davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
The CapItation Tax.


Several Of our Democratic exchanges IN
Virginia have recently declared themselves
unequivocally in favor of the reinstate-
ment in the State Constitution OF that
provision which made the payment of a
capitation-tax prerequisite TO voting. In
view OF the experience of Virginia with re-
spect 10 that provision we are little sur
prised that there should be found amongst
our people any advocates Of the discarded
capitation-tax provision. 1t was stricken
from the Constitution because 1t operated
exactly as the people did not desire it to
operate.
Many white men ere too proud 70 go TO
the polls and allow somebody else 10 pay
their capitation-tax for them. They would
rather abstain from voting than permit
candidate TO use his money to qualify
them for voting. But where is the negro
who would decline TO vote for that reason
The number Of such negroes in Virginia IS
small indeed.
Again: The experience. or at any rate the
belief, Of the white mans party in Viz
pinia was that il was not half so difficult
for the Mahonetes or Republicans to OBJ
tain money wherewith to pay the capita
tion-tax for the negroes as IL was for the
Democrats 10 obtain money wherewith TO
pay the capitation-tax for the white men.
So that we were doubly unfortunate In
having such q provision in our Constitu-
ton. seeing that, frat, the poor white
voter did not wish to expose his poverty
and, second. the money was hard TO pro-
cure TO qualify him for exercising right
he did not wish TO exercise under such cir
cumstances.
It is contended by the advocates of
poll-tax that o man ought not to be al
lowed TO vote who 10 unwilling to pay that
small tax. But are we not told-or,
rather, does anybody deny-that many
man who does not like 10 pay poll-tax
paws ten. twenty. or thirty dollars a year,
and perhaps moro, towardsshe support OF
the Federal Government? He pays tariff
taxes in proportion to the size OF his
family, not in proportion to the size OF his
purse? He would pay as much tax upon
sugar. say, as would the richest man IN
the land, whose family used no more
sugar than his family used Surely, then,
he ought TO vote in national elections.
We do not think it would be possible
TO induce the Virginia Legislature to re-
iustate the capitation-tax as prerequi-
site to voting if the body had the power to
do 80. Nor would it be possible to induce
a majority of the voters to ratify such
constitutional provision if such one were
proposed by the Legislature and submitted
to the popular vote. We do not expect to
hear next fall of a single candidate for the
General Assembly who will be willingto 60
before the voters on such an issue.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
stornre Batteries.

If the electrie-storage battery system -
canable Of doing all that its friends
claim It will do 1t will constitute
the popular system of the near future.
We do not pretend TO know now
this il TO be accomplished. but we can
safelv mako the contingent prediction that
II already that system is, as its friends
claim tor Il, both efficient and economi-
cal - then il must soon become popular
For the storage-battery system WILL on
street railroads. make each car independ-
ent Of all the Others so far as motive power
,s concerned, and will lead to the use OF
storage batteries for the propulsion OF al
sorts Of vehicles. We shall have carriages
of every kind propelled by electricity. in
fact when we contemplate the posi-
bilities of electric propulsion, we are
afraid TO express in words the expecta-
tons we hope to see realized
Moreover, it is dificrlt to cay q word on
this subject without seeming TO be writing
in the interest of one system or another.
This we have no intention of doing. The
overhead trolley system, which has done
so UluCu IOE tlihlllOhNs 49,
carded for slight causes. Its work mas
been wonderful, notwithstanding the dole
ful noises with which IL haunts upper
Main street every night, and the numerous
unnecessary transfers forced upon passen-
gers. and the liability Of the system 10
fail TO do its work at the very moment IT
is most needed. A power-house which
shuts of the electric current from the
railroad wires and leaves the passenger on
Church Hill, or in Fulton, or at the New
reservoir, TO wonder how many minutes ne
will have to wait for the motiye-power he
then feels so greatly in need OF ID not e1-
actly as good as power-house snugly en-
sconced in the bottom of each car.
But We will stop. We have the kindest
of feelings towards our electric street
railroad companies, and doubt not they
are ready to adopt improvements which
are known to be improvements.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
Tho STATISTICS If the Marines.

