The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-25
BANKING BILL
IS SOLE ISSUE
RAISED IN HOUSE
Emergency Clause Re-inserted
and Rate Changed. but
Opponents are Still Unsatis-
fed.
JORDAN is BITTER
AGAINST BANKERS
Scores Bankers Association and
Denounces Governors Bill.
Stearnes Insists on Speaking
Despite Other Members.

A lengthy session, ending in a COM
plete deadlock over the Weaver bill,
segregating the tax on bank deposits
to the State, and reducing the tax to
90 cents on the 500. was held yester-
day in the house of delegates. The
emergency clause, which was stricken
out Friday, was reinserted and, as q
compromise, the rate of taxation was
raised from 10 cents on the 800 TO
20 cents.
But even these concessions result
ed in nothing and the entire time OF
the session was taken up with wrang-
ling and talk. which In no way
smoothed the path for the passage
of the bill. The discussions at times
were rather heated and called forth
sharp answers from both sides
The house convened at 2 O'Clock.
After reading numerous bills reported
from the committees. the bills were
placed on the calendar and the house
proceeded to business. The first bust
ness before the lawmakers was a
pending motion by Mr.. White, of
Rockbridge. to reconsider the vote on
striking out the emergency clause in
the Weaver bill.
Mr.. Weaver, of Warren, patron and
author Of the bill on bank deposit tax.
offered an amendment by striking out
10 cents and inserting in lieu thereof
20 cents as the tax rate on 500. Mr..
Weaver said that although he still re-
tanned his convictions that q nominal
rate was necessary, rather than de-
feat the object of legislation, he would
yield. He said he knew the opponents
of his measure could not pass an
emergency bill requiring four-nfths
vote, at the rs cent rate, and he also
knew that his side could not pass an
emergency bill at the 10 cents rate
and offered his amendment as q COM
promise.
Mr.. Oliver, Of Fairfax, asked IL 10
cents Of the compromise rate would so
to the counties and cities, and Was
answered by Mr.. White, who declared
that 1t would not: that the tax ac-
cording to the bill had been segregat-
ed to the State. Mr.. Montague, Of the
| city of Richmond, asked If 10 cents OF
the tax would go TO the use OF schools,
and when assured that 1t would, was
oAttsfled.
Jordan Makes Attack.
| Mr.. Jordan. of Pulaski. strong OPP
ponent OF the Weaver bill. took the
floor in a warm attack on the bankers
of the State, whom. he declared, were
thoroughly inconsistent In their
methods. He said that when the Ques-
ton was first agitated. the bankers had
said that If a thirty-hve cent rate
could be agreed upon. 1t would be just
the right thing. Then when the legis-
lature convened. he came to Richmond
to find that they were advocating :
cent rate, declaring that was the right
thing. In a few days. the speaker
declared, they were strongly fighting
for rate Of 10 cents, saying that was
the right thing. and now they were
| clamoring to make 20 cents the rate.
| Mr.. Jordan further said that 35
rents had never been the stand OF the
! opponents Of the measure. that they
had declared for Is cents and they
still stood by 1t. He said the tax
should be collected at its source. As
Governor-elect Stuart had proposed,
| and that unless this was done. even
the % cent rate was an absurdity.
| On a point of order. the vote was
| taken on MIR. Whites pending mo-
ton to reconsider the vote of Friday.
The house in one voice chose to re-
consider, and by similar reclamation
1