The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-15
PRIMARY LAW MEETS
DEATH FOURTH TIME
Old Line Politicians Have Easy
Going Manipulating Elections
and Valiantly and Success
fully Opposed Change.
Tax Measures Not
Popular.
pr LEWIS II. MAcHENl

OF the General Assembly.
None OF them will be con-
sidered when the Legislature recon
venes on the 25th. and they may fairly
be regarded. therefore. as lost and
gone forever.
Some of these measures had been
passed by one house. but failed Of
consideration in the other. Besides
this number which were allowed to
sleep themselves to death. there were
few which, having seen passed by
one branch, were voted down In the
other. The bill removing the 1tcense
tax from physicians passed the Senate,
but failed to get constitutional vote
In the House OF Delegates because Of
numerous pairs and some absentees.
Corporation Communion.
The bill to make members OF the
by the people passed the Senate with
only two votes against 1t, but was de-
feated IN the House by a majority OF
two. While the appointive system had
not proven wholly satisfactory, 1t was
doubted by some wise heads whether
the elective method, involving scram-
BILE on the hustings and calling for the
qualities OF a stump orator rather than
for those of dignified and competent
man OF hlldlIs, .llOI Acobtl W
come unfortunate selections. AT pres
ent the Governors responsibility for
the appointment Is primary and that
OF the Legislature secondary, but. with
the two, II Is coordinate. With the
Executive and the Legislature eSercts-
ing their prerogatives Independently
and fearlessly, perhaps the best fe-
suits could be attained. AT any rate.
further test OF the present method for
two years can do no harm.
About Tax Matters.
The resolution calling upon the state
Corporation Commission to investigate
tax conditions In the State and formu-
late recommendations. particularly
with a view to the segregation of SUB
jects for taxation for State and local
purposes. passed the Senate, but was
voted down in the House.
The bill providing for a. legislative
tax commission. TO act with the Attor-
ney-General and the Auditor OF Pubic
Accounts, for the purpose OF devising
an equitable and uniform system OF
taxation. passed the House, nos was
allowed TO die upon the calendar OF
the Senate.
There seems to be no good reason
why both of these measures should
not have been adopted. With all the
light that can possibly be thrown upon
this intricate subject of taxation. there
will be darkness enough. The tax
commission bill, especially, appeared
to promise good results. Opposition to
1t developed in the Senate. and in the
crowded days. when three objections
prevented the consideration OF meas
ure, 1t was found impossible to bring
1t to vote. without any specific evil
dencc 10 sustain the charge. 1t was
yet suspected by the friends OF the
bill, and quite empha tically stated, that
the opposition TO the measure was
quietly encouraged, If not fomented. BY
certain powerful interests in the State,
who felt that they might be the losers
by a general overhauling OF the tax
laws. Be that as it may. the meas
ure was relegate., to limbo.
Did Not Relish Supervision.
The bin for a uniform system OF
bookkeeping in the several state AMI
local Departments of government also
failed, as did the bill providing for the
examination of banks. Nobody con-
tended that the principles OF these two
measures We're unsound, but 1t takes
more than A theory TO enact bill II
there is opposition. In these cases, the
opposition came from the large num-
ber of persons and institutions which
prefer to keep their accounts and carry
OH NilC1l OuSlpSSS lI1 IIelT5 own Mdy
with as little supervision and molesta-
tion as possible. What the public
might regard as Wholesome Oversight
and control. they would be Just a.
f likely to consider unwarranted inter
ference With privats affairs Ligh
and ventilation are not hobbies Will
every individual or institution.
1t is seldom that the public has
lobby to push a. reform measure, an
1t is frequently the case that the par
ties to be affected have lobby Il
oppose it. Yet some people wonde
why governmental reform is such
slow and tedious process.
For the same reason 1t was foun
impossible to impose a tax upon for
eign corporations doing business in TIL
State. The Standard Oil Company, tn
Harvester combine and many others d
business in Virginia annually to tn
extent of hundreds of thousands !
dollars, and yet are almost who'll
exempt from taxation, while individ
uals and small companies resident !
y the State, and doing like business
are heavily taxed
Those q. .stcr Laws.
All oyster bills having for their OF
ject modification Of the present La
relating to the Baylor survey We're dc
stroyed. There was SO much ignoranc
on this subject among the nembe,
Swho do not reside in Tidewater, and s
fiiuch caution, confusion and irresolt
tion among the Tidewater membei
themselves that no agreement coul
be reached.
There Is conflict in that section bt
tween the planters and the tonger
and there is some feeling among bot
classes against the Board OF Fish Con
nlissinners Personal and politics
considerations have undoubtedly 81
tered'into the problem, ana the averae
member. realizing that he Is I'm darl
ness himself is In fear, that he may
mlsled by false lights, and stands ST
because he does not know which VIZ
to move. That is about the best O.