The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-27

<~@NN~ 0~'
MAIN-CosT OF PLANTING AND RAISING
THE BIvALvE-THE BILL OF THE OYSTER
COMMISSION RECOMMENDED.
The following message was sent to the
House yesterday:
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
17T TGoYERNoR's OFFICE,
.-ls RIcHMoED, January 20, 1877.
To the Honorable the House of Delegates:
] have the honor to respond toia res0ltl-
ton H the House OF Delegates requesting
the Executive to state what legislation will,
in his opinion, produce a revenue OF one
hundred thousand dollars from the oyster
interests OF the Commonwealth:
In my last annual message the opinion
was confidently expressed that the amount
of revenue named could be eraised from this
source without injustice to any section OF
the State, or any class of the people. That
opinion was the result OF a careful inyesti-
cation, and it was based upon the under
stood and conceded value OF the oyster-fsh-
cries. I stated, what is undeniably true, that
the oyster-groInds are part ofthe ungranted
domain-tne sole, immediate, and absolute
pr5perty-of the Commonwealth; and that
Ii their products were treated rs any other
subject of revenue, and were subjected to
the existing uniform rate OF taxation, they
would necessarily yield to the Treasury the
yearly sum which indicated.
In discussing this subject in an annual
message forebore to specify the methods by
which this result-m night be reached, because
of the obligation resting upon the EXecu-
tive to abstain from encroachmcnt upon the
exclusive Legislative function OF framing
and shaping the details, of a revenue law.
But the resolution Of your honorable body
calls for a specific plan for raising revenue
from oysters, and 1t relieves me OF all en-
barrassment in the premises.
The estimate heretofore placed upon the
annual value of the oyster-fsheries cannot
be successfully assailed. It has been ascer-
tanned that in the year 1869 six thousand
five hundred and two vessels OF all kinds
and sizes, with an aggregate carrying capa-
city OF eighteen thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six tons, were engaged in TAX
ing and transporting the oysters Of Virginia
to market. In 1875 the facts were derived
from local observation, and published, that
five hundred thousand bushels OF oysters
were annually sent to market from Chinco-
league island alone; that they were sold at
from sixty-fve to ninety cents per bushel; !;
and that the cost Of planting, gathering,
and marketing each bushel did not exceed
an average Of thirty cents. 1t would be a
needless consumption OF time to cite other
facts going to show that the annual value OF
all the oyster-fsheries of the State is not
less than twenty millions Of dollars.
No law can be said to be want
ing in leniency or in liberality which
treats the products Of the oyster
grounds owned by the State as any other
| legitimate subject OF revenue, and which
subjects them to the same taxation which is
borne by the private estates Of the people.
In view Of the known actual value OF these
| fisheries it is manifest that If subjected eth-
ciently to the same rate OF taxation which
is uniformly applied to almost all other
subjects, they must, Of necessity. pro-
duce the, amount Of revenue which is claim
ed to be due from this source. -s aa
But, the resolution propounds the ques-
tion, By'what Legislative plan can the desired
revenue be raiseda and proceedto answer
it. ...' -g..-.st -n ...-...c. 81 MI ~
|. In the year 1879 a commission was crented
by. the authority of the Legislature for the
| sole purpose of devising and reporting such
plan. 1t was composed OF residents OF
the Underwater section, citizens OF eminent
character, intelligence, and experience, in
terested in duly protecting all the interests
of the section with which they were identi.
fed, and possessing the: best advantages
and facilities for periecting the plan required
| at their hands. The commission most
IaboriousIy, and, in my olSnion, most ably,
performed the task imposed upon its mem.
bers. They matured plan, which, after
being modified, became an act of Assembly
on the 1St day Of April, dS72, to take effect
from and after the 1st day of May follow.
| ing. Bat even this modified plan never
went completely into effect, and it was never
accorded q fair trial. 1T was only allowed
to remain in force during fragments Of two
successive fiscal years, while the operation
of provisions to which its authors attached
much importanc was suspended until abou
the time of its total repeal. Indeed, under
any law, two years are required for the
growth OF such oysters as are raised lr
plantations before they are fit for being
marketed and for welding full revenue
And vet, although some OF the provision:
of this particular plan never went fully into
operation, and its merits were never sufh
eiently tested, it was beginning to yield nc
inconsiderable revenue when it was sum
marily repealed. The plan was 80 framed
as to preserve and protect this important
subject of taxation, thereby gradually add
ing to its value and increasing the reye'
nue. to be derived from it. II ii
had been enacted ms originally reported
il it had been enforced long enough
to develop its real merits; if the inter.
ests affected by it had been allowed sui
fcient time for accommodating themselves
to its requirements, it is the opinion OF COM
petent persons having an intimate knowl-
edge of the subject that the oyster-tisheries
would now be yielding IN annual revenue
not much if at all short OF one hundred
thousand dollars, and possibly more.
transmit herewith the plan for taxing
the oyster interests as matured and reported
by the commission; and / recommend its
enactment with such improvements as your
wisdom may devise in the light Of subse-
uuent exeerience. I respectfully suggest
that the members OF the commission be
called on for such explanations OF its details
as may be deemed desirable. -rr
While the employment OF armed police
boats is indispensable to the enforcement OF
the proposed plan, 1t is confidently believed
that single armed steamer, assisted with
two or three sloops, will suffice for accom-
plishing that object. The employment OF
such a police force is as necessary to pre-
vent the destruction OF the oyster-beds by
nonresident marauders as for the produc-
tion OF. revenue. ..-
; lam assured that the great body OF our
patriotic fellow-citizens OF the Underwater
section desire the law for obtaining revenue
from the oyster interest to DE SO framed
that "the taxes upon that interest shall be
the same imposed upon other legitimate
subjects OF taxation-conforming to the
same principles and discriminating neither
to its prejudice norzin its favor. "s