Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-13
THE SENATE

Knowing that adjournment lie near ut
hand the senate yesterday Ia three
! sessions put forth every effort 20 cN-
! pediate It's work and made remark
able PROGRESS
! Lieutenant Governor Ellyson called
the Senate to order at Il o'clock yes
ierday morning. and Rev. J. 7. Watts
offered the opening prayer.
on tho desk Of each member o. tho
! Senate was beautiful white jasmine
blossom, the gift OF Mrs Edward
, Echols. OF stanton. to members.
clerks and press representatives In APP
! probation of expressions OF sympathy
regarding the death OF her husband
the late Senator Edward Echols. The
chamber was filled with fragrance
( from the pure white flowers.
| shortly after adjournment Senator
! Fletcher. OF Fauquicr. moved that the
chair be vacated 70. thirty minutes TO
| allow various committees to consider
and report on local bills This was
done.
MERCHANTS LICENSE
BILL Is PASSED
| The Senate passed the merchants
! license tax bill "a reported from the
! House. The bin is one recommended
| by Tax Commission and passed by the
House Of Delegates on Wednesday,
Senator i-esner, Of Norfolk, moved that
the Senate concur in the bill as re-
ported. The new measure, il is de-
fake book agents and other solicitors
! to ply their trade in Virginia.
The Senate Finance Committe re-
ported adversely the bill seeking to
make an appropriation OF $500, to be
used IN dcf-aying the expenses OF the
Richmond Light Infantry Blues as
escort To Governor stuart on Vir-
sinia Day At the Panama Exposition.
AZ o'clock the chair was vacated
and was resumed two hours later
1 q ar 4 n nj Il.
the chair again was vacated for nearly
! an hour In order TO allow various
committees 10 complete the consdera-
ton OF bills
SENATE REJECTS HOUSE
BILL TAXING RAILROADS
The Senate. by n vote OF 30 to 10. de-
featcd the House amendment to the
measure imposing tax OF sl.o5 on
each sl01 of gross earnings OF rail-
roads. The measure as originally
drawn proposed tax of 81, but the
House amended II By adding Is cents.
| When the bill went back TO the lower
branch in its original form, tho House
refused TO accept II, and asked for
a joint conference in an effort to har-
monte matters. The Senate agreed to
! tho conference, and the following con-
ferees on the part OF the Senate were
! appointed by the president: Senator
Goodrich, of fredericksburg; Senator
Drewry, OF Petersburg, and Senator
Blanks, of Meck!enburg.
The fight in the Senate over the pub
| lie service corporation tax bill with
the House amendment added, was
| hardly AS vigorous as anticipated, al
though Its introduction caused some
rather spirited debate. Senator Wen
denburg. OF Iicnrico. favored the
amendment. while prominent among
those who opposed it was Senator
Buchanan. of Smyth. A substantial ma
Jority OF the members favored referring
the matter to the joint conference. 1t
is believed tho confcrees will submit
n report to-day.
MEMBERS TO GET EXTRA
PAY FOR ADJOURNED SESSION
At G:1o O'Clock. just before the after
noon session adjourned. the Senate, by
n vote Of "a to 6. passed tho bill from
the House which provides that mem
bcrs of the General Assembly shall re-
ceivc compensation for their services
during the present adjourned session
Several bills purely local In character
were passed
The Senate concurred in the rcsolu-
ton from the House indorsing the for
eign policy pursued by President Will
son. and assuring him Of the conf
dence. esteem and love of the people
Of Virginia. All Democratic members
and one Republican, Senator Parr, OF
Patrick, voted for the measure.