The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-17
PLAN DIRECT TAX
On LAND To CUT
INTANGIBLE RATE
Legislators Also Propose Re-
duction In Special s C h o o /
Levy From Ten to Six Gents
In New Program.

A reduction from ten cents to six
cents I'm the proposed special school
fund. and a resort to an additional d.
rect tax on land. in order to avoid
Increasing the rate on iutangibles,
is the present legislative program.
AS exclusively announced in The
Virginian yesterday. the plaH for a
special levy OF ten cents each for
free public schools and for the new
state highway system will have to he
materially modified according to the
present plans OF those In charge OF
the appropriation measures In the as
sembly.
So acute has the situation become.
involving complications heretofore re-
cefvinR hardly any attention In pub
10 discussion. that hurried confer
ences have heen Jailed within the
past twentyfour hours to endeavor TO
work out q plan OF procedure that
will obtain for the schools. highways
and the tuberculosis problem as large
a measure Of state support "a possi-
Bile.
A special meeting Will be held in
the parlors OF Murphy's hotel, Tues
day evenings, at which Governor Da-
Wis ia expected TO be In attendance,
as WIFI Superintendent OF Public In
struction Hart, representatives OF the
affiliated educational organizations OF
the state. member OF the leg sIa .ure
and many citizens interested in these
projects.
1t is held that a Foectal levy Of
six cents for the schools and high
ways, with three cents for the treat
ment OF tuberculosis at Catawba and
for fighting that maladv in the rural
districts, is as much as this session Of
the general assembly can be induced
to authorize.
High Tax on Tntangfbles.
One Of the most potent factors in
influencing the reduction in these
ievies Ia the fact that virginia's tax
on intangfble@, already much higher
than in neighboring states, would with
the increase Of twenty-three points
asked for in behalf of these three
projects. mount so high that millions
OF dollars In taxa BILE Intangible prop
ertv would be driven out of the state
The result would be. it is claimed,
that the volume OF such intangible
property 90 seek asylum elsewhere
would reach a staggering total. with
the result that the net return from
this source of revenue might show q
decided decrease.
This situation ia further accentuat~
ed By the enormous deficits In the
aggregate among the state depart
ments owing TO the high cost OF sd-
ninistration by reason OF increases in
princes due to the war.
Levy for Schools.
The etx-cent levy for schools Of
the primary and grammar grade up
TO and includinw the seventh, would
produce $4,000.
Independent Of the special fevies
for schools. highways and Catawha,
appropriations necessary for proper
maintenance of the departments. ard
special appropriations demanded for
purposes which the committee on ap-
preparations believes should be grant
ed. would exceed the states estimated
revenues by approximately one mil
lion dollars.
II this Is 10 oe provided for, an in
crease in the regular state lew will
be necessary Certain It Is that 1t
rate.
Therefore there is q strong move
menf under way. said to have inffu~
entail support In high sources OF
the state government, to seek relief
for intangibies along other lines.
When the house meets Monday Mr..
Reed, of Portsmouth will move as
substitute for one OF his tax meas
ures previously introduced, bill ds~
signed to prevent any increase In the
rate on iatangioies
The bill will provide for a special
levy up to twenty cents on the hun
dred on all lots and parcels of fland.
Has influential Backing.
The author OF THE bill will be back
ed bv an influential body of legtsla-
tors. members OF the state govern
ment, and, naturally these affected by
the tax on tntangtbies.
He will present an opinion from