Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-27
IN A DEBATING MOOD.
ApAv or DISCUSSION IN THE GENE
RAJ ASSEMBLY.
1ax on Minsral Lands--west Virginia Ger
tiflestes-The Kent Bfi-- worlds Fair
Meney-BlscksbarR Report.


Meney-Blscksbare Report.
The morning session Of the Senate yes
terday was largely consumed In discus
sion. AL went smoothly with the bills.
resolutions. &c., sent over in tho report
from the House until Clerk Sheetz struck
the joint resolution providing for the APP
pointment of q commission TO investigate
and report TO the next General Assembly
the real aud the assessed value Of the
mineral lands in the State in order that
they may be reassessed and taxed accord
ing 70 their value, &c. Then Mr.. Fairfax
moved that the resolution be agreed to,
and spoke vigorously TO bis motion. He
was fully equipped with facts drawn from
his experience as civil engineer and with
figures gotten from the Auditors report,
and was thoroughly in earnest. He stated
that there were over FIVE million OF tons OF
minerals hauled by one Virginia railroad
last year, and the value of these
minerals was from 80 cents TO $40
per ton. He was as much In favor OF
taxing the men who were engaged IN
this industry as those engaged IN agrlcui-
turs. The value of this tonnage was over
42,500.000 not including salt and coal.
II
Fair appropriation bill was now under con-
alteration, and he would like 10 know what
eject in inducing capital and Immigration
the statement would have at C9icago tnat
the assessed value Of minerals produced IN
Virginia was only $20l.37l. Land that had
been sold at 800 per acre was listed TOT
taxation at $l2 per acre. Other lands as
sessed much lower were held at very hlgn
figures. His contention throughout was
Kat he
should be reached in some way for taxa
ton, and some equity should Obtain In the
matter Of raising revenue from the FARMERS
and those engaged in mineral operations.
Mr.. MARSHALL OBJECTS.
Mr.. Marshall moved that the resolution
be referred TO the Finance Commttee.
He hold that taxing raw material was UNI
democratic, but conceded that me ms.teL wa" ss
en- important one, and Tor that reason shou'u' no
added. be carefully looked into.
Mr. Hchols ngreed with Mr.. Marshall and cited
instances In be county where the supervisors
had, he said. put exoroitant taxes on iHh'o'''
lands
Mr. Green aald he was willing 10 tax ores AZ
the mouth OF the mines, but mol wiihng 10 Va.
tho people who still own the land ana mac
only disposed OF tho mineral rigbt ooheo vi
this land Was wilderness.
Mr.. Fairfax gave some telling figures, showing
the Discrepancy between the TAX on hlneIa II
products in some OF the counties ana the va'u e
reiterated, 70 reach tho value OF these lands as
regards mineral wealth. .
Mr.. Marshalls motion was defeated anu ine
resolution was agreed TO.
wEsT yrRGIHIA's PART or THE DEBT.
Mr. wickham, from the Commute on Finance,
submitted tho following, and moved that the
rules be appended and II be pat on its passage:
Whereas, 1t is provided by the Constitution OF
Virginia that 1.-The General Assembly shall pro
vide by law for adjusting with the State OF West
Virginia the proportion OF the public debt OF
VIRGINIA proper, 60 be borne by the States OF
Virginia and West Virginia" and
Whereas the Constitution OF West virginia,
ndoptod nt the time Of the organization OF said
state, provided that " an equitable proportion OF
the debt OF Virginia. prior 70 January l, 1857,
shall be assumed by this state, ana the Legisa-
ture shall ascertain the same as soon as may be
practicable, and provide for the liquidation
thereof by sinking fund sufficient 70 pay the
accruing interest and redeem the principal in
thirty -fOur years" and
Whereas, by the act OF the General Assembly
OF this State, approved March 30, 1871. the
holders OF the boDds or other evidences OF ndebt-
edness (nRde and issued by and on behalf OF the
undivided State of Virginia) were invited TO &C.
cept the terms Of said act. and the State did re-
ceive rom the holders Of such obligations certain
Of the same, issuing TO the holders thereof In her
own bonds two thousand dollars lS2OOOl for
every three thousand dollars $4,000 OF such in
debtedness OF the undivided State, and n certin-
cate for the other one thousand dollars $4,000
IN form following:
This Certinea that tnefe If que 10 OF nls
assign the sum g.. being one third Of bond
numbered -. Issued on the - day OF - TO
-; which bond has been surrendered under
an act entitled An act 70 fund the public debt
Payment Of said one third will be provided fer
IN accordance with such settlement az shall here
after be had between the State Of Virginia and
West Virginia in regard 20 the debt OF virginia
existing at the time OF this ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
and the State OF Virginia holds said bond, 80 far
as unfunded, In trust for the holder OF this GER
ti1cate.'
