The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-16
SENATE GIVES ITS OK.
TO FIFTY-F|FTY BILL
Third Day OF Debate Terminates I'm
Victory for Senator Vests
Intangible Tux Proposal.
CODE NEXT BIG TASK
Motion TO Adopt Without Reading
Lengthy Volume Prevails but There
Remains Chance for Prolonged Par
llamentary Fight.

The senate OF Virginia got down to
cases and began to do business in
becoming fashion yesterday. 1t seem
ed like old times, the close of the
session and genuine desire to pass
measures.
The hrst measure to engage atter-
ton vas the West "hfty-ffty'' bill,
uncompleted from Thursday. Sem
stor West opened up in defense OF
his, measure, replying TO certain re-
marks made by the other members
ana declared that the bill meant I'm
slant relief for the ills which affect
ed the cities since segregation was
forced on the state. He began by
proposing to amend his own bill 20
that the tax rate on intangibles will
remain unchanged, at ninety-fye
cents, but the state will lose fifteen
cents and tho localities will gain the
seme amount In other words, the
state will receive fifty cents and the
localities will get ferty-hve cents.
The tight started right AT once, and
after the mendmen had been agreed
20 Senator Goolrick offered n motion
to recomnlit the bill to the finance
committee for such consideration as
might he necessary when the appro-
pristion bill was reported. To this
Senator Walker agreed. and Senator
West and others opposed II In unison
The senate refused TO recommit there
being resort to the fine points of par
liamentary procedure and the regu
lar order In the consideration Of the
measure.
The vote was taken to suspend the
rules. which WAS agreed to, and the
bill wac put on it's passage, The roll
call showed Al TO Is. Then Senator
Goolrick who opposed the bill
changed to the Affirmative aad a. once
moved to reconsider the vote ty which
the bill was passed Senator Na.A"r
followed UP with motion te pass
ny the motion 10 reconsider, The sup
porters Of the bill had won and they
did not propose TO lose one possible
vote TO work the defeat OF the meas
ure. Senator West appealed to The
members to stand fast and that the
nght was won. He proved to be q
fine general in handling the fight
The motion to pass by was lost on
roll call. and then the motion to re-
consider was lost The bill now goes
TO the house for approval
Oppose flushing the Code
with the 6fty-forty-fl bin out OF
the way, the next special order was
the revised code. which had come
from the house with approval Sen
stor Walker had charge OF that meas
ure. and he explained the matter
briefly, saying ne would ask the SEN
ate TO dispense with the three read
ings Al length on three separate days
~ rehuirtd by the Constitution. He
did this ia order 10 guard againE,
any possible question that might be
raised, saying he did not believe the
action necessary. hut ne did not pro.
pose to leave any loophole.
Senator Strobe said he wanted &c
have fun chance for the discussion oil
the code. for the Offering of amend
ments, and without intending 10 ust
the expression IN any way offensive
he objected 10 "ra!lroading" the code
through the senate
Senator Walker said that the sena.
tor from Amherst had entirely mis-,
spprehended the purpose and scope
oc his motion. He ala not propose
70 cut o.. debate or the Offering O.
amendments. II was merely TO save
time of having the code read through
times. That WAS all there was to the
matter. He wanted fun debate or
It's every provision. and he would Oh
}eCt to any sort OF action which
would stop any man from expressing
ais views on the matter.
Then there were interjected motions
30 adjourn, 10 pass by the matter and
various other moves to head off tbs
consideration OF the matter. The sen
ate refused to pass by, II refused Il
adjourn and then adopted the mo
lion of Senator walker to dispense
with the reading OF the bill. Tha
had consumed half an hour and tn,
net result was to dispense with tn,
readings of the code and to leave +
exactly where II stood at the outse
and where IL can and will be taken VI
Saturday. Many senators are under
stood to have voted for the Wake,
motion merely TO get the matter III
Tor consideration. and they may vot,
against the adoption of the report