Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-18

aSSt5etu VI LiAtu LOT ptdtSf tltfs VI
county purposes and whereas such dis
elimination is working the greatest in
Justice on those who do pay their taxes
now therefore be II
ResOipCd. That the Committee for
Courts Of Justice be instructed to ex-
anime and report whether vessels or any
water craft owned in Virginia can be
legally assessed for taxation as now pro-
vided by section 6 of the Assessment
Act" approved March 10, 1884, or
whether it is repugnant 10 the COnstitu-
ton OF the United States and laws made
in pursuance thereof or to the Constitu-
ton of the State OF Virginia.
Mr. Stubs in support OF the resolu-
ton said Mr.. President,-I have Of
fered this resolution go that the question
of asseesessment for taxation OF all
water craft may be examined into by
the Committee for Courts of Justice
After Il long and tedious investigation of
this question / have come to the con-
clusion that oil vessel property owned in
whole or in part in Virginia should be
taxed as other personal property. have
before me the name, size, owner or
owners of every ship. vessel. steamer, or
water craft over five tons burthen
registered IN the various custom houses
in this State. There are in this State
800 yesscls over twenty tons, rs under
twenty tons, 40 steamers registered,
and about 5000 small boats under five
tons. Let the average price Of vessels
over twenty tons be placed at $1,000 !;
average price of vessels under twenty
tons be placed at 500 average price OF
steamers be placed at IS, 600, and average
price OF small boats be placed at $50,
and at this small average We have the
value of 81, 1885, 900.
In the list Of vessels over twenty tons
there are very many large ships, as mech
as five or six hundred tons costing $780,
600. perhaps, and | feel quite sure the
average have placed on them is small.
/ 90 to the records have before me and
I find ont that these large craft are
owned in the cities of this State. or at
least the majority of the interests are
owned in Virginia, and these craft in
many instances are not assessed and no
taxes paid by the owners Go to these
small counties and the poor oysterman
and fisherman are assessed with their
small boats and taxes are paid on them
Let me compare the figures from the
various portions OF Virginia. In AccO-
mack county vessel property assessed
for taxation amounts to $ll3, l59 in
Gloucester, s39,947 in Mathews, $780,
730 in Middlesex, SO, $50; in North
umberland, S53, 10; in Norfolk county,
S}G, 900; in Lancaster, S26, 1903 and IN
York county, $lS, $50. Richmond city,
SIG, so and Norfolk city, 81 ,27j.
Look at the report Of the Auditor OF
Public Accounts ending September 30,
1887, and YOU will find the full amount
Of vessel property assessed COR taxation
/ in Virginia is SJ47,001. have before
me the names and ovners of eleven yes
/ sells. registered in the custom-hOuse OF
this city and ranging in size from 100
/ TO $50 tons. Go and examine the per
/ sonal-property book for Richmond and
see if these vessels have been assessed.
These owners think they should not
| be taxed on these vessels. If they are
richt. then | claim exemption for my
/ district. that is assessed with more than
one sixth OF the whole amount in the
! State IL these owners are wrong, j
/ know they are willing and ready to be
assessed and pay taxes for the back
wears. Mr. President, ] desire to de-
nand for my people every right they are
cutit!ed to, and claim n system OF assess
ment and taxation both equal and uni-
form. The iaboringman will pay taxes
on his boat and tackle, as he braves the
cold Of winter for the support Of wife
and children, but let the capitalist be
forced to pay on his property Oh the nigh
seas also, OF else repeal the law.
| hope the committee will report
promptly, If the Senate should 50 IL
struct.
After further discussion the resolution
was adopted.
WANTED TO RECALL.
Mr.. Heaton offered resolution ask
/ ing the House to return to the Senate
the bill "to permit taxpayers who have
rendered coupons in payment OF taxes
to make payment in money to county
and city treasurcrs. He did this be-
cause be considered the amendment Of
the House lin which the Senate bad con-
curred) relieving these persons from the
payment Of interest as bad one. There
should at least be some limit.
Mr.. Koiner thought the amendment
was proper one and hoped the bill
would not be recalled.
ELLIS vs.. HOUSTON.
Pending consideration OF Mr.. Heaton's
resolution Mr.. LOvensteln called for the
special order. which was the Ellis-Hous-
ton case. When much time had been
consumed in dIlly-dalying the case was
taken up. the pending question was
ordered on Mr. Berry's resolution direct
inc the Committee on Privileges anC
Elections to investigate the right OF
Major Ellis (Democrat) to the seat from
the Fourth senatorial district now held
by Colonel Houston (Republcan). A
vote was taken on this question Monday
but there was no quorum present and the
body adjourned.
PERSONAL PRIVILEGES.
Mr.. Read arose to q question OF per-
sonal privilege, and said that in the
Whig's report of Mondays proceeding
published yesterday he found the follow
ing at was yesterday stated that Mr.
Read, who opposed an Investigation a
the last vote, is now in favor Of it. Hi
vote will be sufficient to decide tho ques
ton" He had no doubt that the re
porter had unintentionally placed hin
| in a wrong light. He had considered
this subject seriously, and to 90 in op
position to his party associates gave hiu
much trouble but he could see no rea
son for this investigation, and woulC
vote against tho resolution as he has
done on Thursday
THE VOTE.
The recorded vote on the adoption o
the resolution WAS as follows:
AYEs.-Messrs. Arthur, Barnes, Berry. Blbt
Dalton, Dudley, Edmunds, kllyssn, Foxes, Cor
don. Harrison, Hoaton, koiner, Loyensteln, sta
! pies Stubs, and Wiliams-lL
NORs.-Mossrs. Acker, Blackstone, Cornct
Duane. Geo, Gillespie, Griggs. HUBBARD, Jones
LLOYD Mcdonald. Nance. Rawlings, Read, khea
Smoot, and Wckham-T.
Seeing that the vote was tie, Mr.
Rhea arose for the purpose OF arguing
why Mr.. Massey should not cast the
deciding vote. Several points of orde
were made, one Of which was that tn
vote had not been concluded, and tina