The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-27

&xSn<ton adopted BY 10th
~ the city council scrpo&au8
IN 3aeialAtion a. the special SEES
1t&h AhN exception Of that per-
1& ~ the stAte highway system.
4NSfhsr stated that he did not
~ supreme court would allow
4on9<1tution to be tnEgled with BY
kNH the general assembly appro-
- sMeney indirectly for purpose
N1tItutional by a direct levy. Mr.
1e1on concluded by saying that he
~ unfamiliar with the report Of the
nsmmaftAe and asked defcrral
u ~ the projects enumerated therein
IA be kctfe into.
CoNRAD,s DEFENSE
SA 4NAtor Conrad made a brilliant de-
|! ~ Of the state aid appropriation,
96&YIaG. with no little heat that he had
NQ sympathy with this sentiment
&tSH tells us we must eat salt out
&K sk8S hands OF the ardent opposition;
41l14 nobody shall depart from the let
Sx4k 81 the Law as .ayed Down by them
ss Senator Trsnkls. of Wythe. concluded
the nj xsasoor session with the most
1xereNfuI ofatcry' os the day He made
II "A Atednert anpesi for the hsrnicni7inE
s0f the rstv and county interests and
etated that the county people would
N4w&w give their whoie-hea-ted support
tc the state system unless they were
sAQEoNra Eed by local Alu-
Yrtcuant hitter illusions were made
~ tie lack Of an equalization Of as
easements throughout the state. City
REPRESENTATIVES, failed 70 take thrust
IL the preser: unfair condition where
~ froperty in some sections in as
Se6ked asi2 per cen. of its market price
White ather parts of the state assess
Er0ref$y az sixty TO seventy per cent.
Tar sersfysens eulminate1 at the night
Ar+~
Senator Addison appointing a commit
tee Of silk. three from each house. 10
conduct a thorough investigation and
report some means of correction TO the
next meeting ~ the general assembly,
Senator Addison condemned exist
ing cssndltsons without mincing words,
referring 10 the unequal assessments
~ rtart fneefensible vice He also
slid that the equalization Of assess
rnents Mould do away with this IN.
fSfTn inASle and internal dissention."
The resolution was passed ny on mo-
tinp-p& Senator Goolrick.
senator Conrad established the
n6anE-Haf while the plan submitted
IL the sub committee fell $4,000
short Of meeting the federal appro-
Nr4atfon In two years. the bill endors-
a by the Good Roads association and
Introduced by Senator Goolrick pro-
~ eat for exactly the same shortage.
- Judge Rhea's Explanation.
pudge Rhea, chairman of the state
evaporation commission. appeared at
TIT morning session at the request of
11ae com mittee TO explain the existing
43uafipn in regard to railroads under
s4dwernrn@nt control. The gist of Judge
Bhea 81 ak was that II was extremely
4dubtful as TO whether or not this pro-
@HuEed increase should be made. He
made no re recommendation simply lay
3hg the situation before the commit
~. He cited the action of Jtdge
John Barton Paine, general counsel
kbr the railroad administration. In in
1fructing the railroads not to pay taxes
" localities on supplies during the
EAST year, and in afterwards with
drawing these Instructions. after a
%nrference with Judge Rhea. and in
kfucting them to pay the tax OF $780,
goo under protest.
4Judge Rhea stated that under the
ATesent rate. there would be an in
4Fhase from this source Of 1856, 900
4nr the present year, with an increase
Nj the revenue from electric roads
a. $4,000. The sense of the commit
- seemed 10 he that this increase
FAs sufficient and that no additional
1ncrease would be advocated
Henry T. Wickham. attorney for
PIE railroad administration. pointed
out that, with the proposed tax in
41ease, the total paid this year by the
1dads would he s47S,ss4 more than
Nswas last year. saying this may be
the straw which will breaw the
39mel's back Both speakers ex-
4hined the contention of the govern
4fent that United States property
4Quld not be taxed by states, Judge
Rhea said that the question had not
4een raised tn regard to gross earn
Pigs. but that II the ruling of exemp-
goa applied to supplies and rolling
qtpck, the same would be true of the
Moneys.