The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-22

1908 aJ the number oil civil cases COLL
menced In the county and circuit courts OF
The State.
The number of civil cases commenced du-
ring the same time in the corporation courts
for the seven cities and towns reported, was
/ ,427, the number commenced in the
circuit courts of the same was SGG, whole
numberrof cases commenced in both courts
of the seven cities and towns 2,294, giving
an average of 327 to the city or town, which
number multiplied by 10-whole number Of
cities and towns--gives 3,210, which, added TO
tine II .90S commenced in the counties, gives
u ,1IS for the whole State. In many CT the
States north and west Of us q tax OF
three dollars for every civil suit commenced
is levied for the State. If we levy like tax
we will from this source derive 4 re-
venue Of S63,53i, as long rs litigation Is rs
rife rs at present, and it will undoubtedly H.
crease every year. This is Il just and proper
tax. II O man goes to law without just
cause, he ought not to consider it a hardship
if the State charges him the small amount Of
three dollars for the Use Of her judges and
courts in which to annoy his enemy. II when
going to law lie has q good cause, upon re-
coyery he is allowed to include the three dol
lars in his bill of costs and compel his oppo-
nent to ply it, and thus in the end this tax Is
derived exclusively from those persons who
have no good callse of action at law.
The funded and mortgagcd debt Of the fol-
lowing railroads in this State is as follows:
Richmond and Petersburg ............. s3?6296 %
Richmond. Frederick sbn.S and, Potomac 1854 80
Norfolk and Petersburg. ............. 1GJ<.5al u!
kicamOn! and Danviile. 2,2f1yV0 10
Snntls"c.. ~ :. 200 -
Orange. Alexrndria and Manassas. 5.>7:.,:i -
Chcs:;Dctkc and Observation-Disclosures 5IG0eDV %
Aggregate funded and port"aged debt Of
these roads is $50, 422 ,5S9.95, upon which a
Tux Of half Of Ole per cent. will yield
rcycnue Of Sfj2 ,il2.T9. AS Gar as have been
able to learn al of the northern and western
States derive from this source large and
easily-co!lectcd revenue, and not one dollar
OF it comes out Of the ROADS, since the owners
of the debt are made to pay it. lprcsumc
no tnc will be found to oppose this tax, as
our citizens who hold bonds Of railroads out
Of this State are compelled to pay the Tux to
those St!tcs through Or III which the roads
lie.
This is just tx, and will yield us the
large sum OF $lj2, ll2.I9, Eli Of which, OF
nearly all, will be paid BY people living i'll
other States.
The gross earnings Of the railroads are as
ioliows-to wit:
Richmond and Petersburg ............. Sl1Od,4 %
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac 81 $50 II
Norfolk and Petersburg ................ 1928 81
Richmond and Dany.lle...,.........'.... ..0.s -
Nir..i fta ind Tennessee. l@G@o22 -
Orange, Alcxaudrla and Mauass;Is....... 1855 IS
Chc3 eallc and OHIO. 'o',7i' ~
Tota, gross earnings q
Unon which a tax OF half Of one per cent.
viii Weld S2i.211.40. As al the States north
and west OF us derive revenue from this
source. deem it unnecessary to defend its
policy here.
The following is the number Of miles OF
Tic railroads OF this State:
virginia and Tcurcssc. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. @li
Norfolk and Pctcr,burs ~; Il
Richmond and Diuviiic ana Piedmont IL thl' -,
Richmond and i'"crsi,nrG NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ~
HicninvnG. Fredericksburg and PotpH!ac...... -
Orange Alexandria ami MANASSAS. ........... 100
'hC,;ireakc and Ohio. -
Sctboard aud iioanokc. 81
Winchester and Potomac. ''
Total number OF miles in the STATE l,l9a
II, together with the road-bcd, we e>tl-
mate the rolling stock OF these roads, Sfo,o0V
per mile is Il low estimate. Now, l,l9", inc
humber OF miles. multiplied by $4,000, the
average value per mile, give, lI,b2o,poo rs
the aggregate value o. these roads. \ tax
OF half OF one per cent. upon when VIII
Weld q revenue OF &23S, l01 from this source
i State tax levied upon the estimated Waite
Of railroads per mile Including rolling stock
has ever been found prolific source Of
revenue TO the State; and, coupled with the
provision that upon lis payment they slall
he exempt from taxation II the counties
through which they pass, have been l0unu 10
bc convenient and acceptable to the lUata
convenient, hecl;,>e by iL the roads are re-
!iavcd from the annoyance OF county lc'icS,
and acceptable, because BY one payment 10
the state they discharge al indebtedness to
tod! state and county. The railroads 81 thE
State rcprcscnt;In aggregate value OF 81 ,62",
00O, and receipt value OF -, Si2, 2s0.S2, "!hrl
amounts added together give So. iO2, 2So.H2
,lpon which the wnole amount OF taA
asked for in this estimate is only S2G2 III 10
ANYWHERE. and under any circumstances, III:
would be 4 most reasonable tax; but Whcl
we remember that almost every dollar OF TIT
81 900. 600 debt, for which We are now try
ing to provide WAS spent i'll building these
roads, which to-day representa- property ant
receipt value amounting to $50, 49,, 2Sn.S-
more than our whole debt, | cannot believe
that any road will be found to reIusc.its pay
mcnt. These roads are presided over by mel
Intelligent aud patriotic; their intcilloehc,
will discover both the rcaSona0cncS5 aho
ju-tne.s of tie tax, and their patriotism VII
make them come forward chccrluly, ans
bear their share of the heat and burden o
this hot day. II, however, they are not VIII
in~ to DIV, they should be compelled to d'
50. And believe that when the people iear;
that there are in their midst wealthy cor
D3ratiLns owning more than fifty-two mil
lions OF property which is not taxed, the.
will demand OF their representatives to :,
lcoisla;t, as 70 compel them TO pay their fGl
share OF the taxes necessary 20 pay the inter
est upon debt Incurred not only Tor tHci
exclusive benefit, but absolutely i'll their con
strilcticn. The property of wealthy cor
uoratiou' j. not as sacred rs the poor man
piousil, upon which depends his own ant
his childrrn'S bread. and yet while the on
j. EXEMPT from all taxation, the other IS sub
ject to sale for taxes with which TO pay III
tprcst upon debt incurred for aud in belial
OF the corporation. This Is rcproach TO Tn
civilization OF the State, and IN utter con
demuation Of our present tux bill.
The debt Of Virginia is So 600, a tn:
of onc-halt of one per cent. upon which WI
Weld $4,000. This tax is levied by some
the States, and is just, iilasmuch as IL place
the holders OF the bonds upon exactly tn
same footing with holders OF all other bond:
1t Yields large and easily-collectcd reventl
tthe Auditor rcscrving tax when paying II
tcrcst). and am sure viii tc most rcadIl
and gladly acqu;es"cd in by the creditor
when they arc given their six per cent. IL
tercSt Let Us now add up the diucrel
amounts which it has been asccrtained ca
be saved to the State and collected from sui
iccis not now taxed.