Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-04-01
From Richmond.

correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
RICHMOND. Mar. 3O-In the House Of Dele
gates to-day, resolution limiting all speeches,
save those Of the Chairman of the Finance
Committee, TO ten minutes. was adopted.
The Tax bill was then taken up. ana a mo-
ton made to amend by making the tax on land
40 instead of so cts This CAUSED some debate,
when Il motion TO pass the section by was lost
nv q vote of 33 to 81 An amendment was
then offered to make the tax 45 cts, and pend
inc debate the House after i very short session
adjourned
During the discussion,
Mr.. @ Fcrall par,icu!arizcd the fifty cent
tax on land as one of the most Objectionable
features of the biz and declared his purpose TO
yo!e against the bill unless this tax was reduced:
Mr.. Duoley said it had been understood all
along that the demand of the people was that
taxes should not be increased, and the majority
of the House acted upon that idea but now it Is
alleged that their demand is for reduction. :
He contenled that under the re.assrslncnt the
average reduction OF he valuation Of lands
would be % per cent.
Mr. Smith was opposed to this petty ten
cent reduction. The excitement over IL WAS
TEMPEST in Il teapot.
Mr. Coghiil thought the section imposing
the land tax should be passed by until the re-
maiudcr of the bill had been acted on-So that
The full effect of the proposed reduction could
BIZ ascertained. lie thought "a per cent. would
be the average, reduction on the valuation OF
Land, un;cr the rc-usscsSln"nt, and he wished
tn know beinrc he acted how the dcilclt WAS to
be met.
| Mr.. Robertson raised the constitutional OH
lection that the proposed reduction would be a
i ,Ienarture from the al valurem principle lie
said during a recent absence OF ten days he had
not found any evidence Of dissatisfaction with
| the f!tv cent tax among the people.
| Mr.. @ Ferrall charged that the bill WAS
| framed in tie interest of the cities and towns
and of the money power.
| Mr.. Brooke said he had llst returned from
the country, and had not heard Il solitary man
complain of the fifty cent tax, or express Il
wish for its reduction Nota single member
had been instructed by his constituents to vote
for the proposed reduction of this tax. To
tanper with this tax would be tanlperins with
the credit of the State.
Mr.. Pnayue said that if the people desired
, this reduction their representatives would have
heard from them Oh the subject before this.
Mr.. Jones, Of Gloucester. argued that he TAX
on oysters was six times greater than that on
land, and If he proposed increase OF the oyster
tax should be made it would be twelve times
greater.
| Mr.. Men lien cited figures to show that
from three oi the pew subjects Of taxation en-
| braccd in the bill the revenue would amnnnt to
considerably more than $200,000 which would
overha!auce any deficit that light be produced
! by the pro, oscd reduction of the land tax.
| Mr. Coghill estimated the whole tax on land
and personal property. at fifty cents, 10 be
! thirteen hundred and seventy thousand dollars.
| II reduced to forty cts there would be differ
cnce Of $270. 900 He said that, although rep
resenring an agricultural constituency, he must
say that the CITIES and towns had manifested a
liberal spirit, which might we'll be initiated by
! the country