The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-09-23
Mr.. Koiner as a Legislator.

We published Mr. Koiner's "Card," last |
week. In it he informed the public that his
bill exempted one dog that ''our Senator had
moved to stike out that exemption when the
bill reached the Senate, which was carried:
that when it came back to the House. lie voted
against it.
In commenting upon the s'Card,' we stated
that we had not had an opportunity OF exam
ming the Journal to see how our representatives
stood in relation to this law. Since then, we
have succeeded in finding copy of the printed
proceedings OF the Legislature OF lS74-75, and
we cannot learn from it how Mr.. Koner voted
upon the ''dog-law" as amended in the SEN
ate. The bill passed without division, and it
MI. Koiner voted against it, there is nothing
to show that such was the fact. Certainly, if
he had been in earnest in his efforts to have the
''honest watch dog" exempted, he would not
quietly have submitted to the amendment to
bill he had originated, without an effort to pre-
serve ii as it came from his suggestive and over
flowing brain. There is no evidence that he
objected to the bill as amended in tine Sen
ate, when it went before the committee of the
House in charge OF it. There is 10 evidence
that he sought to have the amendment nom
concurred in, or the bill dismissed. either of
which methods could have been adopted by
him had he been ,.esirous of adhering to his
original proposition. He was certainly unfortu-
nate in his relation to this law. He did not re-
fleet the wishes of those who wanted dog
law by his proposition to exempt one dog. He
did not represent those who are opposed to tax
ing the ''honest watch dog" because he made
nc effort to defeat the bill that did pass, swoop-
ing up all the ''fathful friends,'' and blowing
out their intelligenl brains in default of the
dollar tax. There is, indeed, nothing in Maj.
Keiner's relation to the dog-law that comnends
him to the friends or opponents of the law, but
ample to excite the opposition of both classes.
We find, on page es of the Journal, that Mr..
Koiner introduced the following resolution:
| s.By Mr.. Koiner-Resolued, That the COM
mittce on Agriculture and Mining be instructed
to inquire into the eypediency of so providing
| by law, that where any owner of land in the
county shall build a tenant house against the
line of an adjoining farm, aoithout psouiding his
tenants acith necessary fuel and aoGter, said
owner Of land so building shall be responsible
to the owner Of the adjoining farm forany DANA
gas from burning fencing or otherwise, resulting
fl ON the occupancy of such tenant house. in
| case the tenants occupying such house are
irresponsible for the damages so committed"
We find oil page 81. that bill in accordance
with this resolution was reported and read a
first time, and ON page 93, we observe that, on
motion Of Mr.. Medley, the bill was dismissed.
OF course 10 intelligent body Of men could
for all instant sanction such an outrageous law,
placing every man who happend to have ten
ant house on the line of some other farm, at
the mercy of the cupidity, rapacity and rascal
ity of the owner to impose what damages his
selfish avarice might demand. We invite the
attention of our readers to this resolution, par
ticulary, ard ask every land owner to consid-
er its bearing and tendency, and then say
whether the author of such law is proper
man to represent an agricultural community.
The most oppressive measure that was ever
introduced in the Legislature Of Virginia, or
any other State, was that offered By Mr.. Ould,
of Richmond, for which Mr.. Koiner voted, and
against which Alessrs. Stuart and Hanger are
recorded. This bill, however, is in keeping
with the suggestion Of Maj Koiner, as quoted
by Farmer and Granger" that the Valley of
Virginia should be taxed to pay the whole debt
OF the State-that the ''brawny arms and broad
shoulders of our farmers and kboring men
were equal to the herculean task and their pa
t..otic hearts ready to assume it.
The following is the bill, which was rejected
by yea and nay vote of "a to 81, Mr.. Koiner
liz the affirmative, and Messrs. Stuart and
Hanger in the negative.
sThere shall be levied and collected upon the
gains profits and income of every person residing
| in this State, derived from any source whatever,
whether within or without this State. a tax ct one
per centum on the excess six hundred dollars.
And the herein provided shall be assessed, col
lected and paid upon the cams profits and income
time for levying, collecting and paying such tax,
or due III estimating the gains, profits and income
of any person. there shall be included all income de-
ceived or accrued upon ali notes, bonds and mort
cages, or other forms OF Indebtedness bearing in
terest whether paid or not II good and coectable,
interest upon notes. bonds other securities of the
| United States and the amount OF all premium on
gold or coupons; the gains, profit and income OF
any business profession, trade employment. office,
or vocation including any amount received as sal
ary the share OF any person OF the gains and prof.
its whether divided not OF all companies or part
nershp, but not including the amount received from
any corporations whose officers, as authofIzed Dy
law, withhold and pay as taxes per centun Of the
dividend made, and OF interest or coupons paid by
such cOrpOraUlOnS pfOuIS feal1Zeu WlInlu the year
from sales of real estate purchased within one year
previous to the year for which the income is eStma
ted the amount OF sales of live stock, WOOL butter,
cheeSa, pork, beef mutton or other meats, hay and
grain, fruits, vegetables or other productions be-
ing the growth produce of the estate of such
son, but not including any part thereof consumed
directly by his family and all other gains profits
and income drawn from any source whatever, but
not including the rental value OF the homestead used
or occupied by any person or his family.
In estimating the gains, profits and income OF
any person all national, State county, township ana
Municipal taxes paid within the year shall be deduc-
ted from the gains, profits and income of the person
who has actually paid the same whether owner, ten
ant, mortgager also all mis- losses actually Sus-
| tanned during the year arising from tires, HOODS,
Shpwreek incurred in trade, and debts ascertain
ed be worthless, but excluding all estimated de-
probation of values; also, there shall be deducted
the amount of interest paid during the year, and
the aAonnt paid for rent fertilizers, or labor TO
cultivate the land to conduct any 9th business
from which Income is derived, also the amount paid
for the rent of the house or premises occupied as
residence for himself or his family, and the amount
paid out for usual and ordinary repairs. No deduc-
ton shall be made for any amount paid out for new
buildings, permanent improvements or bcttermentS
made to increase the value OF any property or eS-
| tate Only deduction of sis hundred dollars
shafibe made from the aggregate income OF all MEM
bes of any family composed of one or both parents
and one more minor children, or OF husband and
wife, but when wife has by law separate income
| beyond the control OF her husband, and is living
separate and apart fl ON him. such deduction Shall
| then be made from her income, gains and profits
the deduction in favor Of each ward or beneficiary.
1t shall be the duty OF every person OF lawful age,
whose gross income during the preceding year shall
I exceed six hundred dollars, to make and render on
before the day designated by law for other tax
lists TO the assessor or commissioner OF the dis