The annual report of the Board of Health
of Richmond (noticed yesterday was
printed, we Judge, before the publication
of the United States Narine-Hospital Bu-
reau's compilation of mortuary statistics.
and consequently before the Bureaus dam
aging reference to Richmond was made.
Though we feel sure that the Bureau is
wrong, il is not sufficient answer to say
that the census people failed to enumerate
our population correctly, for the like COM
plant comes from nearly all quarters, and
the Bureaus calculation for each city IS
based upon the census returns, Nor will
the fact that we have a large negro popu-
lation Gncluding thousands who are en-
ployed IN tobacco actories) do for a full
explanation, as these are conditions which
also apply to Petersburg and Lynchburg,
which show no such death-rate as that
fixed upon us by the widely circulated re-
port of the United States Marine-Hospital
Bureau. Nor will the subtraction OF
deaths by accident and homicide make any
very great difference, and it should not be
done here unless done generally elsewhere.
Cur Board is composed of active and
intelligent men, and we doubt not is study
ing this matter comprehensively and tho
roughly.
We should like to hear it discussed at a
meeting where all the physicians of Rich
mond could be present.
If the Bureaus figures are correct, then
there is no advantage to city to be set
upon hills, and to have good drainage and
sewerage.
The Bureau must be wrong, and if so its
error should be pointed out.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
The World Learns.

The Supreme Court of the United States
will hear next Monday the argument in the
case Of the schooner Sayward, involving
the question of the jurisdiction of the
United States over the Boring Sea seal
fisheries. In this case the highest court in
this country Is engaged in deciding such
q question as in olden times-we might say
always heretofore-was decided in very
different manner. The last argument of
things in seal cases was the loud-mouthed
cannon. The negotiations were formal.
The proceeding in the Bering-Sea case may
therefore be called new departure. For
if the case is decided against the claim of
the United States, it is to be presumed
that our Government will at nceacquiesce
in the decision. If decided in favor of the
claim of the United States the case may
lead 10 complications" seeing that the
decisions even Of our highest court are not
binding upon any other country than our
own. Anyhow the case is both important
and interesting. 1t points to a time when
war will not be standing in the back
ground whenever two nations come to-
gether to settle little international mis-
understanding.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
--77@9a@777@777777@"
The Clty Hail Investigation.

We make room to-day for full reports of
the City Hall investigation. They will be
read with eagerness by our own people,
and will, we trust, disaouse the minds of
persons not resident of Richmond that this
city lis in bad way"
The amount of money in question is not
large. There is but one person "a clerk
charged with crime. As to the other mat
tiers and persons involved, an examination
of the papers to-day presented to the read
ing public will show that Though there
hsve been omissions OF duty any CON-
parison of Richmond's affairs with the rot
ten administrations of TWEED in New
York and SHEPHERD in Washington is pure
invention. OF at least gross exaggeration.
Our city folks all understand this, but
outsiders may not, and hence these re-
NnarkR
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
Free Delivery Extended.

The Postmaster-G General has ordered ex-
perimental free delivery of mail matter in
forty-two towns too small to receive the
benefits of free delivery under the old
law. We hope and believe that the ex-
pertinent will be successful. The CON-
munity will be profted by all such
methods of education as naturally flow
from the free delivery of mail matter.
Especially does this increase the interest
which dwellers in small towns feel in the
world at large. 1t will also, we believe,
largely increase the number of letters per
inhabitant sent to and received from any
of the small towns which shall be among
The lucky ones to be favored with free
delivery.
There are several other postal reforms
or changes which ought to be made.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
Southern Troops in the War.
ATLANTA constitutional

