The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-12
MERCHANTS ASK JUSTICE.
SENATE HEARS THEIR VOICE.
Tax ON Merchants Purchases Reduced as an
Offset to the Decrease OF the Tax on Drum
liz

L T.,
in the sixth line 80 and insert -, and VIII
speak to my amendment. l Will say, how
ever, that II the Senate viii agree to COM
promise on the amendment OF the Senator
from Augusta $50 centsl, will accept 1t.
In regard 10 this tax bill, cannot, In JUS
tice 10 the constituency which in part
represent, vote for ii In its present shape.
I regard 10 ms bull to impose extra bur-
dens upon merchants, already taxed more
than they can bear. / am surprised, rs /
said last night. that Democratic Senate
should Law upon the mercantile interest so
heavy and unequal a portion OF the public
burdens when the last General Assembly
gave them relief.
As far as the city Of Richmond Is con-
cerned. /, A. one OF her representatives,
have voted for increase OF taxation when
it was thought necessary, even to 20 cents
on the dollar, and | was sustained by my
people, because they desired in good faith
to stand by every debt settlement made by
the General Assembly.
But, sir, they are not willing to submit TO
the proposition that merchants from other
cities shall be allowed TO come here and
compete with them and pay only S7j for
drummers' tax, and sell under that license
any amount while our home firms are re.
quired to pay S2G2 II they sell only
$780, 900 worth. | ask those gentlemen
who were so earnest for the reduction OF
the tax on the sample-merchants II they
are willing to overload and cripple the
citizens OF their own State engaged in mer-
camille pursuits! Sir, see no reason in
passing this tax bill with these unjust dis
examinations. The one now in force is
preferable. The bill before us increases
the taxes upon the person doing business
In cities. The tax on the insurance busi-
ness is increased. The auctioneers are
made to pay an additional sum. The
ship-broker is also in the same condition;
and so il goes. While taxes are piled up
on our own men OF buslness-upOn men
endeavoring to build up the State-the
| foreign drummer can come and sell
throughout the length and breadth OF the
Commonwealth. paying only S75; but the
merchant OF your own cities must pay,
according to a statement | have in my
hand. from 1894 to 500. Besides, they
must pay tax TO the city on the capital
invested in their business and a tax to
the city and State on their real estate, while
those outside of the State have this priyl-
lege without the payment OF one dollar OF
|
the city of Norfolk, and saw with pleasure
the enterprise OF its merchants, who are
pushing business into the State OF North
Carolina and Virginia, and j see with
pleasure that our merchants here are eX-
tending their business throughout the
South: but here is proposition to tax
them three times more than is required OF
Baltimore men and Others Can our busi-
|
hostile legislation How can they build
up our own cities and the Commonwealth !?
How can they compete with northern mer-
chants while we ourselves aIe crippling
themy We have placed them at Il disad-
vantage from the start.
| desire to call the attention OF senators
to the revenue received last year from
sample merchants-S7G,0 900. Under the
present bill, taking it for granted that
there will be issued three thousand
licenses. we will receive but $4,000; or If
you will double the number issued, which
is hardly probable, the receipts will not be
more than $4,000.
II the State does not need the revenue
why not relieve our merchants, already
pressed with more than they can stand
You tax them on their purchases, and
thereby YOU tax them on their energy. A
man has $4,000 invested and buys $4,000
OF goods. You tax that $4,000 five
times. You tax him every time he turns
il over. You tax his enterprise and
cripple his business and industry.
1t must be clear to every man OF buSi-
ness that il is but Just that the tax should
be reduced at least to 80 cents after the
first $1,000, and thereby Il merchant buy
ing $4,000 will have to pay the sum OF
SI5G, which is more than double the
amount required OF an outsider. | be-
leye that this amount, though large,
would give them chance to compete
with the foreign traders who come into
the State.
Unless we can get this concession |
cannot vote for the bill, but much prefer
that passed two years ago, which Is more
inst to our home merchants. This matter
touches the men in business in Staunton,
Lynchburg. and other cities as well rs
Richmond. I appeal TO gentlemen who
were so anxious to have a reduction in
sample-merchants' taxes now TO come 10
our relief and give us assistance to lower
the rate on our merchants. | appeal to
the Senator from Hanover (Nr. Wickham),
whom the people OF this city, rs he knows,
in the late election were so desirous OF
seeing elected, and no people more re-
! ioiced AT his success, and when lie re-
! turned to Richmond they received him
with open arms, and were gratifled that he
was to be in this body and in part repre-
sent them. | appeal 10 the Senator from
| Chesterfield (Nlr. Warwick), who seems
hard upon some classes OF our people. lie
knows his election was hailed by them
| with iov that his district had been re-
deemed and the voice OF our people
echoed and recchoed when his election
was announced. and thanked God that
| there was a senator here from that district
who would always be ready to look to the
interest OF this city.
appeal to YOU. Mr.. President. who on
Yesterday thought ii proper to leave the
chair and come upon the floor to aid in re-
ducing the tax on sample-merchants.
To assist in giving relief to your own
people. You know their wishes. You
know there have been circulars sent
| IN the representatives here to manufacture
a sentiment in favor Of Baltimore mer-
chants ask YOU to assist me in this ef-
fort IN Give fair reduction TO our own
people. and thereby assist in reducing the
| raves ~ the merchants OF that enterprising
city Danyillel which you also represent on
this floor.
trust il may be the pleasure Of the Sem
ate to adopt the amendment ! have offered
or reconsider the amendment defeated last
night.
sTAUNToS PETITION.
Mr.. Koiner made speech following in
the same line. and read the following petit
tion OF The merchants OF staunton:
To the General assembly Of Virginia.
We, the undersigned, wholesale and re-
tail merchants OF the city OF Staunton, do
herewith pray and petition your honorable
body 10 consider before passing the tax |