Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-15
HOUSE MEMBERS
CRITICIZE DELAY
Blame Senate Finance Commit
tee for Postponing Hearings
to Next Week.
JOINT CAUCUS is CALLED
Democrats Will Name Candidate
for Judgeship to Succeed
T,,Ir. SL,~lra1forI
JOINT CAUCUS is CALLED

Disinclfnation of tho Senate Com
mittee on Finance TO get down to work
promptly yesterday drew the criticism
OF many members Of the House OF Dele
gates upon that body. The adverse
comment on the leisurely procedure Of
the Senate committee was expressed by
individual members. who reserved their
caustic remarks for tho cloakrooms and
corridors OF tho Capitol
The Senate committees critics were
unable to see any good and sufficient
reason why that body should not be
ready and willing to emulate tho ex-
ample Of the House Committee on FL
nance and give Immediate consideration
to tho tax bills sent to II. either aep-
| arately or In joint session with the
i House committee. II was understood
that the Senate committee would not
consent to buckle down to work until
next Monday The reason given was
that considerable time would be con-
sumed to-day by the addresses to be
delivered to tho Legislature in Joint
session by members OF the Tax Com
mission. and the Senators will be oc-
cupied tomorrow with the memorial
services for the late Senator Edward
Echols.
TWO HOUSES ARE IN SESSION
FOR BUT BRIEF TINE
Many OF the House members were
not inclined to excuse what they re-
gard as too leisurcly procedure with
business SO important as n system OF
taxation to he disposed OF and little
more than three weeks time for action.
Tho two branches of Legislature
were in session but a few minutes each
before adjourning until 10 o'clock this
morning. The speedy adjournment was
IN order that the Legislative Commit
tee on Finance might Immediately get
together and map out plans for the
consideration OF bills introduced. An
immediate joint session for the COM
mittccs was proposed by the House. hut
tho Senate committee rejected tho
proposition. The latter body assembled.
but adjourned In a few minutes The
House committee proceeded with the
business before 1t. and made excellent
progress with the merchants license
schedule" OF the Tax Commissions bill.
Delegate Horner, OF Southampton, Of
fcred In the House resolution ex-
tending the greetings OF the Virginia
Legislature to the General Assembly
Of North Carolina. The occasion for
tho felicitations is the simultaneous
assembling OF the lawrnaking bodies
Of the two States. They have not been
in session simultaneously before in
many years.
GOVERNOR DOES NOT
FAVOR OUTSIDE LEGISLATION
Governor Stuart learned with sur
prise yesterday afternoon that he was
reported to have in contemplation a
measure bearing upon Virgina's ex-
hibit at tho Panama Pacific Interna-
tional Exposition, which was to be In
troduced regardless OF the Joint reso-
luton prohibiting tho injection OF ex-
traneous matters into the special ses-
sion. The Governor. OF course, has no
such bill In contemplation. nor any de-
sire to interrupt the program for tax
legislation only. The rumor was prob
ably started by some member with one
or more local bills In his inside pocket.
who Is yearning for an opportunity to
introduce his measure measures and
eagerly watching for the opening
wedge to he inserted.
Delegate s. II. Love, the Lunenburg
Representative in the House, who
bears striking resemblance in form
and feature to Charles Dickens, added
TO his reputation as an orator and
humorist yesterday afternoon when he
delivered what was destined to- he
known as his Boots OF Brutus" speech
AGAINST proposition to relieve the
Groceryman, who carried stock of
chewing and smoking tobacco as
small side line. OF the SIS license tax
imposed upon him In addition to his
merchants license. The Boots OF
Brutus" speech, so called from the sud-
dcn explosive exclamation OF Mr.
Love. carried the day. The SIS addi-
tional tax was allowed to stick
Seven bills were introduced in the
House by Mr. Reed, most of them com
panlon bills to the measures hereto
fore sent in from the Tax Commission.
and one by Mr.. Stearnes, which has
to do with regulating the sale of agri-
cultural products and pertains to taxa
tion. All OF the bills OF which Mr. Reed
is the patron and two joint rcsolu-
lions submitted by him, proposing
amendments to the Constitution of the
state I'm the interest OF tax legislation,
we're referred to the Committee on
Finance and the Stearnes bill to the
Committee on Agriculture and Mining.
HOUSTON CALLS JOINT
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Chairman Harry r.. Houston yester-
day afternoon called caucus Of the
Democratic members of the House and
Senate for o'clock tonight The
stated purpose is the selection of the
Democratic nominees for the judge
ships. The only contest Is over Judge
Shackelford's place on the circuit
bench. tho Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Thtre are three Tor
Edwin II. Gibson. of Louisa; John
Continued on Ninth Pa9n i -------