Atlanta CONSTITUTIONAL
The Washington National Tribune denies the
generaIly-accepted estimate Of 100000 COnfed-
crates on the southern side during the war, and
claims that the Confederacy had in the held
from /, 800, 900 to 100000 men. These Wild
cat figures have never appeared in print before.
IL was reserved for the National Tribune TO in-
vent them. This paper assumes that all the
southern male whites were soldiers. II makes
no allowance for children, cripples, the aged and
infirm. II does not take into account the men
exempted for various causes. Under all the cir
cumstances It strained the South 10 send Co.,
600 men to the field. she had no more to
send.
Another explanation given of the fact
that it took 2,320,272 men four years
to compel the surrender of the Confede-
rate cause is that the slaves enabled us to
draft oil the available white men into the
army, while they stayed on the farms and
made bread and meat for our soldiers and
civilians too, and that, consequently,
slavery was q great advantage to us in the
war. While we shall not attempt to de-
tract anything from the credit due the
great mass of the colored people for their
behavior during the war, it is as nearly de-
monstrable as anything like this can be that
if our population had been all whites in
stead of nearly equally whites and blacks,
masters and slaves, the Contederacy would
have been in existence to-day. Had we
been able TO call out for emergencies as
great a percentage Of fghting-men as
France or Germany under like circum-
stances could have done, Vicksburg never
would have surrendered; MCMILLAN
never would have escaped from Harrison's
Landing, and there would have been no
need of fighting the battle of Gettysburg;
but if it had been fought we would have
~
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
Reciprocity. and Cuba.

The Republican party has recently suf-
fefed in the estimation OF the public from
several object-lessons which that party has
been compelled TO learn. The fall in the
price of sugar occasioned by the operation
of the MCKINLEY bill taught the public a
lesson which they will not soon forget.
80 also the proposition to pay bounty
20 the sugar-planters as consideration
for their surrender of the high customs
duties which had formerly protected their
interests opened the eyes of good many
persons to the fact that there Is such a
thing as taxing one portion OF the people
20 support another portion.
Again: The telegraph told us yesterday
that under the reciprocity conven-
fion lust entered into between SPAN
and the United States. Spain and
her possessions will be allowed the
privilege Of free entry into the United
States OF Antilles, sugar, molasses, coffee,
and hides, whilst the United States will be
allowed the privilege of free entry for most
of her raw and manufactured products, and
n reduction of the tariff on cereals and
-four. Tobacco would have come III for a
similar reduction, we are told, had it not
failed 10 come within the scope of the
third section of our tariff law. We are also
told that our -four will hereafter be upon
nearly an equal footing with Spanish flour.
Cuba consumes 900 barrels of -four an
nually. notwithstanding the high price OF
the article. Under the new convention her
consumption of -four is expected to rise to
n million of barrels year as a consequence
of the reduction in price which will result.
All or most of this -four will be obtained
from the United States, where also will be
obtained machinery, &c.
There can be no misunderstanding as TO
what these facts mean. There can be no
two opinions rs TO whether or not the
United States will be benefited by treaty
which opens 10 her cash market for
million of barrels of -four annually. And
that il was tho protective tariff OF Spain
which INSTRUCTED the channels of trade
and prevented us from enjoying the ad-
vantsges Of our locality no one will think
of denying. What Spain could say in JUS
tifcation OF her course in erecting CHI
nese wall Cor high duties) around her pos
sessions we need not stop to inquire.
Suffice it to say that all of US may learn
profitable lessons from the facts TO which
we have briefly referred; for, as we
have had occasion to say heretofore, the
tariff is q subject which will justify "op-
portunist" legislation If any subject in
the world will. The advocates of free
trade on the one side and of prohibitory
tariff on the other will soon learn to meet
upon common ground if they shall have
the good luck to be compelled to study
out each side the arguments which can be
produced by the other.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
The Title Deeds to the Marshall Mansion.
RICHMOND, April 20, 1891.

