Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-08
SPECIAL SESSION
RESUMES ITS WORK
Reconvcnes To-Day to Finish
Tax Reform Program Begun
on January 13.
TWENTY-THREE NEW BILLS
Measures Are Purely Consequent
tia1, and Contain No New
Policies or Principles.

Hotel Hobbies filled SLOWLY last night
with struggling Legislators returning
TO participate In the post special
session OF the General Assembly. which
will nnish the tax reform program be-
gun by tho Legislature on January H.
Only n handful of Senator's and Dele
Entcs had registered at late hour In
the evening. Practically every mem
bcr. however, Will be in his seat when
the houses arc raped to order to-day
at noon.
Leaders Of both houses agreed last
night that this week will be marked
by none OF the leisurcly tactics that
often characterize Legislative proce-
dure in regular sessions. Tho work
is cut out for both houses. and little
time will he spent in preliminar!cs.
1t was freely predicted that every bill
that has any chances of passing at all
will be disposed OF by Friday or Sat
urday, and that the special session will
adjourn with it's program completed by
noon on Saturday.
During the three week recess that
the General Assembly has enjoyed. the
committee appointed TO smooth the
wrinkles out OF the tax reform fabric
has been hard at work. rhc net prod
uct OF It's labors IS batch OF twenty
three bills. which will be Introduced
IN the two houses to-dny.-:hirtecn
going 20 the House and ten 10 the
senate.
WILL DIVIDE BILLS
nETXEEN THE HOUSES
=; was thought by the committee"
SAID Senator Paul. one OF It's members.
hat he in, 10 a. "a hillu ~
duplicate In both houses could cause
loss OF time. and might clog The
calendar Each house viii consider
promptly the bills submitted TO it. pass
them. and send them across TO the
other house for concurrence.
The bills are purely consequential
upon the ma jor bills already passed by
both houses and signed by the Gov
ernor. and involve no new principles
or policies. They concern themselves
exclusively with adjusting the TAX
form measures which have already be
cotnc-lnw, TO the statute provisions that
VIII remain in force with them.
In the departure from past methods
and practices in taxation provided by
tho tax reform hills, Il was inevitable
that surviving former statutes having
TO do largely With details OF the ma
chinery OF collection and appeal
SIoN'u UCet ab1uSllntUI 10 lIt new
order In the twcn,y-threc bills that
the committee has prepared this adj
justmcn, We believe. has been pro-
vtded. cannot how there can be
opposition to any OF them.
HANK STOCK BILL
MAY CAUSE DELAY
There arc several bills on the cal
endar, however. which may give trou-
bic II there is n disposition TO press
them. In the Senate. for instance,
there is the bauk stock bill now on
It's third reading. The measure has
sharp opposition. and any attempt to
press it's passage this week will be
sure 10 cause delay"
The members who gathered IN the
lobbies last night to discuss the lcgis-
Iative situation admitted candidly and
good d-naturedly that with no compensa-
tion awaiting them for their cxtrn
labors. there will be every incentive
on the part OF both houses to get
through as carly as possible. y ma
jority OF the members are business
men. in moderate circumstances, who
VIII be extremely disinclined to pay
hotel bills in Richmond at the fag-end
OF the winter longer than is neces-
sary.
But the fact that the only remunera-
an allowance OF 10 cents milo for
mileage. going and coming. Will in no
way prevent the General Assembly
from completing its big task in bust
ness-likc manner. The body will ad-
journ Saturday In the full conscious
nees that il has devised and put on the
statute books OF Virginia new tax
codc-a modernized system OF raising
money for the support OF State and
lf,..n -l,ls
viii distribute the burden OF taxation
more cauitably than has been the case
in zoe years.
HOUSES MAY HOLD
THREE SESSIONS DAILY
The houses Will, In all probability,
hold morning, afternoon and night ses-
sions. y binding rule will restrict their
! activities to the consideration and
passage OF bills having to do with tho
tax reform program. Special and local
! bills that have been carried over Will
die in their present position on the
calendar.
IT is expected that the Governor will
to-day send to the General Assembly
special message apprising 1t Of the
foot -and-mouth disease outbreaks that
arc menacing the cattle industry Of the
State and recommending n special ap-
preparation with winch to combat It.
The present session has already an
pr"priated $4,000 for this purpose. A
bill providing such an appropriation.
because OF It's emergency character.
would he excepted by the legislators
from the dcbarment rule.
Since the special session went into
recess, three weeks ago, there have oc-
cured the serious outbreak at Miller
Brothers farm, in IIcnrico County. and
the smaller outbreaks near Winchester
The slaughter OF the Miller herd ba.
cntallcd loss OF approx imately $4,000
half of which will have to he borne bv
lhc State. Tho Governor has taken
prompt action to arrest the progress
OF the Infection In Virginia, and will
In all nrnha hilit,. nn n ,..@..