Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-05-30

sssss
of bushels Of oysters taken and carried away
from the public soil of Virginia every year
The oysters are worth from 20 cents per
hushel at the place where taken to 80 cents
per hushel in the market ii wEoit sale. \
tax OF two cents per bushel ou Is inili1na
Of bushels would 1iela gross 79renuc II
5000, 900 per annun, to be collected under
inspection laws by not more than four small
steam cutters, at an annual cost Of not more
than Sc, 900 per annum for them, aud Il
cost CT fees for licenses not exceeding $50, :
geo per aunum, leaving y nett revenue from
this JUS r@b}icaaa Of : ITO zoe per anuum
The setond Involuntary source Of revenue
is the policy of insurance o. al hrs end
p''oYerg q her omn cst'seas 5g tie State. =
it Is strange that, whilst banking and lot
teries and like subjects have been placed by
Legislation within the category OF sumptus-
~ laws, the subject of insurance has been
omitted by the States in Confcdoracv, cut
ting them off from revenues by duties, Gus
toms and excuses. Why not allow our cii-
zens to replenish their own treasury by be-
coming mutual insurers to each other? Why
not resort to Il source of revenue where the
very tax protects and insures the very pro-
perty which it burdens? Why not allow
the contributions, which are now voluntari-
y poured in large sums into the Golfers Of
private companies, chiefly out OF the State,
to be rotamtdri}y poured into the State trea-
sury to lessen involuntary taxation7 Why
not let the public expenditures 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, clamoring a
gainst taxes, which must now alone uphold
public credit aud construct our public works?
There can be no more fraud and favoritism
against a policy By the State than against n
policy by private companies; and allowing
the largest por contage for losses by both
still large rerenas should tc yieldea There
need be no cost for assessment Of value in-
surel, for the rule need be to pay emily for
actual loss. within the amount insured -
The cost Of inquiry as to actual loss may be
as simple and as cheap as writ al qrsod
danlnuo, to ascertain by the verdict Of a
jury: rs there fraud l. there gross
neglect? What is the amount Of the loss
Subjects not known 70 private insurance
may be embraced in States policy. We
live in an age Of the luefer match, and ar
son is too easily perpetrated not to be a
crime remarkably rife in this day and night.
Wheat in the garner, crops in the field as
well as houses, might be insured. Policies
would be multiplied in proportion to the
greater guarantee by State rather than by
private security. No compulsion would be
necessary or allowed All would be free te
insure or not, but, if they insure, prohibit
them from negotiating policy on any pro-
perry or life in the State except at the of
fees of the State treasury at every county
courthouse.
Besides life insurance Of whites Virginia
has of insurable property not less than
$4,000, 600 coo, including houses and slaves
and annual crops. If one-tenth of that be
insured at three fourths Of one per cent the
revenue would on property be $50 per an
mum and life insurance estimated at half
as much more, the whole might safely be
estimated to yield a nett revenue of $780,
coo per annum. And this is 30 mere spequ-
lation. The Swiss cantons have proved the
virtue Of this mode of raising revenue; aud
it is no experiment to be tried in Virginia
herself, as the insurance at the tobacco ware
houses shows
And, besides these two sources of yolun-
tary revenue, that from the involuntary tax
bill may be largely increased by amend
ments of tho law securing the better and
moro certain valuation Of property Horscs,
for example, cannot be bought now for the
plough at less than an average Of ) loo each,
and they are returned, an told, ut m az
erage not exceeding $50. By proper arend-
ments the present tax bill, without iucress-
ing the rates Of taxes, may be made 10 yield
at least goo, 600 more revenue than it does
now per annum, under TIE imperfect execu-
ton Of the ad valorem principle The case
rcatated, then, would he
Revenue from taxation. $2.819 900
Do from increase on lands 400 coo
Do from the jus publicam Of
oysters $50
Do from premiums on insurance 500, goo
Do ffom better execution Of
tax law sec. 900
Total means 4,3G8. coo
Aunas! expense 5000, Gee
Surplus revenue $l,36S, 900
Leaving for appropriation to
public works, per annSn.--
From Loans $500, 600
From surplus 1868, 000
Total to improvements annually 3,66S. 600
Making sum total for ten
years of s8s, $50, 900
Enough to accomplish every end of State
policy and the hig hest destiny we can aim