Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-16
Discusses Segregation Plan
q For Levying Taxes for
Revenue
READS HIS MESSAGE
School Board to Nominate its Mem
bers and People to Elect-Ouster
Bill Special Order.

Richmond, Feb. l6--All business IN
the House was suspended at l2:3C
o'clock Yesterday to enable the House
to 90 into joint session with the
Senate to hear Governor Stuart's
special message on the tax problem.
The meeting was hsld in the nall
Of the House. The Governor was
loudly applauded when ne entered
the hall. He. was PRESENTED to the
ioint session by Speaker Houston. OF
the House and read his message from
4 the rcstrum.
The Governor said in part as fol-
lows:
am view of the efforts of certain
organized interests to influence pub
lice opinion as to the system OF taxa
tion adopted by the special session
OF the General Assembly OF 1918 by
means of literature appearing in the
newspapers and elsewhere, some OF
which is in the form Of anonymous
mid advertisements. / feel it my Of
fetal duty to present to you some
facts and figures which l trust may
elicit the careful consideration oil
your honorable body"
He explained that the subject OF
taxation segregated to the State arc
saff themselves incapable OF Yielding
the necessary revenue at reasonable
and lust rates, and it would be un-
reasonable to expect the state to meet
ito government obligations out OF the
revenue arising from those inadequate
sources.
That the rates proposed by the au-
,ditor on the subjects segregated 10
,ho State were not adopted by the
legislature, but different and lower
rates were put in force.
The segregation act. as hhal'y
adopted,' prcsupposcd; il! its 'prea-
amblc that the act would require
amendment by the following Assem-
bly,, and THAT further legislation !t' is
now NECESSARY to; give the ;segrega-
ton principle fair trial,
Under the present segregation at act act
.qbc rates; !: of taxation on practically
every class of property have been
substantially reduced. Yet the chlci
opposition to the system comes from
those whose rate Of taxation has been
most reduced A very severe cut
wos made in the rate on intangibes,
!, reduction,5f nearly one-half Of the
rate formerly prevailing in the aver
arc CITY and county, and in some
cases more than one-nalf. and, furth-
ar the lawSallows deductions for debt
ON most classes, leaving only the
net to be taxed. while real estate and
tangible property is taxed regardless
of Indebtedness. 4 full disclosure OF
intangible property would increase
tbc available sources Of revenue OF
The State.
Examiners of records have added
TO the tax lists under the act about
sSO.O0O,O00 for the current year, a
sum almost as much as the aggregate
assessment. of all the physical prop
ertv. excluding rolling stock, OF all
the railroads. in the State. This, in
the Governors opinion, is only the
beginning OF what may be added if
the General Assembly will establish
y period for the assessment of taxes
omitted prior to 1915.
''We are now face to face with the
question as to whether or not sys-
TEN which shows these benefits shall
he endorsed aud supported by ap'
prcpriate legislation, with a view te
making permanent the advantages
already gained"
Who, then" said the Governor. 'is
complaining Of the results of scgrc
CATION?
"The great bulk Of complaint come:
from the owners of the class of prop
erty of which $75,0OO,OO0 has bee,
discovered, assessed and taxed thi
year for the first time in its existence
taxed not at the eXorhitant yate
provided under the old system. Gu
under the reasonable rates provide
l.v tie segregation system.
The Houss passed the propose