The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-25
Repudiate Absolutely Whole
Theory Of Segregation-lf
Passed Will Cause Deadlock
Danger Is Admitted
But Is Not Feared
Separationists In House and
Senate Declare New Measure
Can Never Pass-Overtures
of Compromise Made


Tax legislation of any kind al the
special session of the General AS
semhiy il threatened by a coterie of
senators who, In nightly conferences.
have been preparing bill they con-
adently count upon pushing through
the Senate. and which Is so radically
different from the administration seq
regation measure that Ii leaves no
ground for compromise in confer
ence.
A cloud the size of mans hand
perceived on the far horizon by OBJ
servant sepArAtionists has now grown
10 such proportions that II arouses tho
apprehensions of even the most con-
shdent Those who treated 1t with in
difference when II was first called to
their attention now are forced to adj
NIT that II casts q great shadow over
the sunny prospects Of the advocates
Of segregation.
IAttle Comfort for Ethics.
In II, too, the advocates or the
centralized commission plan OF the
joint committee on tax revision can
find little comfort, for It threatens, a.
well. many OF the tax reform pro-
posals of that faction.
Under the leadership of Senators
Lesner. Holt, Massie. Featherston.
Garrett, Rison and other influential
members OF the upper branch OF the
Assembly, some fifteen in number.
frequent conferences. quasi-secret In
their nature. have been held recent
~ In the Offices Of the Commissioner
Of Labor at the Capitol, at which a
bill repudiating absolutely the prin-
cipies OF segregation. has been dis
GUESSED and In being RAPIDLY perfected
for introduction IN the 6ennte and
quick coinmittal to tbs Senate Cora
mittee on Finance. whence II will be
reported out without loss OF time.
This bin provides for = central tax
commission. something In the nature
Of that proposed by the Joint commit
tee on tax revision, but, II Is under
stood. with more limited powers. II
provides for a paid commissioner, act
ing with two ex-officio members The
tax on intangibles In reduced. Local
boards of review are also created
under the provisions of the act. fol-
lowing closely the lines of the bill pre-
scented to the House Committee on
Finance by Senator Lesner, and quiet
" laid away among the moth balls.
other features OF the bill are not dis
closed, but II is understood that many
committee are absolutely disregaraed.
The night conference bill OF the Les
rer- Holt -Feathcrston theorists Is
based on insufferabie opposition to the
segregation idea and upon the deter
mined belief that all property should
be taxed at It's situs. THAT principle"
aid one Of the senators last night.
''seems to have been disregarded en-
ttrely in all the bills drawn In the
House"
Express Confidence.
These senators proclaim confidently
that they have sufficient votes to put
their bill through the Senate and that
they cannot be overcome in the
House Senate conference which will
follow its passage and the passage of
the Weaver Buchanan bill in the
House.
II this be true. tax legislation at
This session Is dead. The separation
lists In the House are overwhelmingly
In tho majority. and they. too.are ae-
termined. They declare that their con-
stituents demand some form OF segre-
CATION and that they cannot. without
political suicide. do other
Than give II TO them. Moreover. they
are themselves wholly imbued with
the belief that segregation Is the best
system obtainab BILE. This being SO,
they will never consent to the adoption
OF any Of the fundamental clauses in
the proposed Senate bill. To quote
an expression used before the COM
mittee by Delegate Love. OF Lunen-
burg, ''by the boots Of Brutus' they
will have segregation and stay here
until the cows come home to get It,
II. as the trainers Of the new senate
bill declare. that body Ii equally ''sot,"
the collision OF an irresistible force
with an immovable body Is but the
breaking Of a china cup to the crash
that will overtake tax legislation In
virginia in this year of grace 1915.
Are Not Discouraged.
Separationists. however, while adj
hitting the danger. are by no means
discouraged. They declare and bring
forth facts to sustain the declaration,
that the supposedly immovable sena-
tors arc weakening. Overtures Ii Is
reported, have already been made to
the Governor by Senator Lesner and
other members Of the combination
have expressed a willingness for a
compromise. 1t is believed that by
granting something in the way of the
enforcement of the new system several
senators. now In opposition to the ad-
h1inistration's bill. may be won over
TIE adoption OF the local board
feature to eqlialiZe assessments as be.
tween individuals. Is counted upon to
convince come of the senators that
removes the bugaboo OF
discrimination in assessments as be-
tween counties. Other compromises
that do not touch the principle Of seq
regation may be offered by the House
conferees that viii chip OFF a vote
here and a vote there In the Senate at
sufiiciently rapid rate to give ma
jority.
In fact, ono OF the segregation ad-
vocates declared last night that the
confident expressions OF their sena-
torial opponents 10 all blum, and that
they afS preparing q bill goin3 10 the
otheY extreme on the principle that
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