The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-30
Buchanan In Senate and Weav-
er In House Deliver Stimuli
taneous Assault
Segregation Forces
Have Field Day
Interesting Running Debate Be-
tween Weaver and Advo-
Gates of Commission-Mon-
.ague Speaks Today

A Simultaneous attack ON the
CcntSAli1ed tax coGnzntaa10n TN
was made In both houses Of the
General Assembly yesterday with
flr1ng brisk all along tho line. In
the SENATE, senator Buchanan, OF
Washington, led the segregation
fUrts, while In tho House Aubrey
Weaver, Of Warren, was In COM
mnnd.
These two men. Joint patrons of
the Weavcr-RuchanAn segregation
bill and the only two assembly men,
bers OF the Joint committee on tax
principle. spoke for several hours
each. beginning in the morning and
concluding late in the afternoon.
Both houses gave them close atten-
ton. Senator Buchanan's address
was an extended and connected
argument in favor of the measure
of which he Is one OF the authors,
while. In the House Mr.. Weaver was
compelled to submit TO a grueliing
heckling At the haads of his OPP
ponentA Evidently these questions
were all answered to the satisfaction
of the segregation.sts. for the gentle
man from Warren ~ae frequently
spplauded.
Evidences of Faction.
Though most of the speakers on
each side have exhibited good
humour on the moor. evidence is not
lacking that some sore spots are be-
being made by both sides. On the
Moor yesterday there was no evidence
OF this state Of affairs. as on the pre-
ceding day, but IN committee meet
ings all Is not always serene.
During the course OF Mr.. Weaver's
concluding argument yesterday u he
came known publicly for the first time
that there was some friction during
the sessions las. summer and fall of
the Joint Committee on Tax Revision.
MIR. Weaver severely criticized on the
foor yesterday the ''so-caIled expert
statistician from Wisconsin and stated
that s. r. Donohoe, of Fairfax one OF
the Governors appointees on the COM
mittee. had had frequent occasion. to
complain OF his inability to secure
figures he desired.
Had We not had a statistican who
came from the hot-hed of centralizs-
ton, said Mr.. Weaver. the majority
OF that committee might have reported
in favor Of segregation"
senator Bnchannn's Address.
senator Buchanan began speaking at
1880, under the special order for the
day. the consideration Of the segrega-
ton bill He spoke without INTERRUPT
ton until 1:2e. when the chair was
vacated 10 allow the Senate 10 observe
the human hy'' crawl up the side. Of
the Richmond Hotel Resurinr ar 4
o'clock he completed the address at :
O'Clock
Senator Buchanan said he had the
honor and misfortune to he one Of the
members OF the late Tax Commission.
That commission was instructed to pro-
pare TWO bills, one along the line OF
a general property tax tthe tax com
mission plan) and the other along the
lines Of segregation. In the limited
time at its disposal the body made an
effort 20 study the various questions
involved, but was unable TO make an
exhaustive stud., as the shortest time
given similar bodies in the past had
been eighteen months. while the aver
age was three years
Acted Together.
The speaker laid much stress on
the fact that the entire commission
worked on. both plans, and that no
provision OF either on segregation or
commission plans was adopted with
out a majority vote OF the whole
commission. No member knew how
another would vote as between the
two provisions until the final vote.
and then me found himself in the
minority with two other members
we formulated each plan as a
body. We were not divided Into
hostile camps. When the commits
sior plan was perfected IL was our
plan. 1t WAS my plan. When the
segregation plan was finished 1t was
our plan. and my plan. And which
ever one Is adopted, il will be nv
plan. When we signed orr report
we said by that signature that each
was the best plan of its kind that
could be devised. II either plan Ia
ill-digested. foolish. or unwise, it il
the fault OF the whole commission
Members o, both the majority and
minority bsfcre signing reserved the
right to support either il they chang
ed their minds"
Inequalities tho Trouble.
Senator Buchanan showe,, that tho
aim OF both plans was 20 eliminate
inequalities, the one plan sough. to
do this by cumbersome. autocratic.
expensive plan while the other
sought 10 eliminate the necessity eli
equalization tomatically.
Said he: The point magnified In |
all our work was that off existing and
unjust Inequalities. These exist not
only IN different sections OF the
State, but In different parts of the !
sane sectior. There are no two dit /
tricts in the same county where tax
bun dens AIRS the same"
To remedy these inequalities the I
Een1tor was frank to state he knows
os no. means. better. than q tax COM
provided It were to do it's /