Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-12-12
AN UPLANDER.
COMMUNICATED.

Gentlnmeu of the House of Delegates how string in the
city of Richmond: Permit me, in the ma me of all the Tavern
which they in general labor under, by tho great Eumber of
persons that now undertake TO keep houses of entertain
uent. Some (but very few indeed) pay a licence of 81 so,
while four .ffths of those which do entertai in, nav no lax at
all, to the great disadvantage of those honest Il vern keepers
who pay the sum Of $l6 or more, every year, which they
are obliged to do, although the income of their tavern will
not justify il; but because their house, SC. is thought to
be worth by the Commissioner, seven hundred dollars or
e.ore; and many Of such tavern keepers are row reduced
TO the necessity of shutting up their doors, or pay a licence,
such as the rent or income of the stand will not Justify.
Whereas, there are many private entertainers that receive
four times the amount, and whose stands would rent for
$50 to three hundred dollars, and paw only 81 90, be-
cause their house, &c. is not valued to 500. WIN any
gentleman say that this is just, and that the evil requires
no remedy: Or will they not say that it is a subject that
calls aloud foI the interference nf the Legislatures? And
that they will at least permit all those who think that they
are not able TO pay o tavern licrnce, (hom the income of
their standD 10 take out a private entertainers licence
without regard to the value OF their house, SC? Or pu, all
entertainers OF men, horses, mulsS, cattle, sheep and hogs,
upon the same footing, who live within eight hundred ards
Of any public road or high way, who are in the habit Of
entertaining all tina. they caHS Bv laying n tax upcD the
yearly rent of all such houses Of ente rtaimment, TO be ascer-
tanned by the Commissioner of the Revenue i'm the follow
ing manner, to wit: Upon every house and ITS appendages
the yearly rent of which shall lie computed to twenty dol
lars, the owner or occuPier thereof, TO pay the sum OF
IS 50-upou every house, &c. which rent shall be conpr-
ted to more than so, aud not To exceed so, to pay the
sum of 81 Coupon every house, &c. which yearly rent
shall ne over $50, and not to exceed so, shall pay the
sum OF S6-upnn every house, &c. which shall be over $50,
and not to eHcecd $50, psy the sum of S10-upOn every
house, &c. the yearly rent, OF which shall be over 500,
md not 10 exceed $50, shall pay $l4-upon every house,
&c. which shall be valued to over $50, and MOI to e-
coed 900, shall pay the sum Of $40, aud the owner or
occupier To have the privilege OF taking Il tavern liccncs
by complying with the acquisitions Of the law-aud upon
evesy housr, &c. which yearly rent shall be valued to more
thar 5000, for every 1U0 over and above the 900, the
owner or occupier shall pay the sum of 81.
II mast be apparent 10 the Legislature, that some such
regulation is absolutely necessary, and would increase the
funds of the State very much, and put n stop TO this great
increase OF small houses Of entertainment, which are now
multiplied almost out Of number, upon every public road
or highway, throughout tie State, and who pay rn tx
whatever for the brurht they derive from such public road
OF highway. Surely the General Assembly will roi let
anoihcr year revulve before they en1eHvor TO correct this
ev! by placing all entertainers upon an equal fno,irg, By
compelling them TO pay 81 TAX in proportion 10 the yearly
ront Of t"eir stands, wficiSOught to- be %predicated upon the
quantity Of business dore. JUSTICE.