The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-07
Gregory Am end m en- t
Wins Over Report Of
Finance Committee.
TEN M EMBERS TO
PREPARE NEW LAW
Must Report Alternate Bills,
Giving Special Session Choice
Between Several Methods of
Taxation-Legislature to
Be Called Again
Next January.

New tax laws for Virginia arc to be
drafted w. committee Of ten mem
oers. four from tho House of Delegates.
TO be appointed by the Speaker: three
from the Senate TO be named b,- tho
president Of that body. and three an
pointed at large by the Governor. III
'he action taken by the House OF Dele
gates last night meets tha apn-oy;,l Of
the senate. II has been unofiiciaiiv
indicated that the proposition is sub
S'antialiy in tho form approved by Gov
crnor stuart and \ number of Senator's
AFTER three sessions of prolonged
h"batc, the House last night adopted n
substitute offered b. MIR Gregory. Of
Ne" Kent. for the rccommc nda,ion of
.he committee or Fina nee that there
be a legislative committee Of fifteen.
Ten rfon tho House and five from the
senate. The final vote did not come
nntil several similar amendments had
ocen rejected, and tho change oc n
number Of members to the Gregory
amendment. after rejecting several
that were simiiar In substance III not
In wording, was not explained. on "A
point OF order. the final passage Of tho
hlli was delayed until il can hc en-
crossed as amended, but after the in
sort!on OF = number Of verbal changes
The bin was passed TO its third read
ing and cngrossinent. and has passed
tie amcndahlc stacc
WAS SpcrinI Order.
Inc House bill to provide FOR the
appointment of Joint committee on
IAN revision TO consider and report on
All questions relating TO the assess
ine,'s ana Sollcci!on of taxes came IN
lowinE the adoption Of the appropria-
tlon b!ll yesterday morning. Mr. Hous-
ton moved that the debate be limited
.nd
mat he vote he taken before the >
oc!"ck recess, which was agreed TO-
Mr. Gordon cautioned the House against
uniulL limiting debate, saying that
both the future prosperity and happi-
ness OF the state and tho destinies of
dne piemocratis party in Virginia Were
aee2ly os involved in the wise settlement
oil 50 Graye a problem
The bin reported bv the COMMITTEES,
known as House bill No. 4s3 sets forth
that III. the Judgment of tne General
Assembly it has become necessary that
there be careful and thorough re-
vision OF existing laws for the assess-
revenues, ana that II is seriously ques-
toned whether the present system or
ion is tho one best aTaptcd 10 the
condiilons as they exist ut present In
this state.
Whnt RiiI Provides.
Inc bill as amended provides for n
joint committee consisting of ten mem
hers-four from the House, three from
the Senate and three at large This com
mittee is charged with the duty OF fully
considering the whole system of taxa
non now In force in the Commonwealth
ana also the existing statutes for th..
assessment and collection Of taxes. and
Is 10 report 10 special session Of the
General Assembly what changes If any
are desirable and within the power Of
the General Assembly 10 adopt
Immediately on adjournment of the
General Assembly the committees ac-
cording to the bill presented shall or
Eanize and proceed with all convenient
haste to make the inquiry. and shall
report a complete. logical and consis-
tent system of taxation with II written
form OF bills carrying into effect such
system as II decides to recommend
the bill TO employ such clerks. ste
noBraphcrS and experts as may bc
n.ecessary,' and to liN their compensa-
TO compensation at tho rate of SIS 80 j 3
per aax each and mileage provided by
law The committee must complete its
ana shall report To the Governor. who
Is requested 10 call a special session
Of the General Assembly. TO meet not
later than the first Wednesday in Jan
narS; ayl3, to consider the report and
enact such laws as may be necessary
or eNpedicnt to carry it into effect.
for the expenses of the committee the
nili carries special appropriation of
The Woodward Amendment.
Mr.. Woodward, of Norfolk offered an
providing for a commission
of scven--thrce from the House. two
rom the Senate and two Mt large. Mr.
Johnson ofcred an amendment Droyid-
ing Tor four from the House, two from
the senate and one at large. Mr.. Cor
don offered 4 substitute bill giving the
Governor the right 10 appoint n tax
commission of five members Mir White
proposed commission of seven. the
Governor and Auditor OF Public Ac-
counts to be eN-otiicio members. the
other five to he named by the Governor,
Mr. challSley. made the point that
Whatever The size of the committee it
should gather information both us 10
the practical workings OF Il plap for
az equalization and also for seglSea-
lloii ana present .wo o. more bills
General Assembly with the advice and
Information Of the committee, to choose
nstWeen the alternate propositions. MIR.
there should he alternate plans. Judge
Nelson opposed the idca of appointmcnI
from the congressional districts. both
as as smacking OF direction from Wash
inston az to the representative. OF each
district, and also because the law
would be for the whola state. and
$ not be made matter OF one
section pulling against another. Mr.
Gordon predicted that the great in
tcrests were going to clash over the
;ssue of taSation as they had never
House he believed, would make or
raar the administration OF the pres
ent Governor. and would have n :ar-
i'i.ahihE eiI c"l notn on thc lutIrc Dr0S-
reriiy Of the State and also on tho
party. Regardless of what newspapers
had 10 say, Mrs. Gordon said he regarded
this House rs made up of as patriotic
and hard working Il body rs had ever
been brought together In Virginia The
f3ur for taking vote w:ts extended
to $50 o'clock. and the debate con-
timed through the afternoon under
strict adherence to the five am nuts rule
Che irman Weaver made clear state
men; favoring action by a commission
Of the Legislature. which il held re-
sroasible by the people for the results.
rather than by n commission not di-
rectly representative OF the people. Mr..