RICHMOND. April 20, 1891.
To he Editor Of the Dispatch:
In your paper of yesterday, under the
head of Queries and Answers" you reply
TO the query of Antiquity" as to the
history of the former residence OF Chief:
Justice John Marshall, northwest corner OF
Ninth and Marshall, now occupied by our
estimable friend, the Second Auditor, Mr..
Frank Rufin, who married his grand
daughter. -.
interesting details of the annals of that
historic landmark-one of the few left
with us-and you mention that IT was IN
sured in the Mutual Assurance Society OF
Virginia in 1895, but add that when the
site was purchased cannot be told, as the
title-deeds, like many Others, were de-
stroyed by the great war-hre OF April,
1865.
II il well known to lawyers that at that
time many deeds were, as allowed by law, re-
corded in the office of the old General Court
and were good all over the Commonwealth.
These records were in the State court
house. on the Capitol Square, and the late
eminent lawyer. Mr.. Conway Robinson,
declared that nothing during the late I'M
happy war had distressed him so much as
the loss Of these records-some or them
parchment deeds and muniments OF title,
going back to the first settlement OF the
colony: that il was an irreparable his
torical loss never TO be supplied.
Now as to the party from whom Judge
Marshall probably bought that ground.
Many years before that time Mr.. James
HAYES, an English gentleman, married
Ann Dent Black, daughter of Mr.. John
Black. Scotch merchant and owner OF
the large Fails Plantation "-called by
him Aberdeen" he coming from Aber-
deem, Scotland-and his daughter. Mrs.
Hayes, inherited that estate, and when 1T
was sold Hayes and wife removed to Rich
mond, bought much land therein, and
built the fine old mansion on Leigh be-
tween Eighth and Ninth streets, formerly
owned by the late MIR. McCance and now
by MIR. Mann s. Valentine.
Many years before the war the writer
saw in the deed book in the Office OF the
General Court the record of a deed from
the said Hayes and wife TO Judge Marshall
for property on the north side of Marshall
between Eighth and Marshall, where the
old residence stands to which i have re-
ferred. The writer is therefore right well
satisfied that Judge Marshall bought the
property from Hayes and wife and then
built his residence, as Hayes and wife
bought large property in that section, and
amongst others the square on which they
built the large mansion above mentioned
as owned by Mr., Valentine, and most, If
not all. of the square north of that and
north of Leigh street between Eighth and
Ninth. HIsIohcUs.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
The Youngest soldier.

The Boston Globe is inquirine who was
the youngest soldier In the Federal army
In the war Of ls6i-'65. and finds that one
Mr.. y. s. CLuroHD Joined the Sixteenth
Massachusetts, Infantry at Camp Hamilton.
Fortress Monroe, in 1862. at the age OF
eleven years and three months"
Yes, but was be enlisted as drummer or
IS nghting manf That's the question.
We saw good many youngsters with
muskets IN their hands. but none of the
tender age Of eleven and quarter years.
Now LEI Us inquire who was the youngest
Confederate soldier; his name, his age at
enlistment, bic company and regiment,
&c, and whether he was an officer, non
commissioned officer. private in the ranks,
drummer. or what not -and how long he
ewved n DE field.
u Ysua:red pluck TO serve A drummer
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
Keep It Before the Poor.

Our information is that the city's pur-
pose in appointing physicians to the poor
will never be as effective as it should be
until the people who have need of the SER
vice of these doctors are informed who
the doctors are and where they can be
found.
The Committee on Health of the City
Council would do well to study the sub
ject and frame plan to keep before the
INDECENT poor, whites and blacks, the fact
that when sick they are at liberty to have
the services Of these skilled men of medi-
cine, who have been app inted for this
purpose by the City Council, and where
these physicians are to be found.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22

with yosth. yigor, ambition, ana an 'nu .as" 49,,
win 10 help us, Is no such grievons nis'.el ~.
lettering down again, Afflicted by me a,l'n ,..
which beset old age--our backs bent "',h ian.
baeo. our elastic muscles and joints sun 49,
painful. Is wofui piece Of business 70. .ns
iunrmitles which the decline OF me 700 ",.A
brings, Hostetser's stomach Ditters Is q Denon.
cent source Of relief n mitigating solaee s'asss
10 be depended upon. No regulating ton naI
evolved by botanic medical discovery ~ -, ,,y
dne stimuiatiyo effect 70 help tbe aged tno u ss.
case' and the conyalcsrent /; 20 reauscitate tne
Vitality OF frame which time and pnyslcsht, 49,
cline have Impaired as this. kidney and plao-
ar yeskness and disorder, costiyeness. maia-
rial complaints dyspepsia, ond rnenna.s ~
among he hodily affictions which this sterling
recuperant and regulator oyercomes,;, ,,,pss,
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22

