The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-08

crease 10 the figure named in his bill.
Senator Addison decried the efforts OF
that genealogical class who favored
the placing OF unjust burdens on the
railroads but the proposition was
based on what had been worked out
by a clear-headed business man, after
close study. He said the State was
being hesieged on all sides for money
for the schools, for the hospitals and
for other humane reasons
Senator TTinkle Talks.
Senator Trinkle opposed the propo-
sition. saying that he was Of the opin-
ion that the railroads had paid and
were paying their just proportion OF
taxes 10 the State. He said that In
all his life he had never owned a
share OF railroad stock or bond and
| that he had not once been retained by
/ or represented the railroads In any
| capacity.
He preferred to see the State en-
courage the building of railroads In
many sections, which are clamorins
for railroads. He believed that there
was no music so sweet commercially
as the whistle Of the locomotive. and
that the coming OF railroad would
mean that the dales and valleys would
/ bloom as a garden.
w FJfutFUbtFA W A@ W aFnt
Senator Wendenburg supported the
bill and in doing so he made declar-
alton that was new. He said.
II am not here with the consent
OF the railroads. The railroads here
spent about $500 in paying pol
taxes Of employees for the purpose of
keeping me away from the Senate"
He then began discussing the mat
ter OF taxation OF railroad property
! declaring that the earnings or the rail
roads in virginia were equivalent to
per cent on a capital Of more than
! 5000, 600 900, and yet that some prop
/ ertv was assessed at about $i2T,o0o,
! 900 While there had been An increase
/ NJ II per cent in the real estate OF
! the state in the last FIVE years. as
/ shown by the report of the Auditor
and in all that time there had not
/ been an increase Of cent in the valu-
alton OF the physical property.
Senator buchanan Opposes.
/ Senator Buchanan made a speech OF
some length in opposition to the Add
son bill He expressed his belief tha'
/ the railroads are paying a just pro
! portion OF the burden OF taxation
! I he Auditor Of Public Accounts wal
/ the only man who had. OF all State OF
/ fcers, advocated the increase on th'
railroads. The auditor had shown tina
| he was not infallible, for he had dis
agreed with the State Accountant t,
i, the amount OF about S400, 900 AS t.
I the cash balance in the State treasury
and in his estimate OF n year age
On the segregation scheme of 81 900,
900. He had no criticism of the audi
tor. but was using the fact to SHOW
that he was as liable to make mis-
takes in his views The railroads, h
said, are paying about one fifth OF thu
J taxes OF the State.
He said he would vote for the rec
ommendation of the committee, which
proposed an increase OF is of l pc
cent. and in doing SO he would do 81
because the State needed more reve
nue. and not because they were un
! fairly taxed.
! Goodrich For Report.
Senator Goolrick championed tn,
bill as 1t was reported from the com
mittee, providing for an advance o
/ is of | per cent. He took the posi-
ton that for years the railroads hat
f; been taxed and that they could no
escape. He repeated that in all the in
vestigations made by investigators ant
! Investigations and inquiries of all sort
the report had always come back tina
/ the roads were bearing their fair ant
Just proportion of the taxes Their,
was always danger line in such mat