The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-28

appears that the fear of the segrexa-
ton leaders In not that another plan
will be substituted for theirs. but that
sufficient opposition will be developed
to prevent any action. However, this
fear Is not strong and IL appears fair
~ certain that starting with the segre-
cation measure as a basis there VIII
be built up with various additions ard
amendments Senate bill that will be
sent to conference with the House.
Yesterdays Debate.
The debate yesterday was the first
open mention in the Senate chamber
of the two primary systems of taxa
ton, and showed the results of the
preliminary work that has been going
on, and that has resulted in the
q abandonment of the original commits
sion plan. Even Senator Lcsner In the
course Of the debate. stated that no
had not been correctly represented In
publications regarding his attitude.
Said he: II have been misquoted.
may vote for segregation. / have not
yet determined what / will do and
want to hear both sides"
Opposition Outgeneralled.
The issue and vote yesterday came
in a parliamentary point Early In the
session Senator Lesner moved that to-
day at / o'clock be set as "a time for "A
special and continuing order for tho
consideration of bill %. the tax COM
mission bill. and bill SO, the segre-
CATION bill. The tax commission bill
stood ahead OF the segregation bill on
thu calead@r among bills On their first
reading, bit had not been regularly
reached when Senator Lesner's motion
was made.
On "a point of order It was suggested
that the motion be withdrawn until
the regular time arrived. This was
done When bill Is, the commission
bill. was reached there was pause,
but none or the anti-se gre gatonists
made a motion to set IL for a special
order It was here that they made
their tactical blunder. as mere ma
iority vote at the time would have set
their bill for any time they chose. but
no motion having been mace the bill
was passed To It's second reading.
When bill Sc was called Senator
Walker moved that IL be set as q
special and continuing order for Fri
day at 1890 O'Clock. This motion
carried The opposition then saw their
mistake and Immediately moved tn
consider both bills at the same tiTne-
and falling in this, to consider the TAX
commission bin ahead of tae segresa~
ton bill
To carry such a motion, requiring
suspension of the rules to turn back
on the calendar to their bill. a. two
/ thirds vote was necessary.
The Debate.
! a debate that aligned the senators
4 definitely in their respective camps,
followed. Senator Fletcher led for
the commission bill. and Senators
Buchanan and Walker for the segre-
cation bill.
! Senator Lesner moved that bill No.
/ 25 be considered at the same time al
/ bill No. So. Senator Walker made the
point that this Was out OF order, and
was sustained by the chair. Senator
! Fletcher moved to suspend the rules
SO as to allow the consideration Of q
m otion to set special order for bill
I25. In opposition. Senator Walker de-
ciared that no segregation advocate
desired to take an unfair advantage,
/ but that he could not see how 1t was
possible to consider two bills OF d.
rectly opposite import at tho Same
time, or what good such q. Cons1dera-
ton. would do.
| Senator Fletcher then stated that
tt was not his intention to set his bill
at the same hour. but fifteen minutes
ahead of the other order.
! Senators Walker and Buchanan did
not think tho two bills should be con-
sidered at the same time, the former
alton would ever arrive in which
ma jority OF the Senate would not be
able to substitute one bill for another.
Senator Featherston thought the ma
Jority plan of the Tax Commission
should be considered first.
| Senator Garrett thought the ma
chinery OF the law should be con-
structed and then the plan on which
it should operated could be laid down.
Opposing senators held the plan
should be laid down as something on
which to build. Senator Fletcher
feared that If the segregation bill were
considered first it would be taken as
the plan. Senator Walker was of the
opinion that a debate Of either bill
would involve in the general debate
of the other.
The Vote.
On the call for a vote. eighteen
mem bers voted to suspend the rules
and sixteen against suspension, the
motion, therefore, falling. No record
ed vote was taken but Senators Gar
rett, Holt Rison, Lesner. Fletcher,
4 Featherston, Massie, Brock and Cool
rick were observed voting for tho
suspension. and Senators Gravatt,
Mapp. Walker, Buchanan. West and
Saunders as voting against supen-
| sion.
J Immediately after the vote the Sem
| gan as to the meaning of the vote.
Few consider the vote real test,
although several of the anti-segrega-
/ tionists declared they had the opposi-
ton licked The absence of six
senators and the fact that many of
those who voted for the suspension OF
the rules stated in their speeches that
| they favored certain provisions Of seq
regation gives practical assurance that
with this bill as the basis of action.
many amendments offered and some
of them adopted, the Senate viii
finally vote for segregation. g.
| The Opening.
DR. H. ID. C. Maclachian opened the
! session with prayer. The House re-
! ported that 1t refused to concur in
! the bill repeating the law that makes
the unpaid capitation tax a ffen on
real estate.
! Senator Hartman moved for permis-
/ sion to introduce bill making deser-
I ton a nisde meanor,- and cruelty q
crime, punishable with sentence to the
convict road force. Permission was
| granted.
| Introduce a New Bill.
I Eleven senator's, considered the
/ total of the Tax Commission strength
lin the Senate presented a bill en-