Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-10-11

Dement, will tend directly array the outside sections
against county, upon the line OF improvements the first
case from supposed in the second from rea
inequality, In the rate Of assessment.
unnecessary TO discuss the question Of rie h on the
part oil the legislature impose to authorize the
"on "' local tax. The right is admitted. The true
question THIS: Is polite tor make the expe
e oil such tax upon these counties, and for the sake
OF making H. TO abandon the fair prospects success
now invite us to advance upon the line OF policy which
We had adopted! Even in the narrow limits OF ms
where there il but and the interest upon ques.
ions OF this description, often the olen
teniions the imposition of corporation
bu' how vastly different would the principle be- ia
its application to counties stretching forty or fifty
miles from the line OF proposed Improvement with their
OUTSKIRTS perhaps bordering upon other rivers, and inha
bitcd by people looking different outlet TO the sea- II
The TAX so' not he spporoned according the scale of
dement's To he conferred would not the ouses OF the
co"es res" against equal burthens with those living
contagious 10 the 'ine' IL the difficulties OF apporon
men' could he srnounted would the exterior
be content TO abide by IN DO they now contribute rata
bly, with the people upon the line II is ament.bIe
rum mat except In lew instances, nothing is obtained
ona 'ne dividing ridges In the distant sections peo-
PIE best, are neutral The operation Of the substitute
would be to convert neutrality into active hostility and tn
incorporate host of enemies constituent elements of
the scheme Let us not, Mr.. Chairman throw the sun
por OF is enterprise upon the shoulders OF
Our object IL 10 incorporate friends and not our enc
mes-,o give to our friends the privilege sue and be
sucd-to plead and be eaed their p,oper
" by succession, toeeer with the other CUSTOMARY mi
vleges OF u charter OF incorporation
ne only trial OF this description OF which had come
70 ms knowledge, was the made la the State of New
York There seemed to have been abandoned upon the
rst experiment. snd during iis short lived existence nI
~ illustrated the labyrinth OF difficulties in which the L..
gissure would he involved by any attempt make an ap.
portonnent. The Canal Comunss i'm New vo,,L
having been invited by the Committee OF the House OF
oeegaes charged with the subject to give their views
as TO proper financial scheme the canal recommend
ed, among other more considerable resources an annual
tax Tor limited time, Of $50 900 upon the rea estate ON
the line OF the canals In their report 10 the House the
committee included annual local of about 800 600
oy an extensive and complicated plan Tor APP
IN ANNA tI.ss
ine together with that il should be re
mbursed 10 the propretors when the canals should have
become prohabe. In the canal law find this annual
tax OF SlOO,OO0 metamorphosed into a in gross of
$25O,OO0, and instead Of definite apportionent in the
law itself, transfer TO commissioners OF the power to
make the appottonment, 10 he exercised under the su.
pervon and control OF the Judges the Superior Courts
OF the State. Whether il was ever renewed AFTER the
first experiment, MIR. e. said he was not able pos;
nveiy TO inform the meeting although he had heard
from report that had been promptly abandoned: fact
oil winch he entertained no doubt, this species of
TAX does not now iom does appear MANY wears
past to have constituted, part Of the Canal Fund of
the State Of New York. He could state upon the hes,
S1,ho'y mat had never been adopted in the State Of
OHIO Its brief history in the only State where il seemed
10 have been tried, sufficiently attess the dcue, and
dangers to result we should incorporate il as the prnc
pal basis in the our scheme of con
necon with the West. To the great and OBJ
Voas objections TO this species Of assessment could
see nothing In The suggestion that after the reimburse
eh OF the interest and principal borrowed by the State
the tolls would be reduced to the standard OF keeping the
works In repair and paying the necessary expenses
SO as 10 make this channel
mumcaon When the debt should have beef Iii discharged
the tolls would be the property Of the company and II is
admitted that the profit would speedily reach the maxi
mum oi 10 per cent. What ground have we 10 sun.
pose that the rest Of the State would voluntarily sur
render so abundant source OF for the bene-
nj o. the people living on the line; or, that the
people on the line would make the surrender for the
benefit OF the people living in the West! The State
would insist on holding it, as she holds the sur
profits upon her stock in the James River and
Company, TO indemnify the fund for Internal Improve
men Tor the heavy drafts made upon that Fund by the
late James River Loans. The people on the line would
insist ON holding it; because, being all stockholders thew
would be UNIDENTIFIED stockholders for the tolls which
they would pay customers upon their proper trade
at the same time that they would derive a clear profit
from the tolls upon the trade OF the West To assume
mat these parties would yield up the profits upon the
s'ock and make Tree highway, and give system of
free trade with the West is counter 10 all the die
tates OF reason and experience.
o. The substitute contains the ncongruous features of
pubic management and private responsibility, which is
inadmissibie upon principles OF economy and safety.
although We are left TO conjecture, to the particular
10 IN Of agency which would be employed for administer
ing The affairs OF the company one thing
we may be perfectly assured; and that is that il will be
essentially and necessarily Of pubic character and
will consequently partake OF all the so
known in this State at least 10 attend upon that system OF
administration Upon the plan of the James River and
kanawa Charter, the stock will be throw the hands
OF intelligent yeomanry, OF leading capt. as and of en-
ghtened corporations who will have both motive and abb.
lily to look after their property. and will keep its manage
nent under the ever wachul guardianship private in
teres Upon the plan of the substitute as the multitude
OF landhoders from Richmond Point Pleasant wouIl be
stockholders, and even, qualified by habit inclination
would find il impossible meet ther the mana
ment OF course would fall into the hands of county,
euve or legislative agents. standing in the relation
TO this nation OF stockholders all such agents now do 10
the great body OF the people. This substitute them would
in effect, combine system Of public maDag ement with
system oil private responsibility; the very combina
ton that could be devised f to have private re-
sponsibty, in Gods let have private agency If
we are TO have public administration, let have pub
lie funds Under the system OF ton lei be
what will, that will accompany the substitute we shall
nave the eSPensivenes OF public system, and even,
the vision OF reduction Of the tolls the reimburse
ment OF the capital down TO the standard Of an
nusl charges, solid reality, the the orig
nal outlay and OF annual charges, under such system
over and above these items private SYSTEM wou
perhaps make the maximum profit OF Is per cent,
the capital expended upon the Iaor system piece of
economy in the end. Rest assured, Mr. Chairman that
fuse to pledge their lands upon the held this
substitute.
6. The substitute is Objectionable as TO the time OF its
introduction TO the public.
The remarks already made under the first head Of oh.
lection, had an equal bearing the present Mr.. C.
said, he would add briefly TO them. From the year 10
the year 90 the State had made survey upon survey and
examination upon examination. At last she moved. Her
is choice was company like that Of the James River
and KaDawha. But she failed in the 1910 get il
up Then, she started upon State account, but got
difhcules, and threw the system and stopped Four
account, but she always refused The last time, '3I-2
"a public and private system offered TO her al
one. She adhered to her first choice Of the year 10
and conserving TO give up her works, and enter as
partner upon the terms Of charter, she told us
TO 90 on. Our enemies said could raise the
capital but we repiied-"Give time, and the work
shall he done" The cholera in the country last
wear and the Legislature seeing our