The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-17
General Assembly Of Virginia.
THURSDAY, April IS, 1874.
sENATE

SENATE -
The Lieutenant.G Governor In the cnaT. -.
PRAYER by Rev. MFR. Dashieli, OF 81. MAJ
Episcopal church.
FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr.. pRIpIuoRR, from The -Commitiee-vl
General Laws, reported with a1T mN Ia
IIo1,sc hin " to Incorporate the Vaiiey Euu'
.ational Association Of Shenandoah county,
Va" - .,,,,,,oo =, III.
naucc rcpor,ed withou: amendment House
bill q making an appropriation for repairs
70 and refurnishtng the Executive mansion
Mr.. KrFyrATRlcK, from the Committee on
Public Institutions, reported, without
amendment, House joint resolution asking
the Government Of the United states FOL
public lands to be devoted to public Tree
schools.
INTRODUCED AND READ TWICE.
By Mr.. SMITH, of Nelson: Bill to incorpo
rate the Richmond Hotel Company,
| Bv Mr.. BEAzLEY: Bill to amend ana re.
enact the LIST section of an act approved
March 81, 1874, concerning the fence law IN
the counties Of Albemarle, King William,
Sussex, and Surry.
NOON RoLI-CALL.
The u o'clock roIl.call took place, with
the following result: ....e.
SENATORS PRESENT: Messrs. Beaz!ey, Band'
Clark, Cochran. Critchcr. Dawson. DutlleiG. fasl-
ham EgoS Hsip aganf h. knSsy Hney
Newberry. Patterson. Penn, rridsmore. 9uesen-
Ferry. Tnemas, Ward, and Wynne. 80
SENATOR'S ABSENT WITH LEAVE: Messr 81 q, Al
Ian, Lakeland, Maddox, Nowiin' and smith OF RUB
Se SryA7oRs ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE: Messrs.
Connally and Stercns
Both of the lasl-named senator's came into
the chamber Immediately after roll-call.
SOUTHERN SETTLEMENT SOCIETY.
The Senate disagreed to one of the House
amendments to Senate bill to incorporate the
Southern Settlement Society, and agreed 10
several others. .~
CHARTER or CHATHAM.
The House. in response to request iloui
the Senate, returned 10 the latter pouy
Uopse hin 70 amend the charter OIL the to"n
of Chatham, in Pittsyyan'a county.
THE TAX BILL.
1Iouso hill for the assessment, levy, and
collection of taxes came UP as the order OF
tho dav. At l o'clock the consideration Of
the bill was suspended in order to allow the
Senate to proceed to the execution OF the
Joint order, having for its object the election
Of o
JUDGE FOR THE FOURTEENTH CIRCUIT.
Mr. Henry E. Blair received all the votes
cast I3S), and was declared duly elected Tor
the unexpired term Of Judge hahood.
OUR BOUNDARY LINES.
In the proceedings of "Wednesday 1t APP
reared that Dir. WYNNE offered an amend
nlent TO the bill making an appropriation OF
s. 900 for the expenses Of the arbitration OF
he boundary Live between Virginia and
striking out the employment OF
counsel to aid the Attorney-G General if re-
,uired. la doing 80 Mr.. WYsNg stated that
,e was not in favor of the amendment, but |
lTnred it because this feature had been so
'iolently opposed on the previous day that
e offered it to quiet the opposition to the
I'LL.
TIE TAX BILL RESUMED.
Mr.. THOMAS offered substitute for Sec
ion 1913, in relation to merchants licenses,
however, only technical changes.
Mr.. KIRKPATRICK moved to postpone the
onsideration of the tax on licenses. BE
rged that the scheme proposed was most
,dical change. 1t proposed to tax the mer-
liant upon the whole amount Of bis pur-
bases during the year as if the whole amount
lus purchased was taxable property owned
any one time. The Constitution requires
lat "the capital invested in all business op-
rations shall be assessed and taxed as other
roperty." The bill violates this principle
f the Constitution. A merchant may sell
ut and rc1nvest lis capital dozen times
uring the year. No merchant has in his
osseSsion at any one time one-half the
mount of his annual purchases yet this bill
axes the whole as if itwere property in pos
,ssion. No allowance is made for risks and
,sses. and yet, burdenseme and unequal
, this tax is, he would not raise his voice
sarst it ii the bill proposed to increase the
IXes on other property in the same proper
on. But is it right to place the whole increase
pom single INTEREST," He repudiated the idea
) often reiterated that the merchant can
ear the burden of taxation more easily than
Their classes, aud thathc can aud his taxes to
re price Of his merchan disc, and thus trans
r the tax to the consumer. He did not |
now any people who worked harder for |
wing than the merchants do. No other
vowed more cearly the stress and straits In |
dent to the general distress of CIR people T
O. other class was more willing to do all in
heir power to sustain the public credit, but
lsy ask that justice be dealt out TO them, |
nd they bs not oppressed with taxes i'm
osed on NO other class. |
Sir. CocIRaAE followed Mr.. KIRKPATRICK |
"A the same side of the question, and made |
very able speech, setting forth the impolicy |
nd unconsiitutionality Of the measure. lie |
shat the proposed tax would at |
crly crush the cities Of the Commonwealth.
Ia aludlng to the city Of Richmond as she |!
would be affected by the tax upon purchases
Of merchants, MIR. COCHRAN paid an eloquent
tribute to our people. He referred to the
succession of disasters that had be{allen
losses by fire and flood she
had sllStained--apd declared that the world
did not afford an example of greater courage
and enterprise under such adverse circum-
stances. Now, just as Richmond is getting
strong enough to offer competition TO Balti-
more, Philadelphia, and New York, it is
proposed to strike her q blow which will
destroy her prosperity, ruin her merchants,
and drive their trade away to foreign cities.
He could not contemplate such prospect
without horror, and he begged senators not
TO be led int the fatal error Of imposing upon
the merchants of Richmond and other cities
and towns of the State tax which was I'M
just, oppressive, and too erleVous 70 DC
borne. 3" III,
Mr.. HERSDoN spoke in favor of the bill
substantially as it came from the House.
The vote on motion to pass BY the 1880
section and print the substitute Of MIR
THOMAS resulted-ayes, IS; noes, IA. -
at $40 q motion to adjourn was madeanc
defeated.
at 3:15 motion to adjourn prevailed.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
House met at II A. M.-Speaker HAEGgE
in the chair. Prayer by Rev. DR.. Topper