The Johns Hopkins University of Balti-
more has received a most noble gift from
Colonel JOHN THOMAS ScHARF, of that city,
consisting of his very large and valuable
collection of manuscripts, pamphlets,
books, and autographs, relating chiefly to
the history of the southern States and the
southern people,
The collection includes, as we learn from
the American. more than fifty thousand
pamphlets, several hundred unpublished
manuscripts Of the greatest historical
value, exhaustive material for every aspect
of the history of Maryland, and rich manu-
scripts for the social, economic. financial.
political, and military history Of the Con-
federRte States"
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22

night Of February 18th. when the affair 'in-
dor consideration occurred, he had taken
altogether twenty-five drinks OF wiissey
and Eve or six glasses OF beer. AS tne
average drink Of whiskey Is half gill, u Is
estimated, says the Post, that the witness
must have had altogether that evening q
Quart and half Of whiskey and nearly TWO
quarts of beer. He smiled himself wnen
he made the statement about his ca
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22

DESPITE the fact that Mr.. HENRY WAITER
SON decries journalism as desirable pro-
fession, and laments that the editor " like
the actor dies and leaves no coffin " Cwhat-
ever that means), it is now authoritatively
announced that EWING WATTERsoS, his
eldest son, has purchased an interest in the
Herald, daily newspaper to be started this
week at Middlesborough, KY, and will
have its editorial management"
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
Reiter to BE Reinstated.
Try telenrnnh 70 the nisnatch. ]

WASHINGTON, d. c.. April 21.-Command-
er Reiter, who was involved in the Bar
rundia affair, is to be restored to favor.
Because the Commander did not protect
General Barrundia he was displaced from
the command of his ship, the Ranger, and
received a sharp letter Of reprimand from
Secretary Tracy. That was November 9Th,
last year, and since that date the Com
mauder has been soiourning at his home
in Pittsburgh Pa, under waiting orders.
He was to-day given command Of the
Thetis, now at Mare Island, Cal, under
command of Lieutenant-Co Stock
ton. The vessel is being fitted out for sur
vey work and will continue the work Of
surveying begun by the Ranger.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22

Richmond Howitzers in the War;" by a
member Of the company. was issued yes
terday, and will fully meet the expecta-
tions of those who read extra cts from adj
vanced sheets of the book published IN
Sundays DISPATCH. 1t is interesting in
personal way, as many of the characters
who figure in it are well-known and now
staid citizens. At the same time 1t pos
sesses general value as contribution 70
war literature, seeing that it is faithful
portrayal of typical army-life in the south
arn armv
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
A. HUIZLER'S SIN.
3l5 EAST BROAD STREET

A community that is well sn,.s
with successful merchants on 800
hand and stylishly-dressed inbal,
on the other presents, in the na,.,-
compass, about the best evidence !, q
terprise and prosperity.
Ours is a city that is Just nov o.
evidence in The above form. and :
street is a fair specimen for a 50
these qualities.
Now, while a good maxim IN ,ey,.,.
style is Follow, but don't le,5
believe the proper maxim for mo-, :
Is t" Lead, bat don't follow" =
This season We have done a gor5t.
OF leading. We were early ~ a.
ket with a choice supply Of tie nov.
OF
FINE w00LLEN DRlSS COON
and are still showing some Of th..1
We now present for inspection =
the handsomest line Of
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22
1T REQUIRES
SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS

to open the eyes of the public. BY reading over
this yeritable statement you can readily see our
efforts for inducements. No house in the coun-
try can claim as low prices and minimum pronts
az we can. When Offering goods at these prices
YOU can zoe that our statement is true:
BLACK CHEvIoT SUITS in Sacks and Cut
Always, from $3.50 to 1880;
FINE STRIPED and PLAID CHEVI0TS and
CAssINIEREs from 81 so to s22.20-in Sacks
and Getaways;
FINE CASSIMERES in all the leading styles and
patterns from $3.50 to s22.50;
IMPORTED and DOMESTIC WoRSTEDS In
Sacks and Getaways from $40 10 s25.
These prices we guarantee 10 per cent. less
than other merchants advertise.
These goods are put up by the finest tailors in
the country, and We can boast Of their styles and
cut.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22

In regiment In active service. and hence
we do not mean TO discredit tho courage
aud usefulness of the youths who filed
these positions. but II Is right and fair and
soldier-likc to draw distinction between
them and others.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-22

We have the first No. of the Pulaski
Neos, bright afternoon paper, of which
Mr.. A. A. CHRISTIAN is the managing edi-
tor. The Necs has long been weekly,
and that issue will be continued, but the
growth of the town iustifes its appear
ance now as a daily, and we judge that it
will meet with gratifying success.