Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-05

Kermit me 10 suggest 10 you the necessity OF
equalizng the tax to be paid by each taxable person
of this commonwealth, that the same may not
be more oppressive TO portion of your citizens
than it is 10 another, and that all shall have the
same privileges and advantages In proportion the
tax they pay, and the property they pay it UPON
You must be aware OF the great inequality that ex-
lists between tavern keepers, and those who keep
houses of private entertainment, and are YOU not
sensible that least half of the houses for the
entertainment of travellers are of the latter kind.
who pay only 81 50cis., do not pay any tax
at all {; and In the general do much, if moi more
business, than the regular licencsd taverns? As a
proof of this the writer would observe that on one
road, and within the distance of 90 miles, there are
lIcenced iaverns and l5 houses for the acommo-
dation OF travellers nearly all OF which do as
much profitable business any ofthe licenced
taverns on the same road; and this is the case on
all public roads, as far as my observation extends
Those houses that pay only 81 Scots. are not con-
edered TO be worth 500. Do not the members of
the General Assembly know, that house may be
sufficiently roomy to entertain large company
but from its being little out of repair and the
present reduced price of property, would not be
valued TO quite 500, and yet tbs stand would rent
tor $3.50 or more Does not this call loudly for
legislative interference Would not the funds
OF the Treasury be much increased if the Assem-
bly, made IL the business of the Commissioners in
every county throughout the commonwealth, TO 20
10 every mouse within SOO yards oil any public road
In the habit oreceving travellers and entertaining
the same with their stock &C. and fix the fee sim
pie value OF their house, house ofenlertainm ent
or the yearly rent thereof a place Of entertain
lInent, and levy a tax upon the same, upon every
Sl6O the value thereof, or upon every s 90 the
yearly rent thereof and that the Commissioner
shall report the same to his county court that the
court may be enabled to fix the tax thereon as
tavern keeper, or private entertainer But would
II not be more equal 10 fix the rate OF tax according
TO the yearly rent thereof in the following manner
Upon every house and its appendices. within 500
yards of public road, the owner or occupier of
which, being in the habit OF receiving travellers and
entertaining the same with their stock &C. and the
yearly rent OF which shall be valued 10 any sum
not exceeding $50, shall pay as private entertain
er the sum OF - 50cts. Upon every house &c.,
the yearly rent of which shall be over $50 and not
exceed 100, Tor private entertainer 50 Upon
every house the yearly rent of which shall be val
ued to more than 500 and not exceeding S $50,
for private entertainer ga And upon every
house &C., the yearly rent of which shall be over
$3.50 and not excel 200 for private entertainer
S1S the owner or oceupier Of which may take
tavern licenceby complying with the requisites of
the law, and upon every house, &C.. the yearly rent
of which shall exceed $500, every $50 over and
above 200, the owner or occuper shall pay an adj
ditionsl tax of $3.50?
1t u the candid opinion of the writer, that il the
General Assembly would make this tax equal, so
that every one who derives benefit from the en-
ser,sinment Of travellers, shall pay proportion of
his profits to The Treasury, that the Treasury
would receive at least $50 upon an average from