Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-20

mt even the mortgage debt 10 be deducted
from the taxable value OF land. That the
state may without injury permit this AZ.
uuction Of course implies that she rnnv tox
the debt which Is deducted. and here
arises practical difficulty which seems
absolutely insuperable--that is. that the
state cannot tax bonds OF other debts
Which Del9ng TO non-residents. even
though such bonds or other debts no az.
cured by mortgage on lands within the
limits Of the State. Vide case of State tax
on foreign-held bonds, 10 Wall, page 800. )
THE CASE or THE RAILROADS.
What amount Of bonds and other debts
secured by mortgage within the limits of
this State are owned by non-res,dents n IL
impossible 70 say. IL is well knoUn how
ever, that bonds Of railroad companies
and other corporations, secured ON real
estate IN Virginia. are owned almoat
entirely by non-residsnts, and. in fact.
such instruments being negotiable. and
tner ownership constantly shifting, il is
almost impossible 90 get at them for taxa.
tion, even when owned by citizens' %
that It may safely be said that no tax can
he collected on the great bulk of bonds
secured on the property of our
railroads and other corporations either
under existing laws or by fur
ther enactments. Take the case Of the
railroads where we have definite informa-
uon. Deduct the amount of their mort
gage debt IRON the assessed value Of their
property and We have nothing left to tax.
A source of revenue which now Yields
about SlN.0OO per annum to the State, and
more than S220. 900 TO the various counties
and cities through which railroad lines
pass, would be wholly DESTROYED by de
ducting the mortgage from the taxable
value of property. lSee recent report Of
the Railroad Commissioner in response to
Senate resOlution).
We think we have stated enough in re-
sponse 20 the resolution 10 show that il II
not feasible TO release the tax on real ee-
tate TO the extent Of the mortgage upon
the same, and we so report. The report
was adopted.
Nv. ID. DABNEY, Chairman"
-, The report was unanimously adopted by
the House.
Youthful Criminals.
In the Senate Yesterday Mr.. Jones (by
request) offered the following bill, which
was referred TO the Committee on Public
Institutions and Education:
Re u enacted by he General Assembly of Vir-
g,1fid, That whenever any minor charged
with any crime or any witness, vagrant, or
disorderly person IS arrested, or whenever
any person IS convicted of any misde-
mcanOr or felony where the punishment
inflicted does not exceed confinement in
jail for one year, it shall be lawful for the
court, Judge, or justice causing the arrest
or before whom the conviction il had. in
the discretion Of such court, Judge, or JUS
tice and with the consent Of the Prison
Association of Virginia, to direct that the
person arrested or convicted, as the case
may be. and held for testimony, trial. or
punishment. shall be committed 10 the Gus
t0dy and control of the said Prison Asso-
citation of Virginia; and the said associa-
tiOn shall have the same power and
authority the State penitentiary now has
with regard TO the persons committed to
it. and snail be entitled 10 the same COM
pensation for caring for them which the
Jailers Of this Commonwealth now have or
are entitled 10.
This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
To Abate Nuisances.
Mr. Lovenstein yesterday introduced in
the Senate a bill which was placed on the
calendar. toreQuire and compel the ahate-
mentand removal of all nuisance within
the city of Richmond and within one mile
of the corporate limits thereof on the
north side of the James river at the ex-
pense of the person or persons causing the
same, or the owner or owners of the
ground whereon the same shall be; TO
prevent or regulate slaughter-hOuses and
soap- and candle-factories or the exercise
of any dangerous, offensive. or unhealthy
trade or cmployment within said city or
within one mile of the corporate limits
thereof on the north side of James river as
aforesaid, and TO regulate the transpOrta-
ton of coal and and other articles through
the streets of the city.
The Railroad Bill.
While there may be some doubt about
getting Mr.. Kent's railroad bill through
both houses nj this session, those who are
supporting il are encouraged by the assu-
rance that there is pretty certain TO be an
extra session 70 meet the expected debt de-
cisions of the United States Supreme
COurt