THIS IL PRoHrIoUs TINE.
And whereas, this State has consummated n
satisfactory settlement OF hcr assumed portion
OF the debt OF the old Commonwealth, and the
time seems propitious when she may wisely pro
coed 10 discharge the trust imposed 10y the letter
and spirit Of the Aforesaid certificate:
And whereas, the letter and the spirit OF the
funding act aforesaid and the said certificate
only BINDS the said State of Virginia 10 account
for and pay over 20 the holders OF said certin-
Gates what II may receive from the said State Of
West Virginia upon the settlement OF Aforesaid (;
And whereas, Ii is now proposed on the part OF
the holders OF not less than eS,OOO,0OO OF sald
certificates 70 formally acquit the said state OF
Virginia OF all responsibility In relation 10 said
certificates and to fully indemnify the said State
against any responsibility arising out OF or in
any way connected with the balance OF said GER
tiicates, estimated TO be about soOO,OOO, ex-
elusive Of the holdings of the State, estimated
10 be about e3,o00,0O0: therefore,
Rfsolred b. the Senate the House concurring),
/, That commission composed OF five members
of the present General Assembly, namely-the
Speaker Of the House Of Delegates, the chair
man Of tho Finance Committee OF each house,
and member Of the Senate and member OF the
House Of Delegates % be chosen by their respec-
tive Houses-be and they are hereby appointed.
with power 10 majority 20 act, TO conclude with
the proper authorities Of the State of West Viz
ginia such settlement OF the certificates issued
OF the form aforesaid as NAV be in accordance
with the recitals In the preamble Of this resolu-
tion as 10 them may seem satisfactory.
FAILING TO sETTLs WILL SUE.
2. That failing in such time as the said COM
missioners may deem reasonable TO eject such
satisfactory settlement with the State OF West
Virginia Of the certificates Aforesaid, the said
commissioners are hereby empowered and d-
rected 10 have instituted and prosecuted IN the
Supreme Court Of the United States, in the
nnme OF the State Of Virginia against the State
OF West Virginia, such proceedings as may be
necessary In that behalf, ana thus enable this
State 20 discharge the trust therein assumed /;
or, provided, the said commissioners shall, be-
fore taking any action under this resolution re-
ceive from the holders o. not less than SS,oOO,-
900 Of said certificates, a formal acquittance of
the State OF Virginia OF all responsibility in re-
lation 10 said certificates, and n fun indemni-
~ TO the said State against any responsible
~ arising out OF or In any way connected with
the balance Of said certificates, estimated 20 be
about 100000, exclusive of the holdings OF the
State itself, estimated TO be about $3,0OO,OOO,
and shall also secure such guarantee from the
holders OF said certificates as they, the said com
State against any and all liability arising from
such proceedings, and the AttOrney-General OF
the State OF Virginia Is hereby authorized ana
directed upon the request OF said commissioners
10 Institute such proceedings aforesaid IN the
Supreme Court OF the United ststes-
& That In no settlement as herein contem
plated, or otherwise, are the commissioner
aforesaid authorized TO bind or impiicate thii
State for any larger share Of the debt OF the un
divided state OF Virginia than she has already
assumed, as set forth In the preamble OF this
resolution.
A. Its expressly understood that all expenses
incurred by the said commissioners shall b,
paid out OF the proceeds OF such settlement, OF
BY the holders OF said certificates, who are th'
bsneaciarios Of such settlement, and the sait
commissioners are empowered 10 deal ana sell
tie with the holders OF sad certificates In ao
cordance With the provisions of this resolution
and In the event further legislation Is neces
sary 70 enable the said commissioners 70 MAKE
Anal settlement herein provided with thu
State OF West Virginia and with the holders Q
said certificates, the said commissioners shall
report 70 the General Assembly.
Mr.. Berry submitted the following amendment
which he said he would offer al the proper time
~Amepd the fret section OF the resolution b!
substituting for the persons Indicated In tn
resolution n commission 10 be appointed by th'