Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-19
BARS AREL LET DOWN
FOR LOCAL BILLS
Senate and House Admit Local
Measures Not Pertaining
to Taxation.
OUTLOOK is GOOD, SAYS cox
Finance Committees of Two
Branches Hold First Joint
Session.

With n tacit understanding among
the members Of both branches that only
one batch of local bills shall he intro
duccd. a joint resolution letting down
the bars to this batch Of bills was
adopted yesterday. The resolution.
which originated in the House. was
presented to that body by Delegate
Tiffany. and in the Scnat" by Senator
Fcathcrston.
This action was not unexpected by
those who have followed the special
session closely I, is even regarded
by many as the opening wedge. and
that other local bills may find access
in the same way later Members of
each branch. however. who have stood
sturdi!y 10 this time against the in
PRODUCTION of any bills other than meas
ures pertaining TO the tax question cx-
pressed their satisfaction. 1t was
pointed out to them that the influx
of local bills would stop with this
one batch. with this specific under
standing. they gave their consent.
UOUSE PASSES LOWRY hill FOR
COLLECTING CArITATIoN TAXES
Another notable feature OF the days
proceedings was the passage OF the
first hill Of the special session by the
House OF Delegates. This was the
Lowry bill providing for the collection
Of poll taxes that are three years or
more past due only sixteen members
voted against ii, there being sixty af-
hTmat!vc votes.
The first OF the tax bills sponsored
hy the Tax Commission members came
up on its second reading. and was side
tracked for four days. The vote To
pass the bill by for the time specified
was IS TO 81 Tn" reason was OBJ
Jcctiors raised To certain sections and
the desire Of some of the members
better TO inform themselves on these
challenged sections.
An interesting feature Of the day
was the declaration OF Speaker Cox
OF his attitude toward any delay that
can be avoided in bringing the tax
bills 10 the calendar.
srEAKfR cox BELIEVES PLAN
WILL NE AGREED UrON
The Speaker gave out the following
statement;
II am very much pleased with the
progress so far made by the Senate
and House in the consideration OF the
tax question.
'prcliminary questions as 10 organ
i2ations have been disposed of. and the
good temper and spirit - compromise
exhibited hy the members promise well
for the future. It Is too carly to
anticipate what will be the final result.
hut doubtless tho Senate am House
will agree upon some Legislation which
viii afford relief To the people Of the
Commonwealth
In my judgment, the bills providing
for segregation or a tax commission
should have been upon the House
calendar this morning. but a majority
of the members OF the House thought
otherwise, and bow 10 their Will.
If the Finance Committee reports
ihcsr bills Tuesday morning. the
House Will probably determine the
character OF bill the majority OF it's
member approve OF during this week.
The Senate can, In thc meantime,
determine the character OF bill the ma
jority OF its members desire.
What differences may exist between
the two bodies will be adjusted. as
they always have been. Tho only pos
s!bil!ties OF failure can see are the
dangers arising from suggested depar-
tures from regularly beaten parliament
tary paths. Departure from regular
rules OF procedure will always lead TO
delay"
The Finance Committee of both
houses held their first joint session in
the morning and met again i'm the af-
ternoon. giving public hearings on the
tax bills. Suggestions from business
men. bankers and real estate men were
heard at the two sessions OF the joint
committee and taken under considera-
ton.
Sentiment in favor of q partial segrc-
cation system of taxation is stronger
with each succeeding day Many of
the members share the opinion Of
Speaker Cox tina. the centralized form
advocated by the majority of the Tax
Commission will not be accepted, but
that the prospect for the Senate and
House coming together In n spirit of
compromise is exceedingly bright
The Gum schoolbook resolution.
which calls for an investigation by the
General Assembly. was accepted In
amended form and referred to the
Committee on Public Institutions and
Education. AS amended. the resolution
calls for n report to be made by the
probers to this Legislature. If this is
done the State Board of Education will
not award contracts for textbooks for
the public schools until the Legislative
inquiry is concluded.
Several of the committees will meet
to-day to take up Immediately the bills
that have been referred to them. The
Finance Committees of Senate and
House VIII continue in joint session,
giving public hearings. The House
Committee on Roads is scheduled to
meet at $3.50 o'clock this morning
The Courts of Justice Committee will
meet Mt 9>o'clock. and at the same hour
there will be meeting of the Com
mittee on Special. Private and Local
Legislation.
COMMITTEE REQUESTED
TO MAKE REPORT TODAY
If the request conveyed to tho
Finance Committee In resolution
from the Rules Committee. which was
adopted by n unanimous vote last Sat-
urday, is not disregarded, the Finance
Cimmittee of the House will report
to-day on the two tax reform bills.
While the resolution was n request
rather than peremptory order, 1t was