The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-11
Legislature Not Likely
to Clear Big Docket
in Sixty Days.
HOUSE CAUCUS
TUESDAY NIGHT
Edwin P. Cox Claims That He
Will Be Named as Speaker.
Lower Branch Expected to
Dispose of Enabling Act
Without Debate or
Delay.

The General Assembly of Virginia
will convene on Wednesday at IL
o'clock, for what promises to be, one
OF the busiest and most active SEES
sions held In many years. Already
there are a large number of NOM
bers who believe the work before the
body cannot be properly accomplished
In tho sixty days allotted the regular
session. and plans have been prepared
for calling q special session next No
vember for the exclusive purpose of
considering and revising the States
entire system Of taxation. An effective
primary law, tho regulation OF the fee
system, the election of a judge Of the
! Supreme Court. and consideration of
the affairs of the various State insti-
moment
Tax Reform.
message from Governor Mann will
be lald before the two houses on We'd
nesday. In which he will make his own
recommendations in regard to tax re-
form. The subject was prominently
before the last session, without ef-
fective action. 1t has since been stud
led from every angle. and has been
made the basis of exhaustive calcula-
tons by State Auditor c. Lee Moore
ana othars. All authorities are agreed
mat There should DO sweeping chang es
III the method OF taxation, which now
WORKS great hardship on some com
munities. but not all arc agreed as to
the plan to be followed. The chief
iines OF difference are between the adj
Nocates OF central board OF euualiza-
tlon, rs proposed by the State Tax
commission. and as supported In the
iast session by Speaker Byrd. and the
piah Tor segregation of taxes as pro-
poseo by auditor Moore, and as ably
Hugh a. White, of Rockbridge.
Many who will not vote for any nIan
OF segregation yet submitted agree
ehat segregation is the ultimate goal
The Enabling Act.
AS TO the enabling act both sides ex
press confidence. The Anti-Saloon
League il TO hold a meeting i'm Rich-
inond during the session of the Cen
erai Assembly. and its leaders exnress
the belief that sufficient pressure will
be brought to bear to secure tho
ADOPTION or the measure. The bill will
pass the Rouse by somewhat re-
duced majority. That Is conceded Nv
both sides. and that being the case.
House leaders urge that II be disposed
OF at once, that the decks may be
cleared for other Issues.
The Senate Is the same BODY with
&C SNeePlioIS as In the last session
rejected the bill by n vote OF "a 70 TX
There have been no announced changes
OF opinion. Senator Cannon who suc
ceeds Mr.. Folkes. Of Richmond. viii
IKE Mr. Folkes. vote against the bill.
Senator Buchanan. who takes the seat
OF the late Senator Cummings. Will.
ike Mr.. Cummings, vote for the bin. The
local option leaders are claiming SEN
ator w. I. Paxton OF Buena Vista. who
succeeds Judge John Randolph Tucker.
Judge Tucker voted for the bill
Some Reserve Decision.
II is impossible to take an absolute
poll on this subject. rs several mem :
bers are reserving decision. Dry lead
ers are making u strong effort to get
the vote OF Senator Echols OF Staun-
ton. Mr.. Echols was elected as a local
optionist. Recently his district has
sent two Statewide men to the House,
and 1t is claimed that their election
should be taken as instructions to their
Senator.
The same limo OF reasoning Is fol-
lowed with reverse results In the case
OF Senator Featherston. of LynchburS.
who was elected on Statewide plat
form. but whose district has recently
sent two local option men to the House.
Tho much amended primary bill
passed by the last session has found
no friends. and was disowned by its
patron because OF Weakening amend
mcnts. The State Democratic Com
mittee and every political authority in
the state have requested that the law be
strengthened and made more workable
and explicit. and that more definite
provisions he made for expenses and
to prevent fraud.
Election of Supreme Court Judge.
The election of judge OF the SUI
prcrne Court of Appeals Is in many
respects the most important matter to
be acted upon at this session The term
OF Judge John A. Buchanan. of Wash
ington County. expires February 1, 1915
and no has announced that he will not
offer for recollection Six or more law
yers and judges have been indorsed
for the position by local bar associa-
lions. but so far there has been no
crystallizing OF opinion. and compare
lively few Of the members are said to
be pledged to any candidate. The po-
sition IS not In any sense political
one. but both the progressive and
stand-pat wings OF the party have their
own ideas of the kind of man who
should be elected. even IL they have no
definite candidate as yet Seventeen
judges come up for reelection Mt this
session. AS the terms of Judges begin
from tho first day OF February follow
ing their election. these must be d.
vided into two classes, those whose
terms expire this year. and those whose
terms expire next year. Tho new Su-
preme Court Judge therefore is not to
b, elected until after February I.
Norfolk County Contest.
OF the circuit judges, the most In
teresting contest is that from Norfolk
County. There has been political up
set in that county. and the delegates
from Norfolk County. Norfolk city.
Portsmouth and Senator NIontopue
representing tho county and Ports
mouth, have joined In tho declaration
that they will not favor the rc-elcc-
- IGnntinna1l on n,antl, Ilaera \ -