. 1t has been stated
that the bill would impose a tax OF
one dollar on the hundred and some
members preferred that rate. but it
has been decided that the higher rate
! is preferable.
! Major J.. n Stubbs, of Glouceste r
has introduced in the House a bill cor
recting an omission in the act Great
ing the pension fund of the State
This bin empowers the boird of sup
ervisors and the council of counties
and cities to make an ann ia! levy OF
! not less than Ave nor m-re than ten
cents on every one hundred dollars
worth Of property for INDECENT Con-
/ federate soldiers.