Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-19

sense of the official obligation, with con-
seriousness of the difficulties which surround
ia. with a Knowledge that the peril to the
settlement which we have decreed is serious,
7 earnestly recommend to the General As
sembly of Virginia the appointment OF q
commission whose duties shall be plainly
defined, whose powers shall be carefully
prescribed. guarded, and limited that no
misconceptions be INDUCED in On the part OF
apy one. Such q commission should only
be empowered to explain the settlement OF
1881 and 1882 to the creditors and point out
that which addresses itself 10 their interests
as well as to the interests Of the State. 1t
should be clothed with no other power and
have no ether duties to perform but TO urge
them 10 accede to the settlement Virginia
has decreed, 10 represent how futile had
been their efforts in the past TO resist the
determination OF our people, and that the
future held out to them only the prospect of
interminable litigation, injurious alike to
them and TO US; that the acheyment Of
mere illusory triumphs ia the courts are
fraught with no substantial advantages to
the Iitigants on either side. 1t would be
the duty of the Commission to point out 10
them the vast untried and unexpended
| mower which resides in united aud resolute
people, and caution them against tho dan
ger of arousing public sentiment which
might be forgetful of all sense ofjustice, and
taking counsel only from passion, destroy
the interests which we are now striving to
protect.
1t is believed that if those holding the out
standing Indebtedness of the State could
meet through their committee, face to face,
such commission here in Virginia or else
where, and hear and see for themselves, be
confronted by the stubborn facts as they ex-
list at present and be impressed with the un-
certainty Which dwells in the future and
arises from the unsettled problem which
constantly eXasperates and harnesses the
public mind by fresh decisions Of the courts,
they would be willing to fund such outstGnd
ing Indebtedness into the bonds of this set
Element. Such action upon their part solves
the problem and terminates the agitation.
Virginia will act in good faith, will pay her
debt thus ascertained and acquesced in by
both contracting parties, because her reve.
nues will prove abundant TO do so without
increasing the burdens upon her people.
Confidence and capital will come to her
hand in hand; desirable immigration will
follow restored credit, and the Common
wealth will rapidly gain the place in the
sisterhocd of States which her climate, her
mineral wealth, and her agricultural re-
sources enttle her to occupy. Then indeed
will all things be established upon the best
and surest foundation" and we may earnest
ly hope that peace and happiness, truth
and justice, religion and piety," will also be
Established among us for all generations"
FITZHuGH LEE.
i herewith submit, in connection with the
foregoing message, the following facts and
figures for the Information Of all concerned:
The receipts for the last fiscal year were
$2,696 lO3 %. or this amount $50, l64 so
was paid in coupons, showing a cash reve-
nue. Of 2G45, 93S72 The face amount Of
the tax receivable coupons is 81, 72l ,2l2 If
this amount is forced upon the Treasury in
any one year it will absorb the entire reve-
nue. for thnt year and leave 500, l0S.7S tax
receivable coupons still unpaid.
The deficit in the Treasury from January
!, 1872, TO January J. 1880, was 50, $50, 23S. 81
or 81, l60,O.9.S Sc per annun, and it is but
fair to suppose that Il similar stale of things
will exist if these coupons are forced on the
Treasury, for this will necesstale an nddi.
tional tax Of II cents on every hundred dol.
lars of value in the State, and the people
have decided TINT this is more taxation than
thoy can bear.
The best explanation Of the discomfort
TINT follows an increase Of taxes in Virginia
will be found in IN examination Of the lrl
| lowing table of the number Of citizens who
are assessed with State tax of twenty-five
dollars or more up to five hundred dollars,
NJ prepared by the Second Auditor.
All over $50 Number 695
Ali over $50 number .............3,I 69
All over S1GO number Id
All over 500 number .............;s5
| All over $500 number "........................1I9
| All over $40 number ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10
All over $500 number. .........SO
There are about 1000 individual tax
payers in the Slate Of whom the lists in The
Auditors Office show \ delinquency Of 1G
per cent. This leaves The taxation to fall
upon 24S,000 lax payers, Of whom only
about per cent. are Taxed twenty-five dol
lars and upwards. These figures, if correct,
show that SO per cent. Of the tax-paying
population of Virginia is poor, and it is on
them that the tax falls most heavily; for
the weight OF tax is not proportional to
its amount but to the ability of the tax
payer and lie who pays out OF the money
that buys food and clothes for his family is
the man who really suffers from an increase
of taxation.
1t is true that The total tax is distributed
as follows:
Banks, tax on ID, e23 d.
Insurance companies .................... 81, 41025
Licenses other than liquor ........ 49,, 195 so
Liquor Licenses ..,....................319, s9974
Railroads, tex 441 81
Total ,Ooo,673 80
| Leaving the following sums to be paid by
the people:
Capitation Observation-Disclosures. 195, IT'S 0G
Incomes "a, 1888 56
Personal property POI O55 II
Roal estate tax 905, 7S94S
| Revenue ner cent ncnaitv - 25 $50 / /