Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-01-13
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CONVENED TODAY
Meets in Extraordinary
Session to Revise States
Tax Laws.
r=sM" -",ss
lWALKER PRESIDENT.
4
bOfficers of Two Houses Named at
Caucus of Democratic Members
Which Was Held Last Night.

(Special Dispatch to the Gazette.)
Richmond, Va, Jan. 13.-The Leg
islature convened in special session
at noon today to consider the tax
reform. In his message Governor
Stuart called attention to the
pressing need of tax reform, and
analyzed methods of adjustment:
which have been under consideration
I by the tax commission and the joint
Legislative committees on finance
The Governor made it plain that ne
favors system of partial segrega-
ton, his views having undergone
change since the last session of the
Assembly, though the majority re-
port of the state commission recon-
mend a system Of partial centrallza-
}.tion. 1t is the conviction of many
members of the General Assembly
today that the law which will be
finally enacted will be one providing
for segregation or partial segrega-
tion.
Richmond, Jan. l3.-Beyond the
formalities Of organizing the State
Senate and the House of Delegates,
the General Assembly of Virginia,
which convened in extraordinary ses-
sion today for the specific purpose Of
revising the tax code, had little to
engage it's attention besides the read
ing of Governor Stuart's message.
The special session began at the
non hour. The Senate was called
to- order by Lieutenant-Governor FL
tyson and the House by Speaker
Cox. After the invocation, the roll
1 was called in each house of the AS
sembly, and the presiding officer de-
clared the body organized for busi-
ness.
The customary exchange of greet
ings then passed between the two
branches of the Legislature, and the
Joint committee was appointed to
/ convey to the chief executive of the
State the announcement that both
branches were ready to- proceed with
legislation.
J The lawmakers Were slow in arriv-
mo AS one member of the House
remarked, there was not good mi
nerity in the city last night on the
eve of the opening of the special
session. -:
Reports from the different districts
ahowever, indicate that there will :. be
practically a full house ony each
side of the Capitol.
Friends of the candidates for the
vacancy in the judiciary caused by
the resignation of Judge George S.
Shackelford, of the Ninth Circuit,
were everywhere in evidence around
the Capitol last night, soliciting. sup
port for their respective candidates.
/ To this time there are three candi-
dates for Judge Shackelford's place
on the bench. They are Edward H.
Gibson, of Culpeper;; A. T. Brown
ing, of Orange, and John Rutherford,
'of Goochland.
With the adoption of resolution
calling upon the Attorney-General
for an opinion as to the constitu-
tionality of proposed bill to tax all
l forms of bank deposits, the Finance
{ Committee of the House of Delegates
concluded its consideration of the
Tax Commissions report yesterday
afternoon at $50 o'clock.
While the committee was without
authority to take action on any phase
of the tax problem during the week
devoted to the two plans of taxa
tion, excellent results We're obtained
in the way of information. In grant
ing hearings to the different business
Interests and communities that sent
representatives here during the
week, the committee saved time for
the. General Assembly, and made
interruptions from these sources un.
necessary. The result is to expedite
business for the Legislature.
The members of the State Corpora
tion Commission were prevented b!
business of Importance from res
pondmg to the invitation of tn
committee to appear yesterday an
discuss the public service chapter o
the Tax Commissions report.