Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-11
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WILL TAKE RECESS
To Adjourn To-Day and Recon
vene, After Three Weeks
Rest, on March 8.
GOVERNOR SENDS MESSAGE
Advises Appointment of Joint
Committee to Perfect Tax
Reforms in Interim.

for three weeks recess. Thc Lc.is-
laturc will asscmbl" again at II ~ NJ
March s.
As indicated in The Times Dispatch
yesterday, the recess was compelled by
the predicamcnt in which the law
makers found themselves when it was
discovered that many of the integral
parts of the administrations tax re-
form code were in conflict with the
codihcd laws. The task of revising
the different measures so as "a make
them conform with the code in the
brief time before adjournment Of the
special session was an impoSsibility
Governor Stuart and the segregationist
leaders in both branches realized sew
eral days ago that this new obstruc-
tion TO an carly passage OF the tax
bills was before them
II was not known to most OF the
members Of the Legislatures. however
that the contingency had been forcsccn
and that a method OF surmounting the
difficulty had been agreed upon. Hence
many Of the members of each branch
wer" taken hy surprise yesterday morn
ing when Governor Stuart sent a spe-
cial messenger TO the General Assem-
bly,, suggesting the course to be fol-
lowed in the interest of tax reform.
GOVERNOR SHOWS WAY
OUT Of DIFFICULTY
The Governor offered an easy way
out Of the prcdicament Acting upon
the suggestions contained In the Gov
crnor's message, the House adopted n
resolution presented by Judge Martin
Williams. Democratic floor leader.
which had been formulated BY the Com
nttec on Rules.
The resolution provided for q recess
from Thursday. February H. to March
5. It was adopted by a vote OF 50 10 II.
The Senate will concur in the reso-
luton to-day unless some unforeseen
obstacle arises
TENT OF REsoLUTION
ADOPTED ny HOUSE
Following is The tex. of the rssoiu.
ton:
Resolved. by the House of Delegates
tthc Senate concurring),
First, That when the General AS
semhly adjourns on Thursday. the lfth
day OF February. 1915. 1t adjourn to
meet on the sth day OF March, 1915
Second. That "A committee composed
OF seven members OF the House of
Delegates and seven members OF tn,
senate, constitute as follows: The
Speaker OF the House of Delegates, the
chairmen of the Committees for Courts
OF Justice and Finance for the House
oil Delegates. and four members 10 b.
appointed by the Speaker OF the House
OF Delegates. rhc committee on th..
part of the House OF Delegates: ana
the president pro tempore of the SEN
ate and the chairman of the Committee
- lf h.
bcrs 20 be appointed by the president
OF IN" Senate. the committee on tn.
part OF the Senate, be and the same are
hereby constituted and appointed u
special committee. ard as such are
charged with the duty of preparing
such bill or bills as may be necessary
TO put into effect the system of taxa
ton as provided by the passage OF
House bill No. s.
Third, the Sergeant-at-Arms door
Keepers. assistants. .eournal. reading
ana committee clerks and pages of the
TWO houses are relieved from duty dur
Ing the recess herein provided
Fourth. the clerks of the House and
Senate are directed TO employ and su-
pervise such clerical help as NAV be
required by the committee herein an
pointed.
Fifth. the committee herein an
pointed is directed 10 prepare a hin
providing for the mileage OF the mem
bers. officers. employees in returning
Tor the extended session herein pro-
vided."
COX TAKES FLOOR TO
SUPPORT RESOLUTION
Speaker Cox took the floor and per
sonaliy led the advocates of the ieso-
luton. The resolution was opposed NV
number OF the anti-segregationists
led by Colonel I.cedy, of Wise. and O. /.
Stcarnes, Of Roanoke County. and Dele
gates John w. Chalkley. of Wise. ana
Hill Montague, of Richmond, leaders
of the tax commission clement voted
with the seSrcgationisis, as did other
votarics of the tax commission plan.
The message of Governor Stuart.
which inspired the resolution offered
in the House by Judge Williams, reads
as follows:
February 10. 1915
"r9 the General Assembly:
After careful consideration. paticnt
effort To adjust conflicting views and
many days of ardous labor. YOU have
agreed upon bill which is dcclaratorv
of your policy to establish n new tax
system for the Commonwcalth-a task
second in Importance to none which any
General Assembly has bcdl called upon
to perform in recent years II is now
necessary TO enter upon the work Of
adjusting the statutes to the new sys-
tenn which you have established
TINE rs Required
FOR IMPORTANT CHANGES
Changes must he made i'm tho tax
laws so that the administrative ma
may conform to the system now
to be put in force. All the laws rclat-
ing TO the levy and collection OF taxes
for local purposes by the boards Of SUI
pervisors Of counties and Councils Of
cities and towns, together with the laws
relating to bond issues for road inn
provement i'm counties and magisterial
dictricts, must be carefully studied and
amended to conform to the tax system
already adopted.
This important task requires a large
Continued on Third Pagc.)