The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-21
ame. being reported out by the COM

1 eAMes OSlhk reported QUIZ ~ IHe com
| mittee.
After expressing some doubt a. Il
whether the ruling applied to thu
Conrad withdrew his amendment
adding an additional 20 cents TO thu
automobile license tax for state aid
| to county roads. As the bill was re,
ported. the tax Is increased nifty pei
cent the old rate per horsepower be.
ing 40 cents and the new date sc
cents
The bill was amended to increase
the tax on motorcycles from So 10 81
and to insure the construction OF the
state highway through towns OF less
than $500 inhabitants. where the
houses are not less than 900 fee,
apart This amendment. which was
offered by Senator Buchanan, further
provides that although the state con-
ssruct and maintain the streets OF
towns used in the highway system,
no more shall be expended on main :
tainance OF these streets than is used
on the same distance OF highway out
side the town limits. and that the
towns contract To furnish additional
funds for maintenance. II needed.
Senate Bill No. s. providing for an
increase of twelve cents in the gem
eraI property tax for the construction
and maintenance of the state high
way system. was then introduced and
in connection with Sena-
tor Buchanan's Bill No. ~.
Action on the bill was cut short by
Senator cannon's vigorous protest
a gainss Its passage in the present
form. saying that * was grossly Gn
fair 10 the cities Senator Buchanan
offered EFT amendment reducing the
assessment TO six cents and providing
for additional revenue from other
soUrces Senator Gcolrick protested
against changing the bill with out due
and the Anal action was
he appointment CT a committee of
20 into the tax question and make
recoynmen dations. The COM
rittee IS composed OF Senators Bueh-
aaar. Cannon and West.
Senator Buchanan caused some ex-
-;tenent among merchant members OF
tire committee and in the ranks of
assembled to hear the bill
discussed by declaring that a biz ma
.erity Of merchants OF the state rem
aered false reports OF their purchases
tie called attention TO the large num-
Ter who certify purchases OF less than
5000 for year.
Suggestions were made and favorabiy
eceived by several member for the
increase of the minimum license tax
for merchants from IS to SIS. Sena-
Ter Holt, OF Newport News. asked Sena-
TOT Buchanan would he support bill
creating a board to eouaIize assess
II, ents throughout the state and Sena-
tor Buchanan answered emphatically
that he would.
The matter was dropped at this
point until Senator Addison. of Lynch
burg, reopened ii by asking the eena-
tor from Newport News was he in
earnest and exhibiting an unmistak-
able determination to carry the pro-
posai through. On motion of Senator
Addison, the committee moved to APP
point sub committee Of three mem
bers to investigate and report on the
Iracticability of establishing an equal
ization board to have Jurisdiction over
assessments in all sections OF the
state.
Senator Addison deplored the ten
dency on the part OF sole senators to
dwell on the demands Of the "peepuI"
fer low taxes, stating fatty that In
stead of being high tax state, as some
aver. Virginia was one of the most I'M
dertaxed states in the union. He re-
ferred to the low assessment in some
1NHiiI Hnllles as against the niRn as
scssment in the cities in strong terms.
1T is a fraud upon the rights of the
citizens" he said I'VE know that, in
the ultimate analysis. the cities are
paying higher tax rate. yet the gem
eral assembly calmly countenances it.
A twenty cents increase really means
no more than eight cents. The present
policy encourages dishonesty and some
thing should be done to correct 1t
Compared with the North Carolina and
Maryland. the actual tax rate of Vir-
ginia Will show that we are not an
swering our responsibility"
Several senators showed disposition
to agree with the senator from Lynch
burg, but the opinion was general tina,
no corrective measures could be taken
at the special session. One instance
OF low assessment cited was that OF a
farm In the southwestern section OF
the state, the auction price being $2ot
per acre and the assessment being on
a value per acre OF SEQ.
mn NJ aane ENI aAn "A RN~anI