Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-03-07
OUR RICHMOND LETTER.
THE LEGISLATURE BUSY wHETTING
THE KNIFE 10 GUT THE STATE-THE
FUNDERS FURIOUS. BECAUSETHEY
CANNOT GET THE TAX ON LAND
AND PROPERTY INCREASED
THE PEoPLETO BE REDEvIL-
ED WITH A STAMP TAX.
RICHMOND, VA. !
March 9Th, 1876. !

During the last week we have had
the roar OF battle over the tax bill
The question as to " ho shall he made
t. pay most ct the state revenue aud
the bulk OF the interest on the pubic
debt raised "a deal of hot blood, end
his brought forth hot words on the
floor of the House, some of the con-
'rstahts iutlmutIng hot work With
each other, If language were not un-
COudituualIy rrlIaCtrd. The motion
To- increase the rate to CD cents was de-
lrulCd by a large vote. Then | heard
one of tie minority, who came brisk
Is across the hail, Say To another WHO
Is merchant, NOW, sir, you have
voted not to put the increase on land,
aud We will now haYe To put ii on you
merchants" So there it was ! Put
il nu fud-thiS is he cry.
The next struggle was over the tax
ing nf felled timber. such as cord
wood. ties for railroads, stoves, lark
hoop poles. 1t was argued that these
were taxed with the land and should
not he taxed twice, bat others said il
then became personal property and
hat new value and so il was taxed,
pa, siu- by a moderate vote. Next all
effort was made to tax supplies pur-
chased for family use, but We got the
enemy on that. = I present the House
il in animated discussion over the at
tempt to require each taxpayer To tur-
ni~h list OF all his bonds ana notes,
aud making the assessor the juiGe OF
their sulvrnCy and requiring HIM 10
have said lust recorded IN the Clerk =
office. II also makes any note unCOi-
lrclahle until II shall have Lern so list
ed and the tax paid. Mr. Nee ~, of
ACcumaC, even went 40 far as to offer
MI amendment providing that If the
executors of any deceased person
should find among his papers any
such note not listed hv the Commits
Siuucr OF the RcVenue il y all be con
tiscated to the use of the State. But |
must ask the question, does the State
want the bread of its widows aud or.
phurs? Does 1t mean to visit tie
sIus of the father upon the little chIl-
dreu ? Handy. The proposition Is
munstruus But !hrse extremes meas
ure the temper of those men who ac-
cept the Funding Bal.
The Senate has little to do while we
are king up lax bill Ia send
them. The resolutions of Mr.. CTItch-
or, endnrsil SCOTS proposed capture
at the hi d hnd only rrmalu NJ route
tn tie Puc tic, now occupies that tody
1t has all eady PASSED the udiuus urIm-
clple cmhodNiug the use of stantl =,
including in this care the stamp on
every railroad ticket. Even now II
Omen oCculs llal one cannot pttu ran
way ticket in time for tram, ana
often there are stations whore they
cannot he had at all. We mayas well
expect soon To he required 10 have II
stunIp-tnN imposed ulon meal tickets
aud Oth,r offices rendered imperative
10y nature.
The per diem question is still veX
ing the consCiencts of Ihin.skinned
members who wish some hobby 10y
which to make amends for the barren.
ness Of their services in the LcgislA-
lure
am glad to state That / am gradu-
ally approaching "A condition of health.
How some OF the menhrIs have ume
for the pleasures of the city / do Mt
know. Certainly all my time j. Orcu-
pied. and ii il could avail anything ]
would cry for more,
he city of Richmond is beautiful
under TINS lovely weather. The mer-
chants are getting large stocks Of goods
/ that are very stylish and attractive,
| II appears to me a merchant f!Om our
section can get goods here that " III
/ suit our people better than anywhere
| else | have been. / have never seen
! goods So pretty rs tie lines now Icing
displayed here, MesSrs l.. III Blair
| 4 Co. have an immense stock. Their
/ popular salesman, Capt ID. Z, Booth,