Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-11
WOULD INCREASE
RAILROAD TAXES
Bill Offered in House Raises
Franchise Rate l 1-2
Per Cent
WOULD TOTAL S75O,0OO
Senate Committee Favors Creation
Of Office of Morals Commissioner
by the Legislature.

Richmond Feb. II. - Railroad
franchise taxes will be increased near
ly s260,0OO year if bill offered in
the House of Delegates yesterday by
R. O. Norris, jr., of Lancaster, be-
comes law, the tax rate on franchises
being increased from l 1-S per cent
| of the gross transportation receipts
to / 1-2 per cent.
The bill increases taxes of canal
corporations as well as railways.
From these two sources OF taxation
the State last year received in fran
chise taxes $691 1853. Under the new
rate proposed by Mr.. Norris the an
nual franchise tax would be S75O,47l.
The net increase, based upon the
gross transportation receipts of 1918,
would be $259,2ls year.
No other changes are made IN the
Norris bill, the rates being left as
follows:
On rolling stock, State tax of
! 3-5 per cent.
On intangibles owned by railways,
a State tax of 65 cents and local
tax of not more than 30 cents.
On money in bank, Il State tax OF
20 cents on the $10O.
On State, county and city bonds
owned by railways, State tax OF %
cents.
On real estate owned by railways.
a lO-cent State school tax and local
taxes based on the local rates.
Only authorized agents OF railroads
will be allowed to sell tickets good
for travel on any of the roads III Fir-
yinia under the provisions of bill
presented in the Senate by Senator
| H. II. Downing. Such sale is made a
misdcmeanor, and the offer to sell
such ticket is an offense, and failure
to produce authority to sell tickets,
when called on to do so, shall be
prima facie evidence of violation OF
the law.
A strict Interpretation of the law
would prevent the sale of excursion
tickets by Sunday schools in Virginia
it is said, and would unquestionably
put the "scalpers" out of business. A
person buying a round-trip ticket to
anv point and who might desire to
dispose of the unused ticket, would
he prevented from selling the ticket.
Registered nurses who graduate
from Virginia hospitals will be re,
uuired to pay fee of $40 to the State
Board of Examiners of Registered
Nurses under the provisions of bll
presented by Senator Strobe. of Am
herst. The fee for this examination
in the past has been $5 and th'
amendment proposed doubtes this Zoe
Another feature of the bill is tina
there shall be q secretary, who shal
also be treasurer, with prescribed du
tics, who shall give bond, and wh'
shall receive salary of not exceed
ing $500 year, and shall also re
ceive travelling and other expense
incident to the proper discharge O
her duties. Members Of the boar
are to receive 81 day and the neces
sary and incidental expenses incurre'
in attending the meetings of the san
g board.
< Another provision OF the amende
4 bill is the reciprocal arrangement o
: exchanges or recognition of certifle
: and registered nurses from othe
Y States having the standard obtalnin
s in Virginia.
The bill is before the Committe
+ on Public Institutions and Education
The Senate Committee on Publ
o Institutions and Education held
f meeting yesterday and heard advoca'
. es Of the Strobe bill to abolish convlc
! labor in the penitentiary.
Miss Lille Barbour. Mr.. Pridd!
Mr. Davidson, Mr.. Blankenship an
e Mr.. Clinsdinst made speeches in ae
S vocscy of the measure. They pointe
: out. that the working of convicts
S the penitentiary for IS cents da
had ohout nut the independent e!