The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-07
Most Important Meeting Of General
Assembly Held in Many Years Closes
Earnest Contest Over Tax Levy for Road Improve
ments, Aside From the General Assessment
Ends in Partial Victory for the Counties Much
Work of Moment.

The general assembly convened a
noon on Wednesday. August l3, and
adjourned at GAO p. NJ. Thursday
September T. after being In session
for twenty-three days. Although tbs
special session was called by tbs
members themselves for the ostensi.
Bile purpose OF meeting the federal aid
for roads OF 5000 600 and OF re-
establishing the state highway depart.
Eient, much wnrk.Nuf a general uatarx
was done which will tend to lighter
the work n the next regular session
in 1890.
In reviewing the work of the as.
senbly, the frst great step towards
the goal which Is to place Virginia In
states naturally assumes first place In
the list of accomplishments, but ex.
elusive OF this striking feature, the
session was ono Of the busiest and
most important OF recent years.
A momentous development and one
that Ii expected to mature during the
next regular session. was the general
condemnation OF the unequal assess
ment OF taxes Senator Addison's reso-
luton appointing a committee to in
vestigate the situation In this state
was defeated in the house. but II liz
generally admitted that opposition IN
the present methods, or lack OF
method. win be strong enough at the
1870 session to force the issue and
have decisive action taken.
The special session witnessed the
bftterest Tight In years between the
city and county representatives,
waged ON the principle OF levying
ments to feeder" roads Of the rural
districts. not a part OF Ahe atate higl,-
way system. Resentment against this
procedure culminaed In most OF the
large cities Of the state sending dele
cations to the capitol 10 register con-
certed protest. The consensus of
opinion 6f these representatives and
members OF the senate finance COM
Wittee. before which they appeared,
was that the only feasible plan to ad-
Just these differences was the estab-
whose function will be to supervise
assessments in all sections of the
state. with absolute power to adjust
unqualified and gradually bring the
whole state to q comparative level.
It became evident early In the ses-
sion that the house was content to
wait until the senate worked out the
details Of the tax problem and then
pass on the result. This was the
largest undertaking Of the special SEES
sion. ~ the appropriation bill drawn
by the Virginia good roads associa-
ton and introduced by Senator Cool
rick provided for q nat increase Of
twelve cents on the general property
tax. which. In addition to tho fifty per
cent increase on the automobile
license tnx, was to meet the federal
The senate finance committee dis
regarded thia basis OF taxation I'm
mediately and appointed sub-com-
mittee, of which Senator Buchanan
was chairman, to recommend other
suitable subjects, ard reduce tho gen
eral property increase prepertionate-
". Not until August 3S was the SUBJ
committees report finally completcd'
and the senate committee given the
material with which It finally picced
together the tar bill.
The night Tor and against an ap-
preparation for county roads At this
hns delaysd action until August a.