Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-26
SIGNS OF DISTRESS
ARE IN EVIDENCE
Advocates of Centralized Form
of Tax Control Are Fighting
Against Odds.
SEGREGATI0NISTS GLEEFUL
One Tax Commission Measure
Goes In for Repairs.
SEGREGATIONlSTS GLEEFUL

ship OF the squadron contendinE for
the centralized form OF taxation
These signs Of decentralization We're
futtered on the floor OF the House OF
Delegates and in the committee room
alike
I, was John w Chalklcy. OF Wise.
one of the most valiant leaders in the
fight for the commission form. who
flew tho first S. o. S. signal In the
course OF a spirited debate In the
House. which was brought TO its
climactcric point by Judge Roger T
Gregory. scErcgationist. who moved TO
dismiss House bill No l. ''and all sub
stitutcs for it, but later. in n spirit
OF maEnanimity withdrew his motion.
Mr. Chnlkley I'm tones OF tragic desc
lation. proclaimed
1T may b" that this House is dis
posed TO treat with contempt anything
and everything that comes from the Tax
His uttcrance was obviously the re-
nec;ion of dark forebodings But it
was the keynote Of the chords that
the segrcgationists before the day was
done very much like dc profundls
MONTAGUE SAYS HE
WILL. NoI tI hGhIN
IIiil Montague. who like Mr. Chalk
ley. was member of the Tax Commits
sion. and who struggled valorously for
the cause he believed to be right
found his last trench In the Finance
room FIVE hours later. when
the shadows Of evening were falling.
With the DUN, gray light of the
twilight falling through the grimy
the committeeman were gathered, the
member from Richmond sang his swan
song. more in sorrow than in anger.
He was speaking near the close OF
n very brief discussion of the banking
hill. that measure being under consd-
Grafton. In tone. gesture demeanor.
the gentleman from Richmond was
telling his associates that he expected
nothing from them more pieasan. than
the worst
III doesn't matter great deal to
me personally" he said. because I do
not anticipate returning at the end OF
my term. / have no intention Of stand
ing for reelection"
FIRST TAX COMMISSION
BILL KILLED. IN HOUSE
The incidents cited are but strawa
U
Legislation winds during the day More
concrete evidence of the progress made
by the segregationists and the ground
lost by the forces led by the Tax Com
mission members yesterday appear in
the days record OF the House journal.
House. bill No. l. born in the Tax Com
mission. was knocked higher than Gil
roy's kite. the House refusing to order
II 10 its engrossmcnt. This is the bill
presumed 10 save the Commonwealth
from all the admitted evils of the So
called land -grabbers' bin. 1t lost out
on the showing made by the strong op-
position led by Judge Gregory and
Hugh a. White. who argued that the
only perceptiblc difference was in the
that under this bill the
courts commissioner and the attorneys
interested in delinquent land cases
would get the benefit. The measure
purported to be one whereby the col
lection Of delinquent taxes would be
assured.
LICENSE BILL
PUTS IN FOR REPAIRS
House bill No 3, the merchants
license tax measure, was next 10 get
the hook. Speaker Edwin r. Cox left
MS chair and took the floor in order
personally to ofiiciate in hooking the
bill from the floor. He put il in the
hands OF the Finance Committee which
IN turn handed it over to subcommit-
tee in the afternoon, with instructions
TO deal with II and return the remains
this morning. What happened TO IL
last night will be disclosed to-day
The subcommittee consisted of Messrs
IL. G. Grasty and Walter r. oliver.
and d. H. Pitts. CEN
The merchants license tax bill at
the close OF the procc edings yester-,
day. was considerably disngured. but
still in the ring. Mr.. Montague, Mr..
chalkley and others. who. with all Its
flaws. love il STILL were Grasping Mt
straws upon which TO keep 1t aloat.
That tho bill was badly In need OF
patching both Mr.. Montague and Mr.
Chalkley acknowledged during the ses-
sion of the House. Along came Major
S'uhbs. Said the major to Mr. Monta-
que. Mr. Chalkley and the House: II
have given several days to this bill
have corrected it's many defects.
have here select lot Of amendments
reVisions. alterations and suhstitu-
tions"
IL WIS at tniS stage of the cXpose
that the Speaker left the chair. allow
ing that bin in that battered condt-
tion needed special treatment in the
room.
IT'S PATRONS ADMIT
NEED FOR AMENDMENT
Old DR.. Stubbs seemed to know more
about what allied that bill than any
one else. Even the Tax Commission
members admitted that his diagnosis
was correct. Advocates and opponents
Of tho measure alike conceded that II
was case for old DIR. Stubbs.
II am perfectly willing to leave the
changes in the title of the bill to the
gentleman from Gloucester" Mr.. Mon
tague finallN told the House. 81 be-
lieve he is correct In all the details
he has called our attention to- am
willing to accept his corrections"
But Speaker Cox wanted no such
Continued on Ninth Pago.)