Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-12
RAILROADS FACE
INCREASED TAXES
House Adopts Stearnes Amend
rnent, Placing Charge on
Gross Receipts.
CONSERVATION IN LOBBIES
Hurry Call Sent Out to Line Up
Opposition for Fight in
Senate.

to the public service corporation tax
bill adopted by the House Yesterday
afternoon.
The adoption OF this amendment was
one OF the greatest surprises OF the
special session of the General Assem-
bly, If the bill is passed by the SEN
ate with the amendment /. will add
to the States revenues from railroad
taxation s1soooo n year.
o. l.. Stearnes, OF Roanoke. who had
fought pcrsistcntly but up to this time
without avail, to increase the tax on
railroads. is the member who hurled
tho hsurative chunk of lyddite into
the camp of the railroad interests
Attorneys for the railroads got wind
or the intentions OF Mr.. Stearnes yes
terday morning. They got busy.
House opened. most OF the members
received a circular letter advising
them Of the new attack to be made
by Mr.. Stearnes and urging them to
vote down his proposition.
sTEARNEs SPRINGS
SURPRISE on HOUSE
Few OF the members were aware of
what the member from Roanoke County
had in contemplation. lie had previ-
ously offered an amendment placing a
State tax of per cent OF the gross
receipts from transportation and
freight on the railroads This was
regarded as excessive by a majority
of the members. II had no chance to
win out in either house or the Gen
eral Assembly. That was generally
conceded.
The bill was being debated yester-
day afternoon when Mr. Stearnes
sprang his surprise. 1t was in the
form OF a substitute for his previous
amendment The substitute reduced
the gross receipts tax to IL per cent
amendment a quarter of an hour before
many OF the members realized that he
had brought up a new proposition.
Even Judge Martin Williams. Demo.
cratic floor leader. was apparently con-
fused. He arose to ask the member
from Roanoke County to explain the
amendment Mr.. Stearnes informed
him that he had abandoned the per
cent proposition, and was now speak
ing to an amendment proposing tax
of ] Il per cent.
BARELY A quorum IN HALL.
WHEN HOUSE TAKES VOTE
There was barely a majority in the
House when Mr.. Stearnes made his
final successful sally against the rail-
road interests. The amendment was
adopted. after the ringing speech Of
Mr.. Stearnes. by vote Of to %
Railroad lawyers in the corridors
N-a fch a fro
mediately after the result of the vote
on the Stearnes amendment became
known. The action of the House was
telegraphed to officials of all the rail
roads affected
Prominent members OF the body,
watching with amusement the conster-
nation in the lobby. made interesting
comments. IT'S the first rude shock
the railroads have suffered at the hands
OF the Virginia Legislature in many
years." one remarked. "There'll be
something doing in railroad circles to-
night"
The work of putting together the
segregation system OF taxation was
almost completed yesterday. both
branches OF Legislature making rapid
progress. Unless the unexpected hap
pens. tax Legislation will be practically
wound up with the early sessions to-
day. and the remainder of the time
before adjournment Will be given to
local bills. There are many of these
local bills, and the patron of each is
eager to hurry his measure to it's pass
age. The General Assembly will ad-
journ probably at the close of the
morning session Tomorrow
~ new batch of local bills was in
troduced in each house yesterday.
MONEY PROVIDED FOR
WAR on CATTLE DISEASE
The night session of the House was
signalizcd by spirited debate on the
bill making an appropriation for
lighting foot and mouth disease in cat :
tie. and an Intellectual attempt to pass
a bill allowing the members $50 each
for their services to the State since
the special session was resumed last
Monday.
The latter measure failed Of pass
age because eighteen of the members
were unwilling to accept pay. in view
of the eXigency that brought them
back TO Richmond to complete the tax
reform work. The vote was IS ayes
to Is noes. The compensation meas.
ure was introduced by Judge Roger T.
Gregory. OF New Kent. AS originally
drawn. compensation was fixed at 500
but when II reached the House last
night the amount had been cut to $50.
The foot-and- mouth disease fighting
fund appropriated Is the full amount
suggested by the Governor in his spc-
cial message, s106.5O0. AS the bill
came to the House, the appropriation
1t carried was $60,000 the amount
having been curtailed by the commit
tee. An animated debate. which ex-
tended through more than an hour and
n half, preceded the passage OF the
bill.
WILL MOVE VOTE OF
CONFIDENCE IN WILSON
Delegate Guy IT. IIorner. OF South
ampton, will offer in the House OF
Delegates to-day a resolution indors-
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