Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-22

t,on 70 make the acreage tax 30 cents after
the hrst year instead of 25 cents as pro-
posed by his bill came up be made a lengthy
speech on the general merits Of the bill
and assured the Senate that he would have
nothing more to say on the subject.
THIS STATE AND OTHERS.
In the course of his speech Nr. Stubbs
sald lis very difficult for one 10 ap.
proximate the number of acres of oyster
planting-ground in Virginia waters. T'wen.
ty-hve cents per acre after a survey has
been made Is as much "a the planter can
stand. know am not making an under.
estimate when ! say that there will be
5000 acres rented ir Virginia.
Mr. Stubbs, after referring 20 the strong
competition which the Virginia PLANTER
mas both North and South and comparing
the rental charges with those of other
States. declared that the Virginia planter
cannot successfully compete with those OF
other States II the increase in rental is made
and argued that the State will lose. az much
OF inc most indifferent territory will not be
taken in.
ExrENroF THE INDUSTRY.
Continuing he said il is economy on the
part Of Virginia TO spend $4,000 in pro.
toctlng the oyster industry of Virginia ;
1t is If she did not receive directIy one cent
OF revenue. If the lands on the water.
courses are improved; buildings are
erected: stores are opened; vessel pro-
perry owned IN large quantities, tens OF
thousands of women and children are sup.
ported, fifteen thousand men have employ.
lnent eight months in the year-these
things and nothing more the result Of pro-
icctlOn then Virginia should protect and be
careful about legislation. This is not all.
Let me enumerate 10y tables what amount
OF taxes will be received under this bill as
amended If the acreage Is put at twenty
i've cents per acre.
First:
Planted oysters valued at..............f25o0Oo at 600
3)O vessels engaged in the oyster trade,
over 20 tons burthen, valued at 81 800. S00,O ,O0o
RDlO vessels In the oyster trade, between
and 20 tons burthen. az an average
price Of 500 CoO,OOC
l@,O0J ekins. canoes. small boats, etc,
used IN tho oyster trade, at an ave-
rage price Of tjO....................... sOO,c0
Lands on water-courses are assessed
higher than lands Of the same quail
iy Oh the rivers, aud the difference
amounts 100000
100000
Tax Of 40 cents on the 300 on tho above
amounts ip......................... Jn0ll
Add the taxes for county purposes and
'us fair It viii be about the same -. s2,OOc
Making S64,O 900 TO be paid on the
above items.
Again:
l2,OO0 ssiiis registered annually at an
average OF t2.........-....... 24,00C
100 vessels taking our license for dredg-
ing at so per yessoi..................~ 600,
acre...........'' '...................',.. w 1O,OO(
800 stores on water-cOurses in the coun-
ties, paying merchant licenses and
hquOr-lcenses and supported by the
oyster trade, average license 800. 5000.
1000 patent OysteT-tOngs at {i.......... 1900
8 iOi. .OC
Third. Thetaxes paid by the large mum.
ber OF OYster-pac establishments in Nlr-
glnia; large increase OF taxable values OF
real estate and permanent improvements
put thereon IN our cities and towns in Tide
water directly from the oyster trade.
cannot possibly estimate the amount OF
taxes derived from Table III. But some
senator will say all the items in these
tables DO not represent the 0yster-taX.
say they do directly and indirectly. Di.
rectly, $4,000; indirectly, S72,000-total
Sl33 600.
This does not embrace the county
and city taxes. which are enormous in the
extreme. Nor can one single item be sue
cpsSfullv disputed. Remember, this Is only
from the oyster industry.
Mr. Stubs continued at length in pre-
sentatiOn of his views and in defence ol
the patriotism of his people.
OTHER SPEECHES.
The subject was further discussed by
Messrs. Blackstone, Moore, Jones, Me
Donald, and lovenstein. and while the in
crease of acreage-taX was the point at ISSUE
the debate involved the cutire bill.
The former opposed the amendment and
all of the others endorsed IT.
Mr.. Blackstone's speech on the general
merits Of the bill was brief but argumenta.
Ila q gtrapglk- 4nHtn-pH 20 the 1IaQ
of forcing planters 10 lease grounds for the
term Of fifteen wears. Mr.. Blackstone
said he was not welded TO Mr.. Stubbs's
bill. but considered IL a more Just measure
than the original. In the course of his re-
marks, Mr.. Blackstone. while opposing the
theory of that gentleman, said Mr.. Moore
undoubtedly understood the oyster ques-
ton better than any member of the body,
except those from the 1idewater section.
Mr.. Mcdonald. as n representative. OF an
oyster section. preferred the special com
mittee's bill and said the amendments Of
fered by Mr.. Moore to the pending
measure were highly proper. The acreage
tax should be nj least fifty cents-in fact
he favored making it one dollar per acre,
The other speakers only discussed the
financial bearing of the amendments pro
posed. and declared that while they re-
epected the views of Mr.. Stubs an eX
them that the regulations should be more
strict and the taxes imposed higher, ,
All of the amendments were adopted
and Dending a vote on the engrOssment ol
tbo bilI the hour of o'clock arrived, anC
the chair was vacated until 7. NJ.
CHANGES MADE.
Bv the amendments proposed YESTERDAY
bv Mr.. Moore and on Thursday by MT
Tovenstein and adopted the following
changes are made IN the present law ,
/ The dd udloTcm tax on oysters Is abol
D 4 tax of So is put on large boats en-
caped in the industry and $l.5O on snal
boats. II. 49,
eboaIs are preserved for common use, Ou
are more accurately described. Othe
grounds are TO be leased, instead OF ut =
cents an acre as now. at % cents Tor th'
first wear and 80 cents afterwards.
4 The lessee is to have absolute. eXclu
sive riCht of possession for nfteen years n
long as the rent is paid. H.,
4 The Inspector is required TO nave NJ
accurate survey made, the same 10 Oe 10
corded. II. 1oo.o ~
6. When the inspector makes a lease o
ASSIGNMENT and the same - recordeu am
notice. Of the fact posted at the court
Lonee door two months is gwen IN whlci
anv party can file with the clerk memo
randum in writing denying that IN
oround leased is properly asslgnaDle ah' m
Claiming that the same Is naturh oysItI
rock. Thcreupon the clerk ISSUES run
mon the assignee and the matter Is tree
m the county court without jury. IL ne
nrotest is made the action OF the lnspect?
Il final against the world. If the protest
made the Judgment Of the court Is hnai:
2 Non-residents are excluded from Ih
o' ,,S An amendment of Mr.. Stubbs places
tax of S4 on each pair of patent oyster
tongs. r,,orates.
The House was called to order at l
o,clock-Nr. Ryan IN the char.
pu1s PLACED ON THE CALENDAR.
To amend andre-enact sections 256, ~ :
onh 9as4 contained in chapter llO OF IN
Cn5e SI5 Of Virginia Of 1897, IN regard 10 he
chTnign Tn ianthorize the qualified voters OF tn
.onnty OF Bath TO vote on the quesllo!,ni H!,i % .
re'nnval of the courthouse. clerks oince
isii al etc. TO the Bath Alum springs .
near by. .o Of the town OF rs