Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-07
BYRD URGES REDUCTION
in STATE EXPENDITURES
Would Have Commonwealth
Do Without Money Lost by
Tax Segregation.
SAYS BUREAUS UNSUITABLE
Points Out That Taxation on Real
Estate and Tangible Property by
Cities md Counties would Stop I'm
necessary Spending.


The best way to obtain reduc-
ton in State expenditures is to GU,
down the amount Of money available
for the expenditures
That is the philosophy on which
Richard T.. Byrd. OF Winchester,
former Speaker Of the House OF De-
egatcs. based his plea yesterday for
complete segregation of real estate
and tangible property taxes To III"
cities. towns and counties. And that
was his suggestion when member
of the Finance Committee of the
House. before which MIR. Byrd's taS
proposal was being discussed, asked
how the state could lie reimbursed
for the money IL would lose 10y the
elimination of the - per cent tax
on real estate and tangible property.
Roth he and former Senator John
bill. advised allowing the State u
do without the money.
Accuses state of Grabbing.
"Thc State has grabbed many sub
jcctS of taxation which the localities
should have. and has given nothing
in return" MIR. Byrd declared. las
a consequence. tho states income has
jumped upwards by the millions. with
the effect Of building up central
lied government in Richmond. with
every bureau Unsuitable. The more
money there is available. the more
They lind necessary to conduct their
affairs.
The Finance Committees mcetin.
WAS devoted To hearings on the liyra
Brown bill. already described. and IN"
Pratt hllla which would provide Tor
an equalization OF taNes over the
stat" TN" attitude Of the committc"
members indicates the majority ia
Vors the BYRD brown measure. Al
though the h.HrinE WAS continued
over untl Wednesday without "i!i
lin action.
Wants None! spent ut Home.
Mir Eyrd talked at length on the pro-
visions VI the hill which he drew UP.
~ counsel fer " coum!:,c. OF city
officials who are seeking relief from
the t9N system NOW in vogue. lie
reminded tho committee that the
General Assembly. in us special scs-
sion OF 1913, had promised IL scgrc-
:,atc all taNcs "n real estate ana tam
rlilo personal property 20 the locali-
ids. Instead OF Chat. he said. later
Log .sl3.u.r"s nave added Is cents 10
the 10 cents already provided max
ing the total iaN to the state -
CENTS, or Within 10 cents Of as much
AZ was the tax before the State hal,
in 1919. segregated all other property
TO itSu.t
The people don't think they're
getting their moneys worth" Mr..
BYRD said They feel that too much
!s being spent by the various State
departments. when the money is
spcn; at home they can Keep a closer
watch on ii Than when it's spem,
Ia Richmond"
Cities md Counties Gnin.
Mr. Byrd pointed out that through
his bill which segr"Eatcs real estate
.ud tangible property TO the locaii-
urS and intangible property to tn:
State, all the cities and counties
would gain, and the States loss
would be about s2.0o0.o0o.
Delegate Richard T. Pratt. OF Caro-
Inc. the author OF the cqualiza ZION
h.n. appeared before the committee
in support Of his proposal. His bill
,uid abolish to-: : safe tax board
.,ru i.aal boards ot review. In piacs
~ .h- tax board ~olld h, a tax con-
'US on uC three members. and the
"Reminiscences of tic revenue in eaci,
49,, ug county would constitute Il
iu.ti e, oqUa,ili' - .ur their par
=
'"m.t,i.> on Would ASSESS
he.cr..a- o. nc l'rat bill. the tax
oeum S. uu. uy means OF bills OF
sass ard utaar data. would fix the
Io'd! asses men, %! all kinds Of prop
G.y tor DNeIs cliy or county. and II
wou.d d-No.vc mpon. the. hdard of
cqua aa.'lun TO distribute ihe assess
ments un The taNahic property.
AsrrcHg with Mr.. BYRD that the
present system is intoierahle, Sen
ator J.. :. EpeS. Of Holloway. a sup
ported OF The rrat, bill, declared that
real estate values ia the small towns
are Insufficient TO support the towns.
aud that segregation would damage
those communities uoticably. Scgre-
cation. he SAID. is merely an, easy
way OF presenting the present in
cqua!itics OF assessments.
Senator Buchanan said the enact
mcnt by the Democrats OF hin in
Tennessee similar TO the Pratt bin
had carried the state for Harding, and
has elected a Republican Governor.