The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-18
HOUSE WANTSNO
LONG HEARINGS
ON ENABLING ACT
Committee Discharged
and Bill Placed on
Calendar.
MAY REACH VOTE
ON WEDNESDAY
Executive Appointments of Judge
William F. Rhea and George P.
Coleman Confirmed-White
Offers Substitute for Co.
Ordinate Woman's
College.

BY discharging tho Committee on
Privileges and Elections from consid-
Grafton of the williams measure
known as the enabling act, before the
committee had held a meeting, tho
House Of Delegates yesterday paved tho
way for an early disposition of the
prohibition question. The bill pro-
viding for a Statewide election was
placed on the House calendar. and
comes UP for it's first reading to-mor
row, and may reach vote In the
lower branch by Wednesday. There
lis a general disposition among both
friends and opponents Of the bill It
self to get II out OF the way, to clear
the decks for other matters. and to
leave to tho Senate. which has once
rejected II, the question of Its final
disposition.
Amendments Arc Expected.
The real fight in the House will
come on it's third reading when
number OF amendments are expected,
and when several substitutes may be
offered. One OF these proposes a con-
stitutional amendment on the liquor
question, thus giving the question TO
the qualified voters OF the State in
form the legality OF which could not
be challenged. Another proposes to
end the whole matter without the con-
troversies OF an election. by means OF
straight Statewide prohibition bill
to be adopted by this Legislature and
made effective within n few months.
Whatever may be the fate OF the bill
in the Senate. 1t is believed that 1t has
friends enough IN the House to secure
the rejection of all substitutes and OF
all amendments not proposed by
Judge williams.
Appointtncnt Confirmed.
TT. ii :, .. st,a
yesterday in joint session confirm
ing the appointments OF Judge William
f. Rhea rs meinbtstspf the cnrprYa-
ton Commission. and George i. Cole
ipan az State Highway Commissioner.
The session was executive, but IL was
stated that all OF the remarks were
euiogistic of the records made by the
two officials
The flood OF bills continues in both
houses, more than zoo having been in
troduced. affecting every subject Of
state interest under discussion Scho-
dulles of committee meetings for this
week have been announced at both
ends of the Capitol, and the General
Assembly OF 1914 may be said TO be in
good working order. The first bill
passed both houses yesterday, and VIII
go TO the Governor tomorrow. IL Is
purely technical matter or detail re-
latinE to the manner of engrossinS
bills, but In order 10 keep the record
straight. II was desired to make II the
first official act OF this Legislature. The
enabling act holds the next place on
the House calendar.
Emergency Bank Act.
After conference yesterday with Gov
ernor- Elect Henry G. Stuart, Chairman
A. @. Weaver, of the House Finance
Committee. announced that Il compro-
mise in regard to the tax on bank de-
posits wac in sight. Mr.. Stuart fully
agrees to the necessity OF an emer-
gency act to relieve present conditions.
and holds that while there should be
sweeping reduction there should stu
be real revenue producing tax on
money In bank--not merely nominal
compliance with tho Constitution
had been proposed.
The House Finance Committee will
meet tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
to consider the matter. and expects to
report q bill to the Uouse the same
day, for immediate consideration, with
: a view OF having the changes in effect
before February /. the annual tax date.
Something of departure for Vir-
ginia was proposed In n bill offered
yesterday by Senator Featherston, OF
Lynchburg. providing for State vice
commission, composed OF three from
the Senate and Ave from the House, to
hold an investigation throughout the
State on the subject of the social evil,
the commission to report with recon-
mendations and bills to the General
Assembly OF 1915.
New WOman's College Hill.
A substitute woman's college bill
appeared in the House. In lieu Of the
plan for n coordinate college for wo-
men at the university. Hugh y. White
proposed that the standards Of the
Farmvllle Normal School he raised to
those of the rst-grade colleges for
women, and that thereafter the normal
courses at lNnrmvile be abolished
The bill also provides that ut the
three other State normal schools a
high school certificate be made the
basis of entrance requirements, the
patron expressing the view that the
State normal schools are now crowded
with boarding school sirln. who are
in reality taking high school rather
than normal courses
Delegate Toney. of Richmond, made
new move in regard to tke tax prob
lem yesterday. He takes the ground
that the State wants more equal
burden OF taxation, and desires neith-
or delay nor the expense OF an extra
session. His resolution calls for the
appointment of q special joint commit
tee of seven members Of the House
and five Senators. to be known as the
Committee on Taxation, to take con-
sideration Of all matters relating to
taxation, to hold sessions during this
meeting OF the General Assembly, bo-
ginning the work without delay, and
Z reporting with proper bills not later
than March 2. The resolution was re-
ferred to the Finance Committee.
Joint Judecship Caucus.
Announcement Of a jolnte caucus on
Wednesday night at s o'clock to select
Democratic candidate for the Si-
preme Bench to succeed Judge John A.
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