Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-15

coil is held by the State subject to and in trust for
the enjoyment Of certain public rights among uh,ch
is the common liberty of taxing fish, wsU shell FSh
as floating fish. And this right is jus pnb'cum tO
the citizens of the State to which the coil belongs
and that State may regulate the enjoyment of the
right or the fisheries.
The right to pass laws regulating navigation and
s incidents belonys TO C0ngrsss but the regulation
of taking tsh, hoaing or shell, in their waters, be
longs to each State respectively Virginia may moi
prohibit the citizens of other States from transport
ing her fish in their vessels; but she may reserve the
monopoly of taxing her fsa in her ~aers 10 her
orn citizens. And IL guard The enjoyment Of that
crcusre right, and I" preserce me- fsh and Their sp1~n
from distinctions she may pass regulations and tery
lar from mhicA she may derire a |erenne
The smallest tax upon the oyster fisheries IN her
nus. Tbs soil upon which the oysters grow extends
ov-r a space of more than 2,0OO square miles, About
5000 tons of licensed vessels belonging to our clti
zens aud at least five times that number OF IONS De-
onuiny to citizens of other States, making IN all
g6 quo tons Der aunum, are engaged in the oyster
,,ads If Virginia That amount of tonnage accounts
for more than % to 81 millions of bushels OF oysters
taken and carried away from the pubic SOIL OF "
yinis every year. The oysters are worm from "
cents per bushe at the place where taken 10 ~ GEMS
per bushel in the market al who!esae. .aA "a tI
cens per bushe on 25 milions OF bushels would yield
gross revenue of $5OO,OUO per annum, to De collect.
ed under inspection laws by not more than our saii
steam cutters, at an annual cost oil not iuIe 'han
so 900 Der annum for Them and cost ol lees LOT
licenses not exceeding $3D,0OO per annum. leaving
net revenue from this jus pubicum OF sl30,OUO per
annum. - A..
The second involuntary source OF revenue 49, me
policy of insurance of all !IcsS aud properly o. N"
ora citizens byhs Stat'. IL Is strange that whist
banking and lotteries, and like subjects have been
placed by legislation within the category OF sunptu
ary laws the subject Of insurance has been omitted
by the States in cunfederacy cutting them OH from
revenues by dulles, customs and excuses. why not
L ,lo k,t
becoming mutual insurers 10 each otheri why not re-
sort to source of revenue where the very tax pro-
tecs and nsHres the very property which II burdensf
Why not allow the contributions, which are now vol.
UNFAIRLY poured in large sums into the Golfers OF pr
vatr companies, chiefly out OF the State 10 be rolnn
tariy poured the State treasury to lessen invo
untary taxation Why not let the public e1pendi
lures be borne by the wealth of the State, willing TO
pay them, rather than set the poor, who are unable
and unwilling to bear them cianorng ainst taxes
which must now alone uphold public credit and con
struct our public works There can be more
fraud and fayori,ism against policy by the State
than against policy by private companies; and al
lowing the largest per centage for losses by both,
stW large rereRUs Sh0nld be yelisd. There need
be no cos, for OF yaIue insured for the
rule need be 10 pay only for actual loss within the
amount insured. The cost of enquiry To- actual
loss may o. rs simple and "a cheap writ al quod
dannum 10 ascertain by tbs verdict OF jury: lis
there fraud Is there gross neglect What is the
surance may be embraced i'll n States policy. We
live in IN age Of the ucifer match; and is too
easily perperated not tn br crime remarkably rifle
in this day and night. Wh-a, in the garner. crops
in f,ld, well rs houses, might be insured Policies
would be multiplied in proportion IL the greaer guar.
antee by State rather than by private security No
compul-ion would bs nec-ssary or allowed. AL!
would be free 10 Insure or not. but II they insure,
prohibit them from negotiating policy OH any pro-
perty life in the State except at the offices OF the
State treasury at every county court house.
Besides life Insurance of whites, Virginia has OF in
surable property not less thap 500 Millions including
houses and slaves, and annual crops. il oue.enlh
of that be insured at threetourths of one per cent
the revenue would on property b. 1913, per annum;
and lie insurance estimated at half much more,
the whole might safely be estimated to yield net re-
venue of $5OD,0OD per sunum. And this IL no mere
speculation. The Swiss cantons have proved the
virtue OF this mode of raising revenues and II Is no
experiment to be tried in Virginia herself, as the in
surance at the tobacco warehouses shows.
And besides these two SOURCES OF voluntary reve-
nue.. that from the involuntary tax bill may he largely
increased by amendments Of the law securing The
better and more certain valuation of property
Horses, for example, cannot be bought now for the
plough less than average of 500 sach and they
IRE returned am told, at an average not exceeding
S}D. BY proper amendments, the present tax bill,
without increasing the rates Of taxes, may be made
TO Weld at least $2O0000 more revenue than 1t does
now per annum, under the imperfect execution of the
ad yaoreIn principle.