The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1892-03-11

.,ea reouiriug railroad companiesso re
s 49, or taxation an itein,zed ssatemen
Of ali the bonds, stocks, ana oeoef scsaa,
ties held by them, from WHICH = IS .noush
| a largely increased revenue viii DC p'o"S"
| 70 the Commonwealth.
| COOP OYSTER LAW
.This Legislature, in my opinion, con,
t;nucd Mr.. Munