The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-16
State to Get More Rev
enue From Fire and
Life Business.
NATIONAL INCOME
TAX is FAVORED
Amendment to Constitution Fav-
orably Rcporte d-House
Shelves Ninety-Day Poll
Tax Proposition-optom-
etry Bill Defeated.
Hearings Set To-Day.

Carrying out the recommendation
made by Governor Swanson as to the
proposition to amend the Constitution
Of the United States SO as to permit
the leyying or a tax on incomes, tho
Senate Committee for Courts OF JUS
tice yesterday reported favorably the
ratification OF the amendment. Con-
currence on the part OF two-thirds Of
the State Legislatures Will be neccs
sary before Congress can declare the
amendment adopted.
This course was proposed last sum
mer by President Taft at the culmina-
ton of the long fight on the tariff
Eli. There was little opposition to the
matter in either house, and. with the
President behind the move. the amend
mcnt was proposed to the several
sovereign States. The Virginia Les!s-
lature is ono of the first to meet since
the proposition was made, and Its ac-
ton in the matter will prove OF ma
tional interest The resolution OF rati-
fication is now on the Senate calendar,
and will come up in its regular order.
Insurance Taxes Raised.
Considerable increase in revenue
from license taxes of insurance COM
panics doing business in this state
will be the result of the pill raising
the rate OF this class of taxation,
passed by the Senate yesterday.
Life insurance companies will have
to pay l-2 per cent. instead OF 1
per cent, of their gross incomes into
the Treasury OF the state, while fire
com mpanies must come acros. with
/ 81 per cent, in place of the present
rate of Ia per cent. In each case
the increase. as will be seen. amounts
to onc-nalf of / per cent. Of all re-
ccipts from Virginia risks.
There was opposition to the BILL,
led by Senator Hart, but II was passed
without any sort of trouble by q vote
of 26 to S.
! The Senate adopted rule forbiddinS
the calling up OF any bill out OF us
order. This is done for the facilltation
OF public business, since motions to
dispense with constitutional readings
ana reference to committees require
an additional recorded vote. and roll
calls take time.
Optometry Dill Lost.
on the House side the optometry
| bill went down in defeat by vote OF
| SO yeas and 90 nays. This result was
Quite a surprise to those who favored
the bill, in view of the favorable &C
| ton on engrossnent on the previous
day The opposition as on Monday,
was led by DR.. n. U. Stephenson and
his work, With that of Mr.. Keyser and
others. proved effective. The member
| from Roanoke dealt telling blow at
the measure by his challenge that ne
| would vote for the bill IT any one
could show him that the practice OF
optometry was recognized as proies-
rrf,, Efan01nC
| by any reputable medical coiieSe III eho
| United States.
number Of specialists had. how
ever. indorsed the bill, which, 1t was
stated. was a counterpart of legisla-
| ton enacted by twenty-four other
| states. A remarkable feature Of the
debate was that both sides declared
\ they were cunning for the faker who
goes through the country selling and
| pretending to fit glasses.
\ The members who were for the bill
said that it was designed to prohibit
I this class from doing business, while,
on the other hand, it was contended
that it would open the door to these
men to do business under the protec-
/ ton of a license issued by the State
(, Labor Laws Put to Sleep.
The West and Stebbins female labor
/ bills are apparently dead, for they
were reported unfavorably YESTERDAY
1 from the House Committee on General
i Laws. These are the measures upon
4 which such an ardent fight has been
waged by the women and the labor In
terests. They are designed to allow
employers and employees to agree to
divide the sixty hours Of labor each
4 week so that longer time may be used
4 five days with which to give a partial
holiday on Saturday. However. the
\ proponents of the bills will have some
. thing to say. it is understood, on the
i floor of the House when the tins
! comes.
The House took what was construed
as unfavorable action on the PROPOSE
II ton of Mr.. Parr for an amendment tt
1.-THE Constitution SO that voters, na'
qualify by the payment OF po!l laAes
!, ninety days. instead OF SIX months u
advance OF an election. BY larse
majority the resolution was sent 70 tne
Committee for Courts Of Justice. al
4 though Il had been acted upon favor,
, ab,v nv tho Committee on Privilege.
and Elections.
q consideration OF the bill requiring
aiyision school superintendents to b,
residents Of their districts was begul
: by the House. but not concluded TIL,
J onlv speech was mado by tho patron
Mr.. Love, who made an earnest attacl
I on the power given tho State Boart
Of Education. Mr.. Love had not con
! ciuded his ren,arlSs when the FTous
: adjourned.
!, HenringS To-day.
! oysters and prohibition will ge
hearings to-day before committees q
both houses The House COMMITTEE
? on the Chesapeake and It's Tributarie
. and the Senate Committee on Fish an,
Game Will hold meetings to conslde
the Byrd-Wiclham bill providing 70
Strengthening the lines OF the Baylo
! Survey In the James River.
This morning the joint Senate ant
!, FIouse Committee on Privileges an
} Elections will holdSa meeting to hea
largpments for and against the Strobe