Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-21
The Barbour Bill.

The following is the Barbour bill as it passed
the Senate yesterday:
Whereas the condition Of the people of this
Commonwealth is such as to render an increase
OF the rate of taxation upon property lmpracti-
cable, and the General Assembly OF Virginia,
eonceding that it's power to tax the property Or
person Of the citizen must at al! times be con.
fined within the reasonable limits prescribed By
what, in the Judgment of the General Assem-
big, is the ability of citizen 10 pay without
ruinous damage to bis property and business,
hereby declares that the present rate Of taxa.
tion-to wit. fifty cents on every 500 Of the
ass ssed va1c Of property-s the utmos,
limit to which this General Assembly should
proceed in levying taxes; and whereas the
revenues of the Commonwealth, with the
present rate Of taxation (which is the high
est that should be imposed at this ttmcI,
will not enable the Commonwealth to maintain
its governmental organlz Alton by paying tie
necessary expenses incident thereto under the
most rigid system Of economy, and to dischsrrr
its constitutional obligation to the system Q.
free schools, ordained by the fundamental law
oil this Commonwealth. and to pay the prcstn;
rate of interest on the amount claimed Is the
principal Of the public debt; and whereas lii,
preservation Of the State government Is abs
lutely necessary not only Tor The protection .:
the person and property Of the citizen OF the
Commonwealth but for the preservation Of tle
rights and promotion oil the interest Of thr
creditor of the Commonwealth; therefore
l. 30 it enacted by the General Assembly,
That on all tracts and lots of land. and the i'm
| provemeuts thereon, not exempt from taXallOn
| and on all personal property and chooses in A.
ton, and on all toll bridges and ferries, thrr.
shall be tax levied 10 each year uutil other
wise provided by law-frst, OF twenty five cent,
on every one hundred dollars of the assessed
value thereof, which shall be Dsd and collected
only in lawful money of the United States tor
the exclusive purpose Of detraying the neceaSa
ry expenses oil maintaining the government o!
| this Commonwealth ~ the said disbursement
may be directed by proper appropriation act
of the General Assembly; second. OF ten cens
Oh every 500 Of the assessed value thereof t"r
public free school purposes, which shall re pai!
and collected only 10 lawful money OF the Unltri
States, and shall be paid into the Treasury t.
the credit of the public free school fund, and
shall be used for no other purpose whatever
third, Of fifteen cents Oh every 500 OF the H.
sessed value thereof, and which, with all Other
revenue except the captatlon tax and aporIo"
Of the liquor license tax, not to exceed $500"
shall be applied to the payment OF the Interest
on the public debt.
>. It shall be the duty OF the Auditor OF puI,
| lie Accounts to have prepared, ~ soon As pra;
ticabe, the necessary books Tor the comn'S
sioners of the revenue, with sufficient aud AZ
propriste columns for desi gnatng and settln.
apart the several taxes hereby levied Tor th'
objects and purposes herein recited.
| 3. 1t shall DO tho duty Of the tresslrors aud
other collecting officers Of the counties. ci!le-.
| and corporations OF the Com nlonwealth, as soon
| az tho commissioners OF tho revenue shall dr.
| liver their books Of assessment to have msd0
out tsx-bills in which shall be specified tn
amount of tax levied for each Of the purpo,',
above named. and ehall keep the same separa!"
| and distinct from each other upon tho booSs "i
the offices. The said troasurers and other COL
lectng officers shall, ss soon AS said books ~
| delivered to them. and tho eaid tax-hi!ls mad
| out proceed to collect the samo q: now require
| by law, and pay into tho treasury the amount b.
collected by them, which amounts shall -
placed to the credit of accounts which shall D.
kept by tho treasurer and denominated-hr-l.
| the account of money paid in and dlsbursed 10:
| the purpose OF d. ftaying the expense OF man.
| tanning the government Cf the Commonwealth
| second, the account Of money paid IN ana dta
bursed for public free school purposes third H.
| account Of money paid in AND disDursni los
| paying interest on the public dobt; and lN'
| funds 20 credited to these several accounts s'r.
J
| ed for the said accounts in such manner rs iia'
| be prescribed by law.
| A. The collectors Of tho public rsvenuo s!.l
| in every respect conform TO the requirements {.
| section of this act in collecting and remttIhE
said revenue and upon a failure thereof shs.'
| be procee d I'D against in the same mode rs Is a.
rectod against the treasIrers or other collcriinH
officers Of the counties corporations by oAisI'n.
| laws.
g. Nothing contained in this act shs DO con"
sLrued as interpreting. or intended to iatorpo,".
| any obstacle in tho way Of the creditors "I lNv
State il asserting any legal rights they may
possess, or to compel their acceptance Ct Any
compromise Of such rights without their full
concurrence and consent; it being the intentIo"
Of this General Assembly, by the provisions o
this act. to relieve the present financial ombal
rassments of tho Commonwealth, with full puf.
pose if practicable, and with the consent OF IL"
creditors to secure an adjustment of the debt ii
the State upon fair and honorable principles.
| g. This act shall be in force from its passsg5
Virginia News.
The Petersburg Index says the negro man.
Al T..