The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-02-01
EDITORIAL Correspondence.
WnEELlsa, January q, 1sS2.

adequate to meet the demands of our
growing State. To settle the issue
the Judiciary Committee reported
bill to impose license tax on ply
sicians, lawyers, dentists, sewing
machine agents, vendors Of light
ming rods, agents for the sale of
organs and melodeons, statesmen Of
fire arms and fixed ammunition &c.
Mr.. Mofett, Of Pocahontas, moved to
strike out sewing machines, as they
were a necessity to the comfort Of
almost every household and that if o
tax we're imposed on sewing ma
chine agent, he would make the buy
er pay it. This motion was violent
ly opposed by Mr.. Fulkerson, Of
Wayne, who is in favor Of taxing all
the subjects enumerated above, as
the State now owed $4,000 TO the
general school fund and $4,000 to a
bank in this city. He was no. in
favor Of increasing the taxation on
real estate, but to tax the subjects
above named TO meet the debts of the
State. Yet the Governor in his mes
sage says our State owes no debt and
asks no credits.
A motion was also made by Mr..
Moffett to strike out all the subjects
but lightning rods and fire arms,
which motion finally prevailed in
reference to physicians, lawyers and
dentists. Mr.. Wilson spoke very
eloquently in favor of Mr.. Moffetts
amendment, and said he would vote
to increase the levy on personal prop
erty and reassessment Of real estate,
in this State. He protested against
taxing these special classes; that it
was unconstitutional; that he was a
lawyer and friend Of the professions
and would do all in his power to pro-
tect IL.
Mr.. Riley also protested against
class legislation. He said those who
favored such course, did so to avoid
an appearance of increased taxation
and that for his part he was in for
meeting the issue fairly, squarely
and manfully, as the people would
see plainly that it would finally come
off them.
Judge Ferguson was for a license
tax on all the subjects named and
not to increase the tax on real estate
and personal property. That within
the past ten years the population Of
the State had increased about fifty
per cent, and that the criminal
charges had also increased in proper
ton, and that it required o greater
revenue 10 run the financial matters
of the State.
The gentleman is correct in the
latter statement, but when he favors
class legislation, he is in the same
channel that the Republican party
was in its last years of power in this
State. 1t is unjust to have class leg
islation. Some things may be con.
stitutionsl, but may also be unwise.
Last year the Legislature made an
appropriation largely in excess Of
the revenues; this was almost com.
PEELED to be done, but the issue ought
to be met manfully and squarely.-
We see the Virginia Assembly pass
ing such class legislation, and behold
the consequence, and the unsettled
state Of affairs in her boundary
Just so the following Of Judge Fer
guson's course, will lead US into the
same consequences, as all these Ii.
cense taxes would come off the peo-
pie eventually in the end. Are we
not already drifting toward Mahon.
ism2
Of course the present rate of reve-
nue. is inadequate to meet the de-
rnands Of our rapidly growing State,
but it had better be raised direct
from the people at once and not beat
around the stump about it. For is
the lawyer, or the doctor, or the den
fist, any more q privileged character
than the farmer, or the merchant, or
the sheriff. Would it not be better,
instead of spending energy in hunt,
ing new subjects of taxation, to spend
1t in hunting places where the cx.
penses could be reduced2 Sc
GEOLOGICAL. SURVEY.
A special committee has been ap.