Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-01-15

BEGIN IN EARNEST.
fl6od OF Bills Presented on Opening
Day-Ncw Draft of Prohibition
Enabling Act.

Richmond, Va, Jan. 15.-Within an
hour after the general assembly of
Virginia convened for its 1914 session
yesterday, bills were placed on the
clerks '1esk in the two houses cover
ing most of the topics which have
been under discussion for months.
Bills on taxation, the fee system. the
enabling act, reapportionment, and
for she election of Corporation Com
mlssloners by the people all went
their way to appropriate committees.
Judge Martin Williams announced
that he would have new rolling
stock bill to offer in a day or two,
and Hugh a. White is putting the
final strokes on a new primary bill.
The Senate organization has been
perfected, and its Finance Committee
is wrestling with the appropriation
bill. The House committees will be
announced today the body having
adopted the suggestion of Speaker
Cox that the work of the Finance
Committee he divi&ed, the committee
hereafter to raise the revenue, and a
new committee on appropriations to
have charge OF spending it. Gossip
about committee assignments is
general, but Speaker Cox said last
night that the lists were not definitely
concluded, and that changes might
yet bc made to secure the best avail.
able men.
That the question Of tax reform is
the paramount issue before the State
becane apparent yesterday in both
houses. w. w. Baker, Of Chester
field and W. A. Land, of Nottoway.
offered joint resolution which was
read with care before it was refer
red to the House Committee on
Finance. 1t sets forth that there is
necessity for careful and thorough
revision Of existing tax laws, and
though it is practically impossible al
the present session having due regard
to Other objects of pressing import
ance demanding prompt attention, to
give the subject of taxation thor
ough consideration it needs. The res
olution therefore provides that i
Joint committee be named from the
Senate and House, to be known as
thu special joint committee on taxa
ton, to be charged with the duty Of
fully considering the whole subject
Of taxation, and reporting at spe-
cial session Of the General Assembly,
to he called later, what changes in
the present system are advisable. The
committee is to organize after al
journment of the present session, and
is to prepare in written form the
bills carrying into effect the system
of taxation recommended The COM
mittee may employ clerks and
perts, and shall report to the Cover
nor when its work is completed, a
ing him to call special session of the
General Assembly to consider the re-
port and enact such laws as may be
expedient in carrying them into eff
feet.
The organization of the two
houses followed the lines laid
down in the caucus 0. V. Hanger,
being elected clerk of the senate. Vice
Marshall Booker resigned. Thd
other senate officers hold over. In the
House. Edwin P. Cox, of Richmond,
was elected speaker and John W.
Williams, clerk. Governor Mann laid
before the General Assembly for con-
frmation the appointment Of Judge
William F. Rhea, on the Corporation
Commission, George T.. Coleman, as
highway commissioner and Robelr L..
Gardner. as clerk of the Corporation
Court at Radford. The Governors
message was read and the usual nums
Der OF copies ordered printed.
Mr.. Thornton introduced in the
Senate a bill! to compensate R. Cor
don Finney, trial justice for Alexan-
dria county, Va, for services render
ed as such trial justice under the
acts of the General Assembly Of Vir-
ginia, approved March %, 1912. Re-
ferred to the committee on special,
private and local legislation.