Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-10-23
KEYNOTE SPEECH
BY NEXT GOVERNOR
Senator Byrd Outlines Policies In
Harrisonburg Speech On Monday

Hon. Harry F. Byrd, Democratic
nominee for Governor of Virginia,
fired the first gun in his campaign,
since receiving the nomination, at
Harrisonburg Monday. A large
crowd heard the initial address
which was received with much en-
thusiasm.
Among other things Mr.. Byrd
said:
Pledges Made Openly
When I announced my candidacy
for governor last November, l then
stated that my pledges would be
made openly and to the people.
can today announce that l am not
committed either directly or indirect
ly to the appointment of any person
to Office, and that I have made no
pledges except such as have been
openly proclaimed during my cam
paign. / desire also on this occa-
sion to renew the assurances ex-
that when elected chief magistrate
of this great commonwealth l will
dedicate myself unreseryedly to re-
deeming the pledges l have made.
Il construe my nomination to be
mandate to me as business man
to institute the best methods of eff
cheney and economy in the admins
tration of our state government so
that the people may obtain in the
public service dollars value for
every dollar expended. Useless Off
ces must be abolished, duplicated
services must be consolidated, and
the manifold activities of the State
systematized and directed with the
efficiency of great successful bust
ness corporation.
1.-The Democratic party has en-
joyed uninterrupted control of the
state government for forty years,
and in appealing for an expression
of renewed confidence it is under a
solemn obligation to render faith
full account of its stewardship. The
Democratic party can rightly take
great pride in the splendid progress
that Virginia has made under Demo-
cratic administration, but there are
changes and reforms that l consider
should be made"
Reform of the Tax Laws
Mr.. Byrd pledged himself to a re-
form of the tax system. as announced
in his primary campaign. He said:
Il favor if practicable, the repeal
of the State tax on land and tangi-
BILE personal property, thereby saw
ing the already overburdened land
owners of Virginia nearly $4,000
of taxes year, and thus obviating
the necessity for an equalization of
tax assessments as between the diff
ferent tax units of the State. II no
State tax is imposed on land and
personal property, it is then not
matter of concern to any locality
what the assessment of another local
ity may be. With a total income of
S30,000,000 year, the state can, l
believe, by effected economies and by
the efficient operation of the govern
ment as big business, save a large
part of this tax, and then by a rea-
sonable adjustment of the tax bur-
den this tax can be repealed with
out impairing or curtailing the nee
essary activities of the state.
Taxes should be assessed equit-
ably, but just as important is a re-
vision of our tax laws so that desir-
able immigration and our Industrial
development will be encouraged and
not repealed. Virginia is already
great agricultural state. 1t should
be and is becoming a great indus
trial state.
Mr.. Hoge criticizes our tax sys-
? tenn and again fails to offer a rem
edy. He says if elected he will ap-
point commission to study the ques-
ton, which will delay the relief so
urgently needed until the session of
1928. When | am inaugurated I will
not pass the responsibility to a COM
mission, several having already been
appointed and having made exhaus-
tive reports. Neither Colonel Ander-
son nor Mr.. Hoge have ever suggest
ed through the Republican members
of the General Assembly a single re-
form to my knowledge, of the tax
laws in Virginia
Il pledge myself to present to the
next General Assembly a definite
plan SO that taxes will be collected
with reasonable equity as between
the tax units of the state, and espe-
cially to 1iberalize our tax laws to
foster and encourage our Industrial
development and to offer favorable
conditions to those who desire to be-
come residents of Virginia"
Reform of Fee System
Mr. Byrd then outlined the
changes and reforms that he favors
He advocated thorough reform of
the fee system as it exists in vir-
ginia in its every phase, in accord
ance with the pledge made in the
primary campaign when he advocated
the establishment of a maximum
above which no officer of the state
could receive compensation from