Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-18
MUST GET TO WORK.
SAYS HUGH A. WHITE
General Assembly Should Deter
mine On Definite Plan
of Procedure.
FOUR DAYS ALREADY GONE
Leaders of Both Houses Think
Time for Present Indecision
Has Passed.


OF Rockbridge. last night at Murphy's
Hotel. "is that the several recognized
Legislative leaders did not meet few
days before the convening OF the Legis-
lature and map out definite line OF
procedure. designed to expedite the
selection by both houses of one OF the
two or more tax reform plans which
every one knew would be suggested.
Such meeting of leaders could
have been held as easily as the advance
meeting OF the House Finance Commit
tee. If such n thing had been done and
some practical plan fC- getting prompt
ly at the business or the session had
been unotfically decided upon before
the Legislature met, We would not now
be confronted with the spectacle of in
decision that the General Assembly
presents as regards the proper way to
attack the problem ii was called to-
gethcr In extraordinary session to
solve.
FOUR DAYS GONE OUT OF
TwESTY-SIX-DAY SESSION
while II Is true that the Legislature
has been in session only four days, that
is comparatively long time in a ses-
sion that has only twcnty-six working
days. TO be wavering over prclimin-
aries. The two houses should have
agreed last week upon the class of re-
form-commission, or partial or COM
plete segregation. 1t is my belief that
the work Of the present Legislature
viii be seriously jeopardized If both
houses do not promptly decide this
week the definite direction which the
tax reform shall take"
Much the same view was expressed
by Senator Lesner. of Norfolk who on
the opening day introduced in the SEN
ate Joint resolution calling upon both
houses to take a vote on Wednesday on
the rival centralized commission and
segregation plans.
The Senate passed my resolution.
but the House thought II wise TO refer
1t to a committed" said Senator Lcsner
IF the House had concurred there
would have been an end to all the
present indecision, and we could have
begun next Thursday with the real
work Of the session. AS the matter
stands now. nobody seems to know
when the which plan question will be
decided. and when actual work on the
tax bills Will begin"
REGRETS FAILURE TO PASS
LESSER RESOLUTION
Mr.. White expressed his regret that
the House did not concur with the SEN
ate in adopting Senator Lesner's reso-
luton
Il did my best TO get the House to
vote on it," said the member from
Rockbridge. 81 pleaded with 1T TO end
without further delay the uncertainty
that clouded the way and prevented
any Constructive legislation until 1t
was removed. But the House wouldn't
have my advice. It wanted to act In
dependently OF the Senate
The refusal of the House to see the
thing the way l saw 1t did not sur
prise me- added Mr.. White. with
reminiscent smile. There are certain
members who will always oppose any
thing l offer. no matter how mcritori-
Gus II is. II | introduced the Lord s
Prayer they would seek to have II
amended. If l presented the ten COM
mandments, some Of them would move
to strike them out"
notwithstanding the decided note Of
unrest that pervaded the comment of
other legislators on the situation at
the Capitol, there was general feel
ing last night that this week will Wit
ness the end of further uncertainty as
to the plan of tax reform that shall
be followed. 1t was the belief of most
OF the Senators and Delegates that
held informal levee in the hotel lobbies
last night. that the end of the week
VIII see the legislative wheels grind
ing smoothly and tina. the grist will
be the sort of tax reform legislation
that the State wants
HOUSE OvERNHEI.MINGLY
FAVORS SEGREGATION
In the opinion of House leaders,
three -fourths of the membership of the
lower branch of the Legislature fayors
some form of segregation The House
has instructed its Finance Committee
to report the commission and segrega-
zion plan bills not later than to-mor-
row. The reporting of these two
measures will afford the House the first
opportunity to establish definitely the
strength Of the following the rival
plans have in the lower branch. The
bills will probably be set as special
and continuing orders. in order that a
final vote may be reached before the
week Is out.
The weakness Of this plan OF estab-
fishing the kind of tax reform tho
House wants. according to far-seeing
members or Doth houses lies in the
possibility that the House may decide
upon plan which will not be accent
able to the Senate. Should the House.
for example. pass bill paving the way
for complete segregation and the SEN
ate refuse to concur In 1t, the whole
week spent In consideration of the
measure would be an almost complete
loss and negotiations would have to
begin anew.
SENATE SAID TO RE
EVENLY DIVIDED
While friends of the segregation Idea
claim that the Senate has q substantial
majority for the plan. the claim Is dis
puted. 1t Is conceded that Senate opin-
ion Is more evenly divided than opinion
In tho House. 1t is regarded as all the
moro important. for this reason, that
the two houses should reach an imme-
diate and permanent agreement upon
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