Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-17
GOVERNOR SIGNS
-FOUR TAX BILLS
Segregation Now Established as
Foundation of States
System.
MUCH YET TO BE DONE
State Contributes $4,000 Toward
Entertainment of Confedcr-
ate Reunion in June.

Governor Stuart late yesterday after
noon signed four OF the main tax bills
that go to make up the new system OF
partial aggregation. which will become
effective in Virginia ninety days after
tho Geenral Assembly adjourns
These four bills are:
Senate bill s, which establishes the
general plan OF aggregation, separating
TO State and locality their different
subjects Of taxation.
House bill "a. the measure that as
signs exclusively to the State the taxes
TO be levied against the rolling stock
OF steam railroads.
Senate bill So, the measure creating a
State Advisory Board Of Taxation, con-
sisting of the Governor. the Auditor Of
Public Accounts and the chairman Of
the State Corporation Commission. who
are empowered TO search for intangi-
bles. and creating local boards OF re-
View to equnlize assessments all
real and tangible personal property.
Senate bill 81, which provides for the
levying and collection OF income taxes
OTHER BILLS ARE
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
Three other bills were also signed
by the Governor. They are:
riOuBo Dill .. wnlCh provinces IOT an
appropriation of 900 TO be expended
under the direction OF n committee rep
resenting r. f. Lee Camp. Confederate
Veterans. of this city. in entertaining
visiting veterans who arc to attend the
annual reunion OF the United Confcd-
crate Veterans, which will be held In
Richmond June "a.
House bill 81. which adds several new
banks TO the list OF State dcpositaries
House bill IS, which rcclassifes
banks In Virginia for fees to hc paid
for bank examination
Nine other bills that passed the two
branches OF the Legislature are still
awaiting the Governors signature or
veto One OF these. the bill designed 10
protect the State from discrimination
by publishers in the prices paid for
textbooks for the public schools. will be
vetoed. in all proba bility. because Of
the amendment It carries. prohibiting
the State Board OF Education from
holding executive sessions in any and
all circumstances. The bill may be
vetoed because OF the drastic character
OF the amendment. Many competent
authorities agree with the members Of
the Board OF Education. that in certain
circumstances secret sessions ad-
visable In the interest OF public policy.
GOVERNOR GIVES EACH
BILL CLOSE SCRUTINY
All OF the tax bills to which the Gov
ernors signature has been attached
have been closely and carefully scrutin-
ized in their every section. paragraph.
nentcnce and clause. Governor stuart
gave many days OF thought and study
TO the tax measures. The bills were
examined and discussed by Governor
Stuart In conference with some OF the
hest authorities in the State. y final
conference was held yesterday. in which
Attorney General John Garland Pollard.
state Auditor c. Ice Moore and Clerk
Iarr. OF the Auditors Office, partici-
pated.
While the four tax bills already
nigned suffice to establish the system
ot partial segregation OF taxes In the
State, the tax reform plan Is still far
from complete. The Joint Committee
on Tax Laws OF the General Assembly,
which is now sitting in Richmond. will
formulate and perfect other bills per-
tanning TO taxation. These are Intended
as integral parts OF the general tax
reform system, and will be submitted
to the General Assembly at the end
OF the recess next month 10 be enacted
into laws.
MANY DETAILS GO OVER
TO NEXT SESSION
Much Will be left however. to the
next General Assembly. for It was
never expected when the special session
was called that the present Legislature
would work out a perfect plan OF taxa
tion to replace the unsatisfactory sys-
tenn OF taxation that had been in effect
In laying solid foundations upon which
succeeding General Assemblies may
gradually build wisely and safely the
present Legislature will accomplish the
task to which II was set. Even the
most shnguine OF the advocates of the
partial segregation plan did not antici-
pate the creation by the General AS
sembly In a single session OF system
OF tax reform that will measure fully
up to the needs OF the Commonwealth.
The division OF the taxes between
State and locality Is prescribed in what
Is known as the administration segre-
CATION bill, House bill No. s. Ii as
signs to the county, city or town these
subjects Of taxation: all taxable real
estate and all taxable tangible prop
crty, except the rolling stock OF cor
pOrations operating by steam; and to
the State all insurance taxes and IL
censes on insurance companies and all
taxable intangible property, rolling
stock OF all corporations operating by
steam.
PROVISION MADE FOR
SCHOOLS AND ROADS
The provision is made that the pres
ent State school tax of 10 cents on each
500 OF the assessed value OF real es-
tate and tangible property shall be con-
tinued as at present for the year 1915,
and until otherwise changed by law,
which tax shall be applied TO the sup
port Of the public free schools for tho
equal benefit OF all of the people of
and State and be apportioned on basis
of the school population.
The bill further provides that moth
ing herein contained shall prevent any
city from lcvying tax upon said seq
ra1atpd iDtangjble nersopal ,,rnporty