The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-17
SENTIMENT BEGINS
TO CRYS T ALLIZE Z,
Action on Proposed Legislation
Indicated by Members-Tax
Bills Likely to Be Enacted,
While Appropriations
Will Not Be So
Liberal.

the session Is already well, under way.
Most of the important bills which VIII
be In the public eye and for which
there is general demand have been in
troduced. The Finance Committee and
other subdivisions OF the House Will
meet this morning. while In day or
two the sessions OF the Senate commit
tees will begin.
This early application to business is
due in part to the prior meetings of
the Senate Finance Committee and in
part to the prompt appointment OF
House standing committees by Speaker
Byrd.
Upon the return OF Chairman Kee-
zell, who spent the weekend at his
home in Rockingham county, the Sem
ate financiers will take UP the work OF
considering the various bills looking to
an increase in the revenues of the
Commonwealth. 1t is anticipated that
not great deal of consideration of
these bills in committee will be nee
essary. since the Senators on that conf
mittee have already given them ear
visions OF these bills were practically
written In committee meeting.
Early Report Expected.
OF course there Will pc opposition.
| to the. increase in taxes. There iE all
WdyB oppO6lllOu ~ lIlStSeSS III tA->SSt
upon any subject or under any cir
cumstances. But in consideration OF;
what happened In the Senate Finance
1 Committee hearings. and in further
view of the needs OF the State. 1t may
be predicted that the bills looking to
| increased revenue will be promptly
| and favorably reported.
/ The appropriation bill Will probably
twait on the disposition Of the taxsoiiis.
1.-THE purpose is evident on tho part OF
{ the members of both bodt TO continue
1.-THE approprlations for new depart-
| iments and institutions which the State
| has fathered. But they feel that they
| cannot spend money which Is not In
1 the treasury.
When the revenue bills have been
| passed the Legislature will turn lts
attention to spending the money which
| may then be anticipated. In deter-
I mining the provisions of the general
appropriation bill there must OF ne
cessity be spirit of concession. aHa "a
lily anybody will get just what he
wants. and while some of the advocates
OF Increased expenditures along some
Hines will maintain a stiff front, they
must eventually take what they can
get There are certain expenditures
which are necessary and which cannot
be curtailed, and it Is also matter
| of necessity to spend more money 1or
the maintenance of the increasing y
number OF insane In the hospitals OF
| the Commonwealth. In consequence
some OF those institutions which were
established by the last Legislature with
SO lavish a hand Will have to be buils
slowly during the next two years.
Prophecy.
In company with mule and gaso-
lene engine, a Legislature completes
disturb the apparent peace and har.
Inot be forecast. Nobody can tell Wha
/ may break forth at any moment tc
| disturbe the apparent peace ana mar
mony. Nevertheless, II the temper Of
| the legislators may be taken as al
! indication Of things that shall be.
4 guess may be permitted as to wha
] will happen, 1t being, Of course, un'
derstood that no attempt can be made
to foreteE all that will happen. TIL!
i is only part:
4 First comes the all-important ant
! oycrshadowing problem of the collec.
tion, magnitude and expenditure Of tht
i public funds. Bills will pass increas
\ Ing the license. taxes on express com.
4 panies, liquor dealers and certain othe
lines OF trade which would perhaps
4 be as we'll not to mention here, since
! THAT would merely precipitate the In
4 evitable battle which will be waget
about the heads of the members.
Tax Equnlization.
i Then. some money; will be gotten
1 from real estate. A tax commission Il
possible but sentiment has hardl,
5lcrystallized upon that point as yet
1 Certain it is that some plan will b'
Iadopted giving immediate relief from
\ the gross Inequalities in assessment
something which can be- made effec
4 tive In the regular real estate valua
4 ton which will be made this year. Th'
\ Swanson-FletcFc plan for temporar,
! |relef is probable winner.
) The appropriations for the primar
and grammar grade free schools will
not be reduced, unless a general GU
along all Lines is made. Nothing bu
an absolute politely of retrenchment
/ applied to everything. could carr
| with 1t lessening of the value o
Il the public free schools to the CHI
) dren OF the State, The new higher In
, stitutions of learning for women vii
have to get along, for 1910 at loas
d with less than they have asked FOL
How much less will be a matter fo
u determination when the revenue bill
, have been acted upon, gslS
!, Future of Roads.
Roads will probably not get an
cash aid for this year. while tho Con
.I5yict work will be continued, Prob
! ably the program OF the Virginia Goo
Roads Association asking for one
half of the revenues from the fra,
chise taxes1on railroads will be adopt
\ cd but it win not She effective unit
Il 1911. II, .,o, I
Tho ,epileptic. colony =, YIN get littl
IL sif anything, this year. t
s The State Board OF Health Will r,
3ceive q large part OF tho money
& asks, Talk among the members 4
that money spent In promoting til
4 public health yields ay direct ana In
!, mediate %, revenue to- the state lin ii
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