Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-09

Senator McIlwaine. arising to a question
Of personal privilege, said:
In a legislative service extending from
1891, have sometimes had reason to COM
plain of errors appearing in the report of
remarks made by me, but hitherto / have
not thought these matters of sufficient
Importance to require correction, espe-
cially in view of the fact that the re-
porters, not being stenographers, do the
best they can to catch the language Of
a speaker, as we'll as his meaning, ana it
Is not surprising that this sometimes
fall into an error Of such proportions.
as to necessitate some attention being
paid to it.
IN the Richmond Dispatch OF Wednes-
proposed tax-bilI is correctly stated but
did not say or intimate. that tangible
property was to be taxed at the rate Of
thirty cents on the one hundred dollars,
and intangible property was to pay 20
cents On the contrary stated that the
tax bill,which was on my desk, and which
purported to be, the product Of the FL
nance Committee of the two houses. pro-
.vided for the taxation Of land and tan-
gible property at twenty cents on me
hundred dollars for governmental pur-
poses excluding the school tax, and the
taxation Of Intangible property at thirty
cents on the hundred dollars-which is
exactly the reverse Of the statement at
tributed TO me in the report. Not only is
this SO, But did not: use any language
which could tend in any wise to array
one class Of OUR people against another.
From the beginning to the close of my
remarks. I did not use the words poor
man. or .poor farmer or banker" The
remarks in which the words occurred
were made by another Sena tor. and were
inadvertently attributed to me by the re-
porter. discussed the principle under
lying the tax-bill as being one Of ine-
quality. injustice. and unfairness, and ar
gued that these qualities should not char
acterize any bill which came from the
Finance Committee. regardless Of the
class Of people upon whom, the burden
would fall. My contention was that a
hundred dollars in valuauon Of one kind
OF property shuld bear the same rate
Of taxation as hundred dollars in vaiu-
alton OF all other kinds Of property, with
out discrimination as to ownership. In
other words. ! contended that ali taxation
should be equal and uniform. the con-
stitution not requiring the legislature to
pass any other kind Of tax-bill. but SIM
ply permitting TIA permission which. In
my judgment. should never be acted upon,
because 1t cannot be justified.
The reporter has correctly sta ted that
the discussion throughout was good
tempered. not the least semblance Of bad
feeling OF. harshness developing, but OF,
hes dlines--"Plan Of Taxation-n sure
which excited Senator Mc1lwatne's Wrath
Merely Tentative.' These two state
ments cannot stand together. and SUBJ
nit 20 my associates that the reporters
statement is correct and that there IS no
justification for this sensational head
line. I am not In the: habit Of becoming
angry with my fellow senators. nor Of
exhibiting wrath IN debate. In fact. I do
not think that ny Of them can recall e
single instance in which have given
way to temper on such occa sion. My re-
latIons with my fellow members. are Of
the pleasantest and most cordial ma
ture and they have uniformly treated
me with courtesy and considera ton.
These facts induce me to call attention
to this headline. in speaking to this quss-
ton Of personal privilege. S
Senator Mc1lWaines acquitted the re-
porter and the aper OF the slight
est intention or desire to place him in an
incorrect or Inconsistent position In the
matter.
The Senate adjourned at 1873 o clock
Passed ComissiOners1 Bill Again.
There was an even larger q tendance
of the members Of the house then on Wed
snesday. when Speaker Ryan called the
body to order. Prayer was offered by
the Rev Frank Page. Of Waco. Textile
reading OF the Journal was, as usual. dis
pensed with:
Several senate Bills were reported TO-
the house and referred to commit tees.
Mr.. Hunlcy wilt hdrews al resolut icn as
I'd reference OF bills offered 10 committees
and eub-committ tees on code revision. In
fayorsofs the sub stitutes Joint resolution ot
NJ C.Convdys8Ake The Baker Joint