The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-10
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Continued From First Page)
had been eliminated by the concerted
efforts of a handful of anti-segrega-
tionists. Following out their decision
of the night before these members
voted solidly against the passage Of
the first of the segregation bills. and
their companion bills reintroduced
with the addition of emergency
clauses making them effective at once.
AS ii required a four -tifths vote to
pass bills carrying such clauses, the
bills were defeated. Rea,>ng the
impossibility of passing the rest OF
the measures with the emergency
clause in them, the segregationists
moved to strike out the emergency
clauses. To this agreement was
reached and the four segregation bills
were passed without these clauses.
Short Lived Satisfaction.
The opponents of segregation We're
their satisfaction was short lived.
They thought that with the emer-
gency clauses stricken out the four
segregation bills as reintroduced were
identical with those passed before re-
cess was taken three weeks ago. They
wondered why they should be pass
ed.
They soon learned. In the
seq regation bill rcintroduced as
House bill 1913 was not only an
emergency clause but other
clauses In the nature of amend
ment to the original segregation
bill, clauses making 1t retroac-
tive. That Is to say the bill was
made to apply to the assessments
and collection Of taxes and To-
cal bills of the year 1915. The
passage Of the act, in short, re-
peats the original segregation bill
and re -enacts IL with the addition
OF the clause making IL apply in
no uncertain language. hot only
TO collections, but also tn assess
mcnts for the year 1915.
The effect Is almost complete VIC
tory for the segregation forces. How
ever. confusion is likely to arise as
the act - not now in force and now
is the time for making assessments.
The only remedy. in the opinion OF
many is to postpone assessments un-
til after the bill goes into effect.
Passed BY the Senate.
The other three segregation bills
have been reintroduced in the Senate
and passed by that body with the
emergency clauses retained. The
same is true of the rest OF the joint
committee bills introduced in the
Senate. THIS means that in the Sem
| ate the emergency clauses, making
| the bills effective at once. have been
retained in one-half of the bills, While
! In the House the other half has been
passed without the emergency clause
The afternoon session of the House
was comparatively quiet, being fea-
kred by violent attack on the rail-
roads by O. r.. Stearnes Of Roanoke
frvEf n
fusion reigred again. The bank bin
was taken up out of order on motion
of Mr.. Pennington. Of Lee. and de-
! hated After many amendments had
| been adopted with the House in dis
order, the bill was passed. The ef-
| feet of the amendments was TO re-
/ duce the tax on hank stock from the
Is1s5 contained in the original blu
| to 81. so on the hundred dollars of as
| sessed value.
! That Virginia bears the reputa-
| ton OF being the most hoss-ridden
state in the Union was the declara-
! ton OF Mr. Stearnes. speaking to his
amendment to t,'e corporation tax
| bill His amendment provided for a
! franchise tax of per cent instead OF
! I per cent on the gross earnings OF
railroads.
starnes Asks Questions.
Mr.. Starnes wished to know IL the
! Legislature Is controlled by the rail-
/ roads and IL the great Hobbies main
! tanned by them have Influenced them
| Later he arose to a question of per.
! sonaI privilege to disclaim intention
to make any charges to that effect.
| Mr.. Stearnes commended that the
| railroads are not bearing their just
| share of the burden of taxation and
| that his amendment should pass.
| The rest of the afternoon was taker
| up with the discussion of that clause
| of the corporation tax dealing with
| the taxation of express companies
/ This clause changes the method OF
! taxing express compa MES from mile.
age to gross earnings basis. The
| bill will be acted upon today.
The outstanding feature of ths
/ morning and night session was the
| disorderly tactics of some of the mem.
| bers.
Myers Asks Protection.
| SO great did the confusion become
| at the night session that the Speaker
| was compelled to use his utmost en-.
| deavors to restore semblance oi
| order and Mr.. Myers. of Richmond
| who was speaking in favor of the Tor.
! rens system. had to appeal to sht
/ chair for protection. Mr.. Myers &C.
! cused Judge Gregory, OF New Kent u,
! persecution because of his persistent
questioning.
Mr. Myers. despite determined on.
position, defeated a movement to al
fnurn. md secured the taking up ON
of its order of the Torrens bill. The
Ut ouoad