Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-05-27
review BOARD.
SAAGSl
Robinson Moncure, Edward H. Lawler
And Clint on S. BaIlenger Selected
by Judge Barley.

DOrdIlOn SOuit VI ,
dr;a announced today the appoint
m ne of Hon. Robinson Moncure, Ed
ward f Iawler and Clinton S. Ballen-
ger as members of the local board OF
review authorized by the general as
sembly of Virginia in February OF
this wear. when a special session Tor
the nurnose of revising the state tax
laws was held. The board, which Isl
an important part of the machinery
for tho administering Of the new tax
laws, will hold office for one year
Mr.. Moncure is an attorney ana Il
former member Of the House of Dele
gates, MIR. Ballenger is retail mer-
chant in West End which is now
p o.; of the city of Alexandria un-
der the annexation decision, and Mr..
Iawler is a we'll known business man,
formerly a member Of the City Coun-
Gil of Alexandria
The board will commence the mold
ing of sessions as soon as the commits
sioner of revenue turns over the as
sessment books and the tax returns to
them. Under the law Newell ).
Greenaway. clerk of the courts OF
, Alexandria, is secretary eN-ottlclo OF
the board. The sessions will be pub
lie and notice that they will be held
must be published in advance. Not
less than two days sessions nor more
than 80 days sessions can be held by
che board in any year. Each member
of the board will receive 81 per diem
for their services and the clerk will
receive 50 per day. One half of this
: sum is to be paid by the common
wealth and one half by the city o.
Alexandria.
! The board will have as its! principal
duty the examination Of all returns
for taxation. They have the power
to direct the commissioner of revenue
to enter in the assessment roll any
omitted property, to correct erroneous
assessments, to hear and determine
complaints OF taxpayers as 10 erron--
eous and excessive assessments and to
review the reports OF merchants ami
individuals as to sales, incomes. etc.
The board is Supposed to work in cor
nection with the examiner Of records
of the judicial circuit who will advise
them in reference to tax matters dis
closed by him.
In announcing the names OF the
board of review today Judge Barley
said: The appointment Of this
board is one of the most important
matters that has ever come before me
and | have given much time to the
selection of the personnel of the
board. The hoard is granted very
wide powers by the general assembly,
practically the entire power Of raising
or lowering taxes, correcting assess
ments, fixing the merchants license
which is based on their sales. etc. 1t
will do away with much red tape and
when tax payers feel that their prop
erty has been enormously assessed
they will be able to appear before the
board and give their reasons without
having to be represented by lawyer
before the court.
II felt that the board should he rep
resentative as far as possible OF all
classes Of business, with all of its
members familiar with real estate
values. The new portion Of AleXan-
dria should be represented and this
representative should be affiliated
with the older portion of the city us
well. To meet this latter qualifica-
ton I selected Mr.. Ballengcr, bearing
III MIND, as well, that he was retail
merchant and familiar with the re-
quirements as to merchants licenses.
Mr.. Lawler. | selected because he was
in the wholesale business and rep
resented the business men OF Afexan-
dria and because OF his wide expert
ence in these matters.
81 had felt from the first that there
should be lawyer on the board and
preferably one with legislative ex-
perience, and | found that these quail |
fcationS were met by Mr.. Moncure
who could give the board the benefit
OF his legislative experience in thej
Of the law.
Thnp,ns d lIitcbo1 So,,t ;