Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-14
FROM RICHMOND.
REVISION or TIE TAX LAW.


R1cuNoSp. Dec. l3.-l'hc Secretary OF the
Commonwealth, the Auditor of Public AZ
counts, the Sccoud Auditor and the Treasurer,
apuointcl to revise the laws for the assessment
and collection of taxes, and to report to the
General Assembly, have submitted their re-
port, consisting OF au assessment bill aud a tax
bill, with predatory comments and suggestions.
The report urges the equalization OF taxes on
land throughout the State according to the
system which already obtains as to townships;
strikes out ''nephcw and niece from the e1-
cmrtions from tax on collateral iuherltances;
recommends that dividends, interest, &c, DO
not taxed, as the property from which they are
derived is sufficiently taxed in other ways; that
uaracraph 9, section 60 of the Assessment bill
he rcpcalrd. as bankers and brokers are al
ready taxed sufficiently high; that railroad,
canal and other companies make their annual
reuorts on or before the lst of June, the re-
ports TO show the gross and net earnings for
the twelve mouths preceding the LIST OF Feb
ruarv of each year: that persons who take out
Ordinary IiccuSes shall not merely sell liquor,
but shall provide lodging and entertainment
for travellers; strikes out The five pei cent. tax
on liquor merchants, because the revenue de-
rived from it is 50 nconslderab!e, through
fraud au,l various devices to cvade 1t; Sc., &c
In reference to capital, the report says =
I'VE cannot state in terms too strong our con-
viction OF the impoilcy OF taxing capital any
further than is necessary to meet the require
mcilts OF tic constitution. We are borrow
iug State, a State in debt, and should, by a
liberal policy, Invite capital, and not rcpel 1t
by stringent and oppressive laws we would
deem it eniucntly wise, II consistent with the
constitution, to exempt from taxation all capl-
,al that NAV be invested in the establishment
OF new manufactures, at least Tor term o.!
wears. This policy has been pursued by some
Of the Northern States particularly Pennsylva-
MIA. and the result has shown the wisdom OF
the cnur in tie large increase Of wealth and
pnpula,iou which has followed its adoption.
The report further recommends that the as
sessnent bill whcu perfected and passed into
law shall be regarded As permanent IL SO far
at least rs rot TO require az annual revision,
though the taxes imposed will, OF course, be
regulated TO suit the necessities OF the State IN
respect u the matter Of revenue
LEGISLATIVE.
In tn: Senate, to day, communication was
received from the City Council Of Richmond
aud referred, touching the removal OF the penl-
tcu;iary from Its present site, and informing
the Senate that the Council had passed reso-
luton instructing its representatives IN the
General Assembly 10 urge its removal.
Bills we're reported TO secure and provide tor
paying the railroad debts of countess town
ships cities and towns in Virginia; for the re-
lief Of the late shcritfs Of the commonwealth
for the relief OF VIM NJ Buck; to repeal an
nj
ties 10 impose a tax on dogs; browning for the
selection Of Il site for State re!Grm school and
the erection OF suitable buildings; to amend
the act prescribing the duties and compcusa,
ton OF county officers; aud to amend the act
III relation to the duties and compensation or
certain township officers.
B.il, we're introduced to amend the code IN
relation to jurles aud the pay OF jurors; and to
amend the general election law.
Tie committee to whom was referred the
bill to provide for the redivisou OF the county
Of Fairfax into townships recommend that it
do not pass, as it is already provided for.
The bill authorizing the formation Of sub
school districts in Mt Glead and Jefferson
townships, in the cou .ty of Loudoun, and to
provide for the erection Of school buildings IN
| the same was passed.
| A bill to amend the act continuing the pay
mcnt of interest and dividends to the lDcorpo-
rated colleges and Summaries of learning in the
| State was recommltted.
| The bill declaring valid the assessment OF
real estate and the collection Of taxes on the
same, under the act 10 force January 24th, 1872,
was read third time.
Bills to amend the code in regard to judg-
ments by motion against officers and their sure
ties; and to amend the code IN reference to the
protest of notes were ordered to be engrossed.
The Committee on Courts of Justice was
instructed to inquire into the expcdlence OF so
amending the code az to confer on the county
aud corporation courts the like power OF APP
pointing trustees Tor religious and benevolent
| associations as is now vested IN the circuit
courts
The Auditor was requested to inform the
Senate what steps have been taken by him to
enforce the fines against clerks who have failed
to furnish the clerk of the House Of Delegates
with reports as required by section -, OF
chapter t t of the code.
Mr. Hcrndon presented the petition of John
| j.. Goodrich and other members Of the Fred
erick >burg bar, in regard to the codlicatlon OF
the laws Of the Commonwealth.
Senate bill to amend the act imposing taxes
for the support Of the government and tree
schools aud to pay the interest o. the public
debt, was amended aud passed.
In the House of Delegates bill was report
| cd to amend the code IN relation to marriages,
births ADD deaths
An attempt was made by a Radical member
to have colored ministers invited to open the
House with prayer, but it failed.
Mr. Ncalo, Of Alexandria, stated that had
he been present when the vote was taken on
the repeal Of the dog tax, he would have voted
in the affirmative.
House bill to provide artificial limbs, &c,
was amended and ordered to third reading.
The bill to incorporate the town Of New Mar
kct, Shenandoah county, was ordered to be en-
crossed.
\ resolution was introduced extending the
time for the collection of taxes and county and
township evies for the year 1872.
Mr.. Neae, Of Alexandria, introduced reso-
luton looking to the expedieDcy Of so amend
ing the law as to allow township collectors to
| collect all moucys for township purposes
\ resolution as to theexpedicncy ofextending
the jurisdiction OF Justices of the Peace, SO as