The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-11
THE SENATE

The Senate at o'clock yesterday
afternoon passed the House bin. pro
viding tor tax reform commission o,
ten members TO conduct an inquiry
into the whole tax problem and sub
init TO special session OF the General
Assembly next January It's recon-
mendations for such changes i'm the
present system as Il may deem de-
sirable.
In the course Of the senates lone
consideration of the House bill prac-
ticaily nothing was added that changes
me measure IN a material respect An
amendment was adopted, authorizing
the commission 10 hold sl,,ings In the
various cities and towns OF the Com
monwealth. AZ the instance OF Senator
cannon. an emergency clause WAS add
ed putting the act in force from its
passage Otherwise the oll passed hv
thc senate yesterday Is virtually the
measure reported from the House
The bill provides for "a joint commits
SION OF ten m"mbcrs--Iour to be ap
pointed by the Speaker Of the House
OF Delegates. three by the president of
me senate, and three by the Governor
II ts charged with the duty OF consid-
erine the whole system OF taxation now
in force III the Commonwealth. and Of
reporting alternate tax reform plans
based on the system now in force on a
plan looking TO the segregation o? tax
s'O|''tS iOf tNH bf0ent OF the Com
rnonwea!;h and the cities. towns and
counties. ana upon any other plan tina;
the cCmmisslon may deem practicable
\" Organize Mt Once.
Tue committee or commission ~ to
organize Immediately after Tn. adj
journment OF the General Assembly
and proceed a one" 10 it's task I, IS
given the power TO employ such "rlerks
stenographcrs and experts as tnay .,
necessary ana $4,000 Is appropriated
Tor aSi- expenses. The members or the
committee are 70 receive COMPENSATION
at the rate OF SS.33 i-3 q day ana mile.
age Tn, report is required TO br com.
pletc by November i, 1919 II g. TO be
submitted to the Governor, who is re-
lu"stcd to cali the General Assembly
+ In eItrnordinafy session not later than
the nrst Wednesday, in January. 1918.
for the purpose OF taking action on the
/ rerort
The Senate voted down an amend
/ men; offered by Senator Fletcher, which
directed that the report be also sub
mitted 10 the Joint Finance Commit
/ tees OF the two houses, which we're to
. meet in special session one month DC
fore the assembling OF the Legislature.
T. ino plan. he thought. woulu expedite
I The formulation OF tax reform pro-
gram. since the members OF the Finance
Committee would be In position when
/ the General assembly met, 10 nut tho
/ commissions findings before the senate
and House in concrete form.
The amendment was opposed on tho
ground that II would complicate ar
fairs to give certain members of IN.
Legislature any advantage over tho
others In the matter OF famiiiarizinr
themselves with the work OF the sue
ciai commission. II was thought do
sirabie that all the lawmakers tackle
the problem with minds frcsI. ana FREQ
from any possible bias that might ro-
suit from 81 previous consideration hv
The Finance Committees
The tar commission bill was nlnccd
on It's passage at 6 o'clock. and vas
carried by q vote OF "a 20 3. The mem
hers voted as follows:
Ayes Hanks. flowers. Brook pucb
anan. Cannon, Crockett. Drcwry. Early.
hch"!s. Edmondson. FcaIhcrs,on, Gar
ieti Gayle. Giayatt, ilarman. tart.
ii"bbs' Hoit, Hrsner Mapp. Moncurp.
Montague, Paul. Paxton, Rinehart.
H!hon, Roya!.. saunders, Smith. Taven-
ncr. Ihointon, walker Watkins and
Wc>i--54
Noes Catron, Tarr and sowdey- 3.
Moves Executive Session.
DIRECTLY following the vote on the
tax commission bill Senator Feather
sion. speaking ~ tho direction OF me
SeNat" Committee on Nominations
! moved that tho Senate go into execu
! i've session 10 receive and consider q
4 report from that committee on bus;
less OF an important nature. on the
race or the calendar the imnedtnto
BUSINESS In hama wac tho Saunder,