Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-10
GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS
QUALITY. NOT QUANTITY
CONTINUED From Thifd Paxe.


CONTINUED From Third PaEe)
issues and her apportiontnen ts for the
Red cross and tho +. N. c. A. war
council. Tho state has responded gal
lantiy. az ever. to the patriotic de-
mands OF the hour. The spirit Of secri-
fee Is awake. and our people arc ready
TO give themselves, to spend and be
spent In the cause Of liberty and hu-
nnanity and civilization. For this We
shonld rejoice.
Acting under the war legislation
messed By Congress, tho President put
Into operation a system 0. selective
draft by which to raise an army fer
the national defense. All males be-
tween the sSes Of twenty-one and
thirtt-cne, were required TO register
on June s, 1917. This gigantic task
was accomplished in virginia with
ing it's magnitude. Our people re-
sponded TO every call for service made
10 them in this connection. Eirsinie
was called upon TO furnish 1875 me n
IN the first draft. These man answered
the call OF the country promptly, and
with rare exceptions cheerfuliy. Local
and district boards were constituted
to pass upon tho seiective features OF
the draft. and rs result Of their
lspors, our States quota was at Camp
Lse, training for service, ;wo months
ago. SO that Virginia enjoys tho dis
tinctioR OF being the first State in the
Union to fill It's quota. We arc now
we'll into the preparatory weris in
connection with the second draft, and
our boards are daily setting tho
status Of registranis with reference to
their availability for duty. To all those
individuals. firms. corporations. and es-
Deeiaily newspapers, who by their un-
selfish and patriotic efforts CO. operated
10 maize the workings OF the draft sue
cessful in our State, the Common 18th
and the nation owe debt OF graft
iude which should never pc forgotten.
and which should be held second only
to the debt we shall owe the brave
Nfrsinians who go TO the camp or the
battle front.
In this connection I recommend the
massage OF suitable legislation. in ac-
cord with Federal enactment. for the
nrotectiop of the civil rights of sol.
diers and sailors in tho military or
naval service Of the United States, SO
that whiio they arc riskinE their lives
for their country. their property NAV
not be Deedlessly sacrificad at home.
Having given first place 10 the record
the state has made under war condi-
tons and having made sonio recon-
hsnda tons of obvious Importance, with
view TO placing the State In proper
condition tn meet any future war
emergencies that may ariae, ! shall now
address myself 70 matters OF o do
meStic nature. some OF which, how
ever, will be deferred for a later
message.
SuDSTASTIAL REDUCTION
IN RATE or TAXATION
The policy Of partial segregation, in
ausurated by the General Assembly
at the special session held In 1915.
and amended at the regular session of
1916. has justified Itself abundantIy
The State rate Of taxation has been
substantially reduced or all classes OF
property except an to public service
corporations. For the informatio OF
those who are uniformed OF misin-
termed, Of whom there arc many in
virginia, mere give tho reduction
shown in the rates of taxation on the
several classes Of property in Vir-
sinta, comparing the average combined
rate State and local, on intangible
pFerer'y, prevailing under the old law.
with the fixed rate or limited rates
prescribed by the segregation law,
state and local, respectively:
bonds, hduciary property, shares of
stock, etc. reduced from 1913 10 G5
cents state tax, and so cents optional
local tax.
Capital, reduced from si.7S TO 20
Gents ana so cents optional local tax.
Ner,ihcates of bank stock. reduced
from Sl.t5 To max irnum rute of 4, "a
state and local.
virginia county and municipal bonds.
reduced from sl.I6 to IS cents.
Money, reduced from Sl15 10 %
cents.
Merchants license. reduced 10 cents
pei Nv" on purchases between $50 900
Real estate and tangible ycrsoos,
property. reduced from tn. state rata
~ IS cents to 10 cents. .,n I,n,., ~,
local rates. Nuns ."
Hot"itnstandinE these reductions in
rates.. the revenues of the State arc
showing steady growth, MS evidenced
py health? balance in the treasury
AZ the end oG.this. fiscal year. ana with
revenues n sight for the year 1918
Wien snow an estimated surplus In
inc treasury as OF October I, 1913 ar
SLotl.l3S.5l. This gratifying condit;on
ot the Treasury is found after giving
10 The free schools OF the state far
Inc past two years $i,0ls.235.65 more
IMAM for the last two years Of the old
taxation system: after spending an
nro1imatcly $4,000 for war cmergcn-
cies after absorbing loss Of revenue
amounting TO $4,000 per annum du. "a
y,
II is proper 10 say that much OF the
increased revenue comes from i;cense
ices or ordinary business corpora lions
from the franchise tax levied on corpo.
!afions Of all kinds, and from other
sources, which have yielded Increases
under uatonatic provisions OF the Inv.
nut moro than all else the incrSass -
DUO TO the fact that within tho Inst
two years. unde- the operation OF the
segregation act. there have been added
current assessments Of intangible prop-
erty amounting 10 SlaS 600, 900. this CON
sisting or property not heretofore dis
covered and taxed. In addition 10 this
large Increase In current assessment
there has been recovered large
amount from intangible property
omitted for years previous to 1915 All
collections OF back taxes have zone di.
rectly to the free schools
Many people at the time this ie.is.
lation was enacted were fearful! that
the revenue OF the Commonwealth
would be inadequate for her needs. So
satisfactory has been the outcome ,ha.
Jou are now called upon TO decide how
much OF the accumulated surplus and
how much Of the surplus coming into
the Treasury this year you can AFFORD TO