The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-02-27
Reckless Legislation.

Last week we suggested to the Legiss
lature to at once repeal the act lmpos-
ing tax ON charters in the ratio OF the
capital stock named in the charter.
Whether this suggestion will be needed
or not we do not know. But we are
sure if the members could hear an eX-
preston of public opinion in relation to
it, they would not hesitate moment in
doing so. Why there could not have been
conceived a measure or law more directly
in conflict with the interests of the State,
or one which so seriously reflected upon
the intelligence of the law making power
of the Commonwealth. The idea OF
DO iy entrusted with the welfare of the
State whose primary duty is to legis-
late for the interests OF the people-en-
acting a law to drive away capital and
enterprise, arrest development and I'M
provement. and in effect build chinese
wall around Virginia-is so supremacy
silly and ridiculous, that it is wonder
anv intelligent member of that body
should have conceived, let alone enact
it into law. 1t is tantamOunt to saying
we do not want foreign capital to cross
the borders of the State, that we will not
allow intelligent enterprise and expert
knowledge to approach our undeveloped
mineral districts, that it can seek, as it
will. other territory and other States for
investment and development, while Vir-
ginia will fall back upon her reserved
rights and the resolutions of $500. We
risk nothing in saying that if this fool
ish law shall remain ON the statute books
until the next Legislature meets, it will
deprive Virginia of $40, 100000 OF invested
capital and work infinitely greater loss
/ in repeling the means to develop her
resources.
The law is shame and a disgrace to
| the age we live in and to the State, and
ought to be stricken from the statute
book without days delay.
And so with the meat bill. There is
no question that such transparent eva
sion of the Federal Constitution will be
condemned by the courts But it would
serve to annoy and Cypress many OF the
people of the State, while its unconstl-
nationality is being determined. Upon
this subject writer to the State from
Staunton, dated February %, says:
Dear Slr:-The passage of the law tax
ing all fresh meats shipped to Richmond
and other cities from a distance greater
than 100 miles is simply outrageous. For
instance large quantity OF fresh pork
is shipped from Staunton to Richmond,
1856 miles Merchants who buy slaugh-
tered hogs in the market send in lots
1000 to 5000 The freight is half cent
per pound, or say So per 1000 pounds.
Yet according to this law "a shipper pays
$50 taxes on IA shipment of 5000 pounds
of pork, and SIS freight. Who could not
get rich upon such profits as the tax
gatherer gets A good sized hog weighs
$50 pounds, and the tax would be sou
per head on each hog. What will farm.
ers have to say to this? The law should
not stand an hour. We cannot think
there was proper deliberation by the
Legislature on the subject, and the law
should be repealed at once. b.
The excise law is another exhibition OF
mental strabismus for which no rational
excuse can be offered. 1t will come
home to plague its inventors, and the
next election will illustrate what the
people think of it.