The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-01-14

| on CastOrS The story was told everywhere a.
a fine joke on Capt. Mckenzie, and finding hi
| position as Its hero sllnbearable," he asked fo
trans er to active duty.
| 10 complete this story, and to show thae9ht
work OF reconstruction is going on, it is only
necessary to add that the pretty little Missouri
| Gwin who, enveloped in black cloak, pro-
PEELED the bear upon the redoubtable officer
who proposed to search their house, grew ul
as lovely as her sisters and, after the war, was
Woocd and won by a federal officer, and hel
marriage known as the missouri Compro-
mise, is, we hope, but the precursor of many
such proofs OF the union OF the North ard the
South.
DOG LAw.-We mentioned several weeks
ago that the Patrons Of Husbandry Of Augusta
county, through Mr.. Stuart, had presented a
petition to the Legislature asking that tax be
imposed on the dogs of this county. We are
indebted to Representative Koiner for the fol-
lowing bill which we lay before our readers in
full, and advise them to file it for reference
BILL
To protect sheep nthe county Of Auga:a.
/. Be it enacted by the general assembly of
Virginia, That it shall be the duty of the asses
sors of the county Of Augusta to take annually
at the time of listing the .taxablo property
therein, a list Of all the dogs, showing whether
male or female, with the name Of the owner or
person in whose possession the same are found
upon the oath or affirmation of the owner or
housekeeper or head OF the family with whom
or on whose lot or plantation any dog or dogs
may be found, as 10 the number OF dogs such
person may own or have, or as may be on his
lot, plantation or premises, whether owned by
him Tor herr or not. and shall return such list Of
dogs to the clerks Office of said county at the
time when he returns his list Of taxable proper
ty, under the like fines, penalties and forfei-
ures as are now incurred by him for neglect of
any similar duties, under existing laws, as to
his duties in listing and returning lists of tax
able property.
2. That every dog staying about any house
shall be deemel sufficient evidence of owner
(ship toauthorize the) assessor to return the per-
son inhabting such as owner of such dog; and
every dog not returned or if returned and the
tax be not paid thereon, shall be deemed to
have no owner, and may be lawfully killed
by any person seeing him run at large.
3. UpoI. complaint of any person to a JUS
tice of the peace, that there is a dog staying a.
bout the premises of any person that is not lis
ted, the Justice shall summon snch person and
the assessor toappear before him, who shall
hear and decide the case; and if the complaint
list said dogi and if the owner fail to pay tax
thereon and the cost thereby incurred within
ten days thereafter, he shall be fined two dol
lars and costs-one-half Of said fine to go to
the iliformer. In any case where the owner of
dog is delinquent in the payment of the tax
on the same, or any fine arising from nom
compliance with this act, it shall be the duty
of the constable of the district to kill said dog
for which he shall receive fee of one dollar
from the party delinquent, and to that end
the constable shall obtain list of all the deinl-
quents in his district, and shall within thirty
days discharge his duty in this behalf; aud on
failure so to do he shall be fined by the justices
of his district one dollar fer each dos, and
be responsible for any damage they may do in
consequence of his neglect.
4. That when said assessors shall have as
ccrtained the numter of dogs, they shall as
sess Except on one male dog which shall be
exempt to each housekeepela license tax Of one
dollar per head OH all other male dogs, aid On
every Slut or female dog five dollars shall be
assessed and said sums so assessed shall be col
lcted, or cause TIC be collectethant accounted for
by the county treasurer as county lcvies are by
law directed to be collected and accounted for;
and the treasurer; shall keep separate account
Of the fund arising from said taNand the fines
OF penalties resulting from the execution OF
this act The said fund shall be anG is hereby
appropriated for renllmeIatIng the Inhabitants
of said county for any loss they may sustain
from dogs killing or c-iping their sheep, and
for paying any expenoes in enforcing this act
not otherwise provided for. aud for paying such
premiums as may be acknowledgements proy-
ded; and the residue, if any shall be applied to
county expenses.
5. That it shall be the duty of any justice
Of the peace in said county, an application
OF the owner Of sheep, or his agent; which
have been killed or severally wounded by dogs,
since the passing OF this act, to issue a sum-
mons to three discreet housekeepcrs, who, being
legally sworn, shall go forthwith on the prem
Uses where such sheep may be, and examine
into the facts and justice of the claim and ap-
praise the amount of damages sustained by the
owner and return an accurate statement of the
same under their hands to the justice; who, if
he approve the return, shall so endorse the
same, but if not, shall endorse his tlisapprdTal
and his reasons for the same, land forward all
the papers to the clerk OF said county, who
shall receive the same and present them to the
board of supervisors Of said county at their next
meeting.
6. The board OF supervisors shall allow ont
of the fund created by this act such premiums
for killing foxes, wolves, wild cats, and panth-
ers as in their judgement they shall deem best
to further the objects Of this act; they are en-
powered to make such changes i'll the premi-
ums, and make such relations for establishing
rights thereto ana IOf guarding against ITautiS
on the treasury as experience may suggest,
and also for identifying the dogs Which are eN-
empted and those on which the tax has been
paid. They shall also have discretion to order
the payment in whole, or in part, the claims
for damages to sheep. subject to the amount
of funds collected under this act, and the legal
and equal right Of each application.
1t shall be the duty OF the attorney for the
commonwealth to be present and represent
the interests of the county when these claims
are decided.
Z. All payments made by the treasurer out
of funds created by this act shall be on the Or
der of the board of supervisors, certified by the
county clerk.
s. The treasurer shall annually, at the meet
ing of the board of supervisors, make a settle
ment with said board Of his management of
this fund, which settlement shall be recorded by
the clerk.
8. The fees OF officers employed in the ex-
ecution of this act slall be similar to those re-
ceiyed for like service; and where none are
prescribed by law, the board OF supervisors
shall make such proper compensation; all of
(Which shall be paid out OF the afore-
said fund.l
10, This act shall not effect sections five
and six Of chapter one hundred and two of the
Code OF eighteen hundred and seventy three.
IL. This act shall be in force from the first
OF May, eighteen hundred and seyenty-flve.
1t is stated that Vice President Wilson will