The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-07
ROAD. BILL PASSES
Al: AFTER HOT FIGHT
Target Of Many Amend.
nlents, but Finally Got
a Large Majority.
r. ---.
REPEAL BILL. IN
UPPER BRANCH
Senator Strobe Declares Legisla
tureIs Disappointing People OF
.Virginia-Makcs Attack on
Corporation Commission.
Resume Rhea Investi-
i CATION To-Day.
BY LEWIS II. MAcHEN.

For the third day roads and rail-
roads were the special orders in the
Legislature. In the House, roads only
were discussed. In the Senate. the
question OF how a tax commission may
lest be constituted was considered also.
In the upper branch there Is dif-
ference OF opinion as to whether
commission should be composed OF Ger.
tain members OF the House and Senate
or whether the State. Corporation Com
mission should be requested to formu-
late plan to be reported to the next
session OF the General Assembly No
actIon was taken, but 1t IS probable
that the legislative commission Will be
authorized. Both OF these plans look,
TO the segre CATION OF property Tor the
purposes OF State and local taxation.
which, under the Constitution. may not
be accomplished until 1919. 1t would
seem. therefore. that both the legisla-
tive commission and the Corporation
Commission might have time TO formu-
late their respective plans before either
could be effective. Certainly. there
seems to be no good reason why both
might not work In harmony for a COM
prehensivc system OF assessing and
collecting taxes
II any one thinks this an insignia
cant subject II is because he has given
1t little thought, and there are enough
of this class TO make 1t almost unani-
nous.
senator. Criticism.
The debate on this matter IN the
Senate was the occasion OF some sharp
criticism of the State Corporation CON-
mission on the part OF Senator Strooe.
Indeed. so liberal is the criticism or
this commission nowadays that one Is
$aI Tor 49,
same before the criticism begins.
Who're Il ends one can no more say
than he can locate the ts-nious OF tho
rainbow However X does seem little
confusing that the railroad property
Of the STATE should be assessed Tor all
purposes at from $4,000 TO $4,000 per
mile. while 1t is paying interest on
from from $4,000 20 100000 per mile. OF
course, the franchise taxes. and per-
haps other sums, should be deducted,
nut even then by-stander might say
Il that the railroad property was enjoy
ing an undervaluation.
Iiowevet. rai'r ad a'"af'Hn II
.ect OF, f,latitudinous dimensions, and the
Corporation Commission. bcinS wise III
such matters. can probably derend lts
position. a..
..rsiness of the Legislature In dis
,,atctinc business seems not be quite
justified at this time This Legisia-
+,,ra hns probably accomplished as
,,,,,ct.as could possibly have been eS-
,acted IN the time 1t has been In ses.
.,iar and more than might have been
.nacted considering the handicap
,,dar which 1t has been compelled 70
move. Those who are trying 70 n1nasr
,so,slation at this session VIII pro papiy
,s,aa that the Legislature IS golhs
sSead with unprecedented. not 10 say
unnecessary. speed.
The Road BILL
~ i, true that progress IN elu ~
nain matters In the Two nousss 20
terday was slow. but 'nes
ceptional nj, was the
at Tor score or two OF pfoposeu
asrnents. It would have oesn
sa,. indeed. If all OF them nad Lsas1', sasn,
nv 4 few were adopted. c'.. ". !.
.h. si1e agreement Of the patron. .4, MOS
~ ths.a amendments served as ,,,
q nstarts s.sa for speeches. undou os.u,s 10.
oH rosds have been SHARPLY W'nu, ~
s..an+ susr sthIs winter Nevertne'ess, W.
s',,, ~ :. ssad by 4 rouslng ma!orils. ~,
o.1, the senate the repeal BIZ IS ~, st'.'
ceiling forth eloquence. oee''' oe''us s,t,a,o
.s,. made a gallant Fl ght for cono,s,vuI ~, Z.
vaneal. and Will Resume T., 81
- apparent that he is SAILING az .3,at atAIs y
.,nI r and tide. The only thing lhat ~, :
,,keiv to reach port is the aout anu 1T ~
.sneal, To-day or tomorrow on may W. W.,
ness the end Of the debate m : tne AZ, 1.a,.
ate, % but the vote may not, y, ne - 1aKe. nS'sl
until Monday or Tuesday. the iious, .st
viii then, take It up next week ,s az, az,
d,scuss 1t through and throusn : a,u =,
over again, but the result seems 70 =
no longer In doubt,
Predict Diyision.
vi The Rhea Investigation VIII pro pap.
.,a its finish-or rather witness its con
n eilsion--to.night that is al eScep
Nhe argument Of counsel and the ae
rberations OF the committee. Alnc' NC
interest is manifested asi,to whethe
the report OF the committee VIII .
unanimous or divided. Most or tn
wise ones predict a division. Very tev g ,
reople can tell how a jury Will decids
BUT a Jury doesn't vote aloud al s. durlht m
the trial.
SESSIONS 0F%TWo HOUSES 70 IS