Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-15
THE SENATE

The Senate convened promptly at 10
O'Clock. and was called to order by
President J. Taylor Ellyson Rev. r.
II. Pitt. -. d., editor of the Religious
Herald. offered the opening prayer. The
Senate concurred in "a resolution passed
in the House that fluctuations be sent
from tho Virginia Legislature to the
General Assembly OF North Carolina,
| now in session at Raleigh.
AS soon as the usual opening formalI-
ties were over the Senate adjourned
for the day. The Finance Committee
then held q brief session and adjourned
without taking definite action on any
OF the proposed tax measures. Senator
! w. n. Garrett yesterday morning pre-
sided as temporary chairman at the
meeting of the Finance Committee. the
chair having been left vacant by the
death Of the late Senator Edward
Echols, OF S,aunton The resignation OF
former Senator II. G. l.. Moncure, of
Fredericksburg, also left a vacancy in
! the committee. There are in the other
standing committees OF the Senate sew
eral vacant places. and when the Senate
convenes this morning at 10 o'clock 1t is
likely that members Will be nominated
by members OF the Steering Committee
and elected by the Senate as body to
fill all OF tho vacancies In the various
| committees.
STEERING COMMITTEE
SITS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
| The Steering Committee last night
went into executive session. and while
the proceedings of the meetings were
members were nominated for the va
rious committee places which are now
| vacant. While nomination by the
Steering Committee Is regarded aB
equivalent 10 election. 1t was stated BY
one OF the Senators last night that in
f.tt inGt No
has failed to elect the nominee OF the
committee
In accordance with a long established
precedent IL Is the custom when for
any reason committee chair ia made
vacant to elect AZ chairman the SEN
the committee. While this custom IA
usually observed in the Senate there
, is no law or prescribed rule to prevent
any member of committee from be
ing elected to the chair.
Al IL o'clock this morning the SEN
ate VIII sit in Joint session with tho
House when Joseph b. Anderson, s. r.
Donohoc and Thomas Walker Page.
members OF the recent special Joint
committee on taxation, will address the
General Assembly on taxation, and will
explain some OF the more intricate
phases of the problem. When these
three members Of the commission have
finished speaking 1t is thought that
there Will be brief speeches by several
members of tho General Assembly deal
Ing with different phases OF the tax
question. The Senators have expressed
desire to obtain all available infor-
nation concerning the methods OF tax
revision advocated by the commission
before a vote Is taken on any of the
proposed measures.
The Senate is anxious to enter Mt
| once into the actual work of revising
l N1,n
or the members concerning the prob
lem are widely at variance, the entire
body. is eager Tor change from the
old tax system. and Is determined to
institute reforms with as much speed
| as possible.
ELlfS0N RELIEVES DEFINITE
| ACTION WILL DE TAKEN
II believe that something definite in
the way OF tax reform will be accom-
/ plished in this session." said Lieuten
/ ant-Governor Ellyson yesterday. al
! though the problem is an intricate one
and so many measures have been pro-
posed that the work cannot move very
| rapidly"
Richard Evelyn Byrd. former speaker
| OF the House and now United States
District Attorney for the Western Dis
| trict OF Virginia, visited the Senate
| chamber yesterday and informally dis
cussed tax revision with some OF the
Senator's
Senator j. Powell Royal. OF Tazewell
yesterday declared that his district. in
the Southwest. has lined up for the
! partial segregation plan of taxation.
lie expressed the opinion that the posi-
tion taken by Governor Stuart In the
matter OF tax revision will have great
weight in determining what plan OF
reform shall be adopted
1t Is expected that several resolu-
tions. seeking permission to introduce
bills relating to subjects other than
| taxation, Will be presented In the SEN
ate to-day Under n resolution adopted
Wednesday any member of the Con
eral Assembly desiring to Introduce
a measure at this session which does