Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-21
BYRD DEFINES TAX
EQUALIZATION PLAN
Virginia Governor-EIect Fa-
vorS Reduction on Intan-
gIbIe Property.
Special Dispatch to The star.

WINCHESTER, Va, December 81.
a reduction in the tax on intangible
property, with a view of attracting
new residents and more industries to
Virginia, cutting off many officials,
rigid economy in State government
ana local assessment of land are
outstanding features of Il take qualiza-
ton plan announced today by Gov
elect Harry L. Byrd, who goes into
Office February l. ,...
Mr.. Byrd opposes a central tax board
ut Richmond to control real estate
ana tangible personal property assess
mentS. He says this board would inn
pose great additional burdens.
lie favors repeal of the State tax
ON land and tanGibleS, ana offers Il
plan to make the loss of $4,000 600
occaSioned by removal Of this tax.
lie faVorS a constitutional amend
ment To prevent the State from tax
ing land and tangible personality.
thus setting, he says, the ''VeNatiouS
question of equality of assessments he
tween tax units, and rendering i'm
possible the establishment in the
future of u central tax board to con
troll land and tangible property assess
. mentS.'
The governorelect proposes an adj
tlIltllcl ldA Oh SIDh.NVN tllnttiiiN vi
railroads and public service corpora
tions, claiming that the railroads have
been receiving Il lower rate on rolling
stock than the average rate on per
sonal property throughout the state.
Encouragement of Industries.
He advocates a reduction from $1.l0
TO 80 cents per 500 of assessed value
of the tax on ownership of stock III
CaSilpnt ions already
taxed i'll other States. effective in
1926, and segregating this tax to the
State He also wants a reduction in
the tax on notes. bonds and other evil
dences of debt from % to so cents
per 500 of assessed value.
'In order to encourage industrial
development" Mr.. Byrd said. essen
tial to our prosperity, | favor Il reduc-
ton in the tax on capital, effective in
1926, from S1.l5 to 81 per 500, and
lower, if possible. and a. reasonable
adjustment and Qualification of the
definition of capital"
The loss, $500 900. he would make
up by increasing the income tax above
$4,000 net sufficient to cover the loss.
It would help the farmer, he said, and
the burden will fall UPON the tax
payers most able to pay, adding that
the barrier now existing against de-
Sirable immigration into the State Will
be removed and industrial develop
ment stimulated.'
Weight Tax for Autos.
Motor vehicles would be taxed on a
weight basis, at the rate of three
fotuths cent a pound. This would re-
duce light cars about 81 and increase
the tax on heavier cars i'll proportion
to weight, incidentally adding about
$500, 900 to the road fund.
The governor elect sounded a strong
note for economy and efficiency in gov
ernment and advocated progress in
state activities by increasing the pur-
chasing power of the tax dollar rather
thar by increased taxation. Under his
plan there would be one commissioner
of the revenue in each county, equiv
aIent to a saving of S12S,629, after 90
such officials had their jobs abolished.
He would lop off 373 land assessors,
costing 100000 and would let reve-