The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-24
PUSHED THE
TAX Bill
House Held an Important SEES
sion Yesterday.
NO SESSION OF SENATE
Latter Body Adjourns to Honor The
Father Of His Country -areatPr e.
ress Made on Tax Bi-After
Building and Loan Assoc'ns.

|, The Senate was in session few mo.
ments yesterday. and adjourned out OF
respect to the memory of George Wash.
ington.
The House devoted the day to a con-
sideration of the tax bill, and very nearly
completed the arduous, task.
n big fight was made to raise the license
tax Cor the sale of pistols, put it was
a losing one. and the matter was left
as in tine original bill, the license being
placed at 500
The feature Of the session was the ef- /
fcrt OF Mr. Smith, of Clarke, to have the
tax reduced on mutual building and loan
associations. which recoiled and resulted
In the doubling of the tax on all building
ard loan associations from top to bot
tom, the tax being graduated In the bill.
Mr.. Jennin gs, of Lynchburg, spoke against
tie increase, but he was defeated, Messrs.
Early, Spe, Gent and others declaring
that they should be put out of business.
On account Of the celebration of George
Washington's birthday, but little Of in
tarest took place in any of the commit
tees.
The House.
The House was called TO order at 10
o'clock by Speaker Ryan and prayer was
offered by Rev. Fl. p. Atkins, of the
Christian Church.
The only bills offered were by Mr.. Bis
coo providing for the establishment of a
normal school for girls In the city OF
Fredericksburg. and by NIr. Smith, Of
Clark, to allow the Board OF Supervisors
OF Warren county to borrow money.
The general tax bill was taken up as
Il Special orderfi and much progress was
n 1r1,pn ho,,t
been offered.
When the section was reached which
relates to the tax on steam laundries Mr..
Scbrell, of Southampton, championed the
cause Of the old colored washer woman,
whom, he said. might be taxed If the
language were not made palmer. He
thought wrlnEers and flat-rons might
be construed as machinery. Mr.. White
head, while advocating the report OF the
committee, was asked BY Mr.. Boaz il he
could explain the difference between a
machine politician and other politicians
The reply of the member from Norfolk
was that steam and machine laundries
were needed in Norfolk in order to wash
tie soiled linen Of the politicians.
WAS VOTEDsD DOWN.
Mr.. Cardwell moved to restrict the sale
Of pistols to those allowed by law to
carry them. and he spoke ably for his
amendment. and 1t was opposed by Mr..
Mort Of Bristol. who is dealer in hard
ware Mr. Rice. had previously offered
an amendment. fixing license tax of
$50 upon persons selling pistols. A lively
discussion ensued. which was carried on
mainly by Messrs. Cardwell and Mort.
The bill fixes the license tax at 500.
The amendment of Mr.. Cardwell was
rejected as was also that OF Mr.. Rice.
Mr.. Whitehead got in an amendment in
Guiding dirks and bowie knives in the
section. and a motion by Mr.. Leake to
strike out the entire ion was lost.
During the consideration Of the bill the
Westminster kindergarten, sixteen strong,
was brought in, and the little pupils
waved diminutive United States flags Wig
o-ousy in honor OF the father of his
country.
Mr.. Sebrell moved to so amend as to-
provide for the payment of an addi-
tfcnal tax upon merchandise sold throu gh
slot machines. and it caused much dis
cussion.
The amendment was lost, and the House
proceeded and made much progress with
the consideration OF the measure. Mr..
Whitehead got through an amendment
prohibiting the dispensing of Intoxicating
LIQUORS, through slot machines, and Mr.
Hartman offered bill to make valid a
certain deed by Virginia f. Weaver, con-
veying certain land in Richmond city.
REFUSED TO ADJOURN
to adjourn out of respect to the memory
OF George Washington, but the motion
was lost. ayes, %; noes. 80
The member from Campbell has not
yet missed a. day since the session be-
gun, and he thought that an adjournment
was due to the Father of His Country.
Mr. Cardwell moved to strike out the
section providing for the tax on under
takers but. he Withdrew 1t in favor of
one offered by. NIr. Sipe. which defned the
term 'undertaker' more explicitly. This
in getting an amendment adopted pro-
yding that the tax on undertakers in
counties and towns shall be So.
There was some discussion over a mo-
tion Of Mr.. Smith, of Clarke. for a grad
uated tax in the interest of the weaker
companies. 1t was rejected and Mr.. Early
moved to strike out $50 as the tax on
Building Associations and Insert 500. This
was carried, and the joke was on Mr.
Smith. BY his motion to reduce he got
an exact doubling of the tax. Messrs.
Sipe Gent and others declaring that thew
should be either prohibited from doing
business or made to stop charging The
people usllrious interest for money lonn-
ed.
Mr.. Jennings Of Lynchburg, opposed
the amendment but 1t was almost unani.
mously adopted
The House at l:15 p, M. adjourned to
meet at 10 O'Clock today.
The Senate.
Tho Senate proceedings were opened
without prayer
Mr.. Sears presented petitions in favor
of the passage of the Mann bill
There being only thirteen Senators
present Mr.. Barksdae sald
"AIr. President, move that the Senate
do now adjourn in respect OF the mem.
DRY of the Father Of His Country"
This motion was adopted by vote
of s to 5, The session lasted only two and
half minutes