Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-09
PAGE AND DONOHOE
SPEAK ON TAXATION
Leaders of Rival Plans Address
House Committee on
Finance.
ERROR is FOUND. IN TABLES
Former Auditor Donohoe Repu-
dates Calculations of Employed
Expert Accountant.

The element Of the unexpected en-
tered yesterday into the proceedings
of the Finance Committee Of the House
OF Delegates. elcctrIfy!ng the hitherto
prosaic consideration of proposed tax
measures.
series Of cnlivening incidents
marked the discussion OF the report OF
the Tax Commission. They appeared
In this order:
GREGORY CALLS FOR
POLL OF COMMITTEE
/. The Finance Committee was in
vited by Delegate r. T. Gregory to
show Its hand and let the public know
the sentiment of the members. the iden-
tity OF those favorable to the commits
sion plan OF taxation and those who
prefer the segregation system. Mr..
Gregory explained that his object was
merely to facilitate business by deter
mining definitely upon what lines the
discussion was further to progress.
2. Delegate i. f. Spatig called for an
executive session, and was voted down.
but later renewed his appeal, and the
committee went into conference be-
hind closed doors.
3. The tabulated statement carried in
ing to show the effect of the proposed
segregation plan upon local revenues.
which statement was prepared by
professional statistician, a Z. James.
OF Wisconsin. was shown to the salts
| faction OF many of the members Of
the committee to be inaccurate, and
consequently unreliable.
4. The statistical table was repudi-
ated by Captain s. r. Donohoe. former
State Auditor and member OF the Tax
Commission, who referred to the ex-
pert as "a supposed statistician."
FORMER GOVERNOR MANN
PRESENTS TAX PLAN
Other interesting events OF the day
were the appearance of former Gov
ernor William Hodges Mann before the
committee. advocating n scheme OF par
tial segregation: the arrival Of Mr..
Donohoe and DR.. Thomas Walker
Page. who came to Richmond by spe-
cial invitation of the Finance Commit
tee to be quizzed on features OF the
report. and the announcement Of Dele
gate James II. C. Grasty that Governor
Stuart had communicated to him and
to others interesting suggestions
which inspired him to ask for a con-
ference imm ediately between the COM
mittee and the Governor.
The major part OF the morning ses-
sion Of the committee was devoted to
hearing from Judge Mann. The plan
of taxation he outlined and discussed
for the information of the members
was practically the same as the plan
offered by Judge Martin Williams on
the preceding day, In the opinion OF
the members, except that Judge Mann
suggested the appointment by the Gov
=,
sional district in the State. the chair
man to be chosen from the district
commission, and the figures compiled
by the Tax Commission in its report to
be used as basis In ascertaining
values.
SUGGESTS FURTHER CONFERENCE
WITH GOVERNOR STUART
Subchairman n. E. Spessard presided
at both sessions yesterday. At the
opening OF the afternoon session, Mr..
Grasty. who had been in conference
with Governor Stuart, suggested a con-
ference between the executive and the
committee. He said the Governor had
given him some excellent ideas which
threw new light on certain phases
OF the report.
Delegate Brewer objected. saying
that the Governor was evidently not
prepared to discuss the matter fully
and definitely, as 1t WAS admitted he
was now engaged in working out the
plan, parts of which he had mentioned
to Mr.. Grasty. He thought It would
be only wasting the time of the Gov
crnor and the committee to hear the
plan until it was complete. The propo-
aition was abandoned.
AS means of clarifying the situa-
fn
Gregory then suggested polling the
committee to ascertain it's complexion
m the question Of taxation Let us
see whether we are for the commits
sion system or the segregation sys-
tenn he said, "and then we can pro-
Gee along more definite lines"
GREGORY AND BHEWER
READY TO GO ON RECORD
Delegate spessarG arose to protest
Il ;hink that is matter for execu-
tive session." he said.
MIR. Gregory ard Mr.. Brewer re-
sporded together. They were willing
TO admit frankly and publicly Just
where they stood, they said Mr. Spatil.
argued against taking n poll on the
question or discussing II further in
public session. While the argument
was In progress. Captain Donohoe. car
rying his travelling bag In one hand
and his clay pipe in the other, arrived
from the railroad station. Tie cham
pion OF the segregation plan was cor
daily greeted. None tho less cordial
however. was tho greeting givcn by
the members - Dr. Thomas Walker
Page, champion Of the commission
plan, who arrived a few minutes later.
After some discussion. the Grasty
proposition to have the Governor meet
the committee was disposed oC by the
chairman. who named Mr.. Grasty n
committee OF ono to wait on Governor
stuart, and explain to him TINT the
committee was In conference by ap-
pointment with Mr.. Donohoc and DR..
Page.
COMMITTEE GOES INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION