Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-20
New Segregation Measure
Favorably Reported by
Finance Committee.
WAS DRAWN UP OVERNIGHT
BECAUSE OF CRITICISMS
Provisions VIII ich Were of
Doubtful Constitutionality
Are Eliminated.
sEGREGATIoNIsTs GLEEFUL
Advocates OF Equalization Board
Labor in Vain to Stem
Tide.

The dominant power of the element
In the General Assembly which will
| support only some partial segregation
form OF taxation was asserted In n
spectacular manner yesterday. A nav
segregation bill. drawn overnight, was
favorably reported by the Finance Com
mittee OF the House. and the repor, OF
the Tax Commission was recommended
for rejection.
II is generally conceded that the FL
nance Committee would not have ven
turcd upon this action but for the fact
that the segregationists are confident
OF strength In the Senate In making
It's report, the Finance Committee dis
regarded the resolution adopted last
Saturday. which requested n report IN
all tax bills not later than yesterday.
The new segregation bill carries the
tax reform provisions of the Cover
nor's message. 1t was admitted yestar-
day that Governor Stuart had large
hand in preparing II.
MEETS OBJECTIONS AS
TO ITS CoNsTITUTIoNALIT
The bill was drawn after the opinion
OF Acknowledgement Pollard was re-
ceived. showing that the segregation
plan recommended by minority of the
Tax Commission was unconstitutional
in that II proposed that the General
Assembly delegate TO n board of taya-
tion authority to fix the amount OF a
tax levy. The General Assembly alone
has this power under the Constitu-
ton. Delegate Stearncs, whose scgre-
cation bill has been discredited by
many of the members. claimed yester-
day that the new bill Is virtually the
same as his bill In Its essentials The
Governor was 30 per cent with me be-
fore this new bill was drawn" he ex-
claimed. "and he has now come over
to me entirely"
The new hill provides local taxes on
all real estate and tangible personal
property: state taxes on rolling stock
intangible property, such as money In
bank, stocks and bonds. and all IL
cense and franchise taxes. For pur-
poses Of education there is general
tax OF 10 cnets for one year, the ex-
pectation being that natural normal
increases in values will make this tax
unnecessary after the first year,
sEGREGATIoNIsTs ARE
IN GLEEFUL MOOD
The segregationists were in gleeful
mood in the House yesterday when the
favorable report OF the Finance Com
mittee on tho new bill was received
Hill Montague and John w. Chalkley.
leaders OF the opposing element. made
n futile fight TO have the Tax Commis-
sion bills brought before the House.
The forces with which they contendcd
were overwhelming.
The Legislature disrcgarded for tho
second time yesterday the resolution
prohibiting the introduction OF h!Is
other than tax bills at this special
session. y joint resolution was adopted
permitting the introduction OF oill
to repeal the charter of the dispenaary
at Roydton. Again 1t was explained
that this was an emergency measure
Delegate William a. Land, Of MOTTO
way, one of the sponsors of the reso-
luton under which the General AS
said yesterday that he would not have
consented to the proposition IL he had
known that the bills were to be rushed
into the House in a bunch.
It was his understanding at the time
that the measures were 10 be given
consideration separately. He said the
Joint resolution had been disregarded,
IL he had n proper understanding of
the agreement under which introduce
tion OF these bills was permitted by
the House.
WILL. STRETCH RULES
AS TO Local. BILLS
The hopes of members who have
local bills for which they desire a
hearing run high. They regard the
rule excluding measures not pertain
ing to tax legislation as sufficiently
elastic TO be stretched still farther
when the time is propitious
Judge Martin Williams. Democratic
floor leader. arose in the House yester-
day, saying: II have n statement i de-
sire to make as to my opinion in re-
gard to certain tax measures I have
been asked to support. feel that II
is up to me to make an explanation.
Some Of my friends have asked me
to support certain tax measures and
certain features of tax measures as
floor leader of the House. This Is in
deed a compliment TO the position
have tho honor OF holding. but do
not think this position carries me this
far.
II am perfectly willing to assume
Ito address, through the proper channel