The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-23
BY CLYDE II. EAST.

Charleston. ". Va. Dec. 22.--Com'
mitt,d to a general plan to reduce ex'
pcnditures for the maintenance ~
local and state governments. the next
legisl"u,rc will BE- confronted with
the difficult problem OF determining
where TO slash appropriations with
out injury 10 the efficient operation
of the states business and where to
reduce costs which might be claSsed
a. "eXtravaGance.
There will be no wholesale and
reckless reductions in appropriations.
This was indicated generally by the
Democrats who recently attended the
conference called by Chairman X. r.
Dunlap, in this city. I'll IS believed.
certain. however, that there Will be
substantial decreases through the
elimination II bureaus and commits
sions and by curtailment OF the &C
tivities OF certain state departments
If the Senate concurs.
n the Republican state senate con
ours with the action Of the Demo
cratic house OF delegates, the next
legislature may be expected to cut
down expenses by the following
means:
Reducing the cost of the session or
the legislature by approximately
100000.
Cutting a similar amount from the
budget of the state department OF
agriculture.
Decreasing the appropriations for
the attorney generals department
and state auditors office.
Repeating the acts creating the
child welfare commission. state pro
hibition department. possibly the ma
tional. guard, and other boards and
commissions.
Reducing the office expense OF the
state road commission and state de-
partment of health.
The Democrats regard the big
items of expense as necessary and In
some. only small reduction Is ex'
pected.
The cost Of education, for instance,
is expected to remain about the same.
The state aid to schools is the largest
item Of increase in the last two years
and thus far there has been but little
agitation for cutting down this cost.
Prohibition Enforcement.
The Democrats expect to place the
work Of the prohibition department
In the hands OF the state police. II
this is done, there will be no reduc-
lions in the appropriations for inc
department of public safety, and next
10 state aid TO schools, this depart
ment was given the biggest increase
by the last Legislature.
The legislature will not be able to
reduce taxes which go to the Virginia
debt fund because this debt must be
paid. The state road bonds, also,
must be redeemed.
The legislature expects to provide
for a classification ol property for
taxation purposes and on this Ques'
tion, together with that Of Il limtta-
ton of levlcs, the Democrats are III
full accord with the state tax colt
missioner. Walter S. Hallanan. who
has for some time advocated amend
ments TO the constitution PROVIDING
for these.
The house of delegates Will make
nm effort to modify the gross sales
tax law and there Is a possibility That
q bill will be introduced TO replace
it with a production tax.
The Democrats attending the
conference here emphasized the need
for lower tax rate on Intangible
wealth In order that money could be
brought into the open and not con
cealed in nOn-taXable bonds and Sc
curities.
For Property Classification.
Tho only remedy for this situation
according to legislators who have
made a study OF the problem, IS
classification Of property.
Walter S. Hallanan, tax commits
sioner. spoke at length on this ques'
ton at the recent meeting OF asses
sors here.
One OF the most serious phases or
orr whole tax problem Is the realiza.
ton that invisible wealth has been
Shipping away from tho TAX DOORS.
he declared, while the burden OF in
creased cost of government has been
thrown over on real property. with
all of tho effort made this year to &C.
cure the assessment Of property ol
all classes, we lost more than wv
GOO, 900 In the assessment Of intangl'
bic personal property. Forty'fiVe
counties of the 90 showed material
losses In the assessment OF this CLASS
Of property. Those possessed 81
LIQUID assets such as money, BONDS
notes, etc, are either conceallis
their property On the theory that eA
cessye tax levies amount to contls
cation or placing their money into
non-taxable bonds and securities.
"rhis situation has reached seli
,u rt,pa Dur banks and other