Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-02-17
THINGS AT CAPITAL.

,be matter was lest the money be allowed
10 remain in the Building Fund for q year,
TO be gobbled up next Winter for the Ben
eft OF the Scrip sharks. This was noto-
riously the desire Of the Scrippies, and
their creatures round about the Lesisla-.
ture. kellogg and Sumner prevented
the passage Of the Bill which would have
given S3l, 900 for the Building; the latter
stating that he believed the same could be
purchased for ten or twelve thousand dol
lars less than the sum named, and 80 it
has proved. Messrs. James, Ingham. and
Cutter. of the Assembly delegation, were
very bitterly opposed to the purchase Of
the Building at all; they being desirous,
as was Mr.. Jones, that the money should
remain in the Treasury, in the Building
Fund or appropriated for other purposes.
These three members, described the build
ing as unfit for County purposes-too
dark. too ~shaky-liable to blow down
during any high wind. But the force Of
public opinion in the premises, very pro-
perly influenced these gentlemen to change
front on the question and the Delegation
discovering this change, authorized Mr..
Cutter to bring in a Bill for the $4,000
purchase. He did 50; and himself and
Mr.. Ingham heartily supported the mea-
sure. They are entitled to credit for q
candid "fop" on this subject; (thoush
Ingham declined to vote,) so o o as they
found the people and the vast majority Of
the Legislature were contrary minded on
their original position.
Whenever anything is proposed from
the Storey Delegation. in the Assembly,
4" attention" is at once the word descrip.
tive of the condition of &" things" A row
in the camp is definitely expected and all
hands are instantly piped to quarters.
DR.. Mason. Of Esmeralds, calls the Storey
Delegation, the twelve Apostles"
Grey rose, on Thursday, to a question
of privilege, on the matter of erasing GER
tain words from ar engrossed and printed
bill. This was with reference to the strik-
ing out the words and q quarter" in
amendments to the tar limit Of the city
corporation Of Virginia City. Here was
another instance in which q portion Of the
Storey delegation, already named, found
that they attempted q measure that the
people would not abide; to wit /: the levy
ing of an additional quarter per cent. in
taxation for city purposes. So shey struck
out from the printed bill this additional
sum. This action was had openly, in the
presence Of the Speaker himself; but no
less in plain and gross violation Of pro-
prie.y and right. What motive could
prompt such unusual and wrong action, it
Is difficult to imagine. For the people
already knew that such a proposition had
been made in the Legislature and it was
generally understood who favored it in
the county and in the Assembly. As it
is, the only harm done consists in the re-
printing by the State Of the old 18th Sec
ton of the Virginia City charter, precisely
as it now reads in the statute book. The
entire section should have been stricken
out, if this character Of liberty was to be
at all enjoyed.
So, the dark" /" shaky" building Is
bought a capital bsrsain1 and the people
Of Virginia City are not taxed al additional
one-fourth per cent. for purposes Of city
government. No matter how this has
come to pass it is a result or these are
results which can not be altered, and the
history of their attainment is sufficiently
well known.
In the early part Of the session, Sumner
gave notice Of a bill to exempt mine-pro-
ceeds from local taxation. Subsequently,
Senator Tritle introduced q bill, amenda-
tory of the Virginia City and Gold Hill
Corporation Acts, so that the bullion tax
shall not be again attempted. This pass
ed the Senate, by a unanimous vote. It
has been in the Assembly q long time. It
came up the other day on General File,
when Mr.. Ingham moved that it be passed
over. Mr.. Cutter says that he has q strong
document from Virginia City, Directing to
the passage Of the bill-Jones' protest,
probably. We regard this as one Of the
most meritorious bills before the Legisla-
ture. It will be recollected that we ad.
vocated such legislation. long before the
meeting of the Legislature. Now, this
tax is not paid as yet, is contested,
has been declared unconstitutional by
Judge Mesick, and is now up for consid-
Grafton before the Supreme Court. 1t is
an unnecessary tax, so far as municipal
support is concerned. 1t imposes a heavy
upon our chief and almost only
- interest,"" There can be no argument
adduced in its favor, based upon the alb
soiute need OF the municipal governments.
The mining companies already pay, and
promptly, their taxes on surface improve
ments, to State, county and city !; and to
State and county they pay, without chal-
lenge, q bullion ad valorem tax. It will
be recognized that this entire bullion tax
is an srtya tax, over and above all ordi-
nary taxation. It is, in fact, o species Of
operating, by constitutional war
rant, against the /" main chance Of the
country. We think it would be well our
mine owners and superintendents to hold
a meeting, and authoritatively represent
the state Of the case to the Legislature.
Their expression Of opinion would be ap,
to fully counterfeit the pressure Of Mayor
Jones and his friends and associates, for
the continuance Of the tax.
The irrepressibls Monsieur Tonson,
I" Tucker 8 Co.." are before the Legisla-
ture for RELIEF! Ye Gods! And what
Is more, they have relief bills introduced
simultaneously, Or nearly 90, in both