The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-10-05
Choice of Five Parties
In Race For President
Watkins NJ. Abbitt
To Run Unopposed

When the voters of Virginia
come to the polls on November s,
tily had better already have
their minds made up. It won't be
lust a matter of marking ballot
as to the choice of president and
vice president. Not quite
In fact the voters will be hand
ed three separate ballots.
The first and most publlcized
ballot will be the presidential bal
lot. This ballot will have the pres
dental candidates for five par
tics in Virginia to choose from.
This will include the Democratic
party, Republican party, tSates
Rights party. Socialist Labor
party. the Socialist Labor party
and Virginia Social Democrats
The second ballot will be the
congressional ballot The only
name appearing on this ballot will
be Watkins NJ Abbitt. who is run
ming without opposition for re-
election to the House Of Repre-
sentatives in Congress from the
Fourth District
The third ballot to be handed
to the unwary voter is for three
proposed constitutional amend
mentS.
Constitutional Amendments
The first amendment facing the
voter, proposes to change the in
auguration of Virginia Governors
and the start of their four year
terms-from the third Wednesday
in January to the Saturday after
the second Wednesday in January
This would reduce from one week
TO two days the time gap between
the regular convpnlng of the
General Assembly and the inau-
gurati0n of the new governor
The second amendment proposes
to prohibit transportation or
transmission companies doing
business in Virginia from grant
ing free or reduced rates of trans
portation to members and officers
of the State Corporation Commits
sion
The Other proposed amendment
reaches little closer to the pock-
etbooks of every citizen in Vir-
ginia.
Important Decision
1t Will read AS follows: Shall
section 1863 of the Constitution of
Virginia be amended so as to per-
NIT the governing bodies of coun-
ties. cities and towns. with the
consent of the General Assembly
to exempt or partially exempt
household goods and personal eff
fects from taXation?"
Voters will mark their ballots
for or against the proposal If a
majority vote for the amendment
it will make possible a repeal Of
tangible personal property taxes
on household and personal effects.
II a majority vote against the
amendment the constitution will
keep the present requirement that
such property be taxed at fair
market value.
No tax change, is made manda-
tory by voting for the amendment.
1t makes the law pcrmisSive rath-
er than required
Steps to Follow
If the vote is in favor of the
amendment. then the General AS
~emblyi would have to pass leeis-
lation permitting city and county
governments to exempt or par
tally exempt household goods
and personal effects from local
taxation.
To bring the amendment back
home to the people. the local gov
erning bodies would have to act
TO make any changes on the local
level. But action would not be re-
quired
No opposition to the change has
been made yet.
Supporters of the amendment
argue that the Law imposes an I'M
fair burden on the taxpayer. and
is not an equitable tax.
The revenue from this tax does
not 90 to the state treasury. II
is strictly local tax. The tax
resulted in collection of 1921 900
in Virginia localities last wear.
$4,000 Tax Change
In Prince Edward county the
tax money realized from tie law
amounted to almost $4,000. In
1855 items in this category were
assessed at $3.50. $40. Commission
er Of the Revenue. v. c. Womack
estimated that 1856 assessment
would be slightly higher. and
would produce total taxation Of
approximately $4,000.
This amendment should be
supported by the people of Prince
Edward county" stated Womack.
The tax is an impossible one to
fairly assess. In Prince Edward
county We have as equitable as
sessment as any county in the
state, continued Womack but l
sciil DO not believe it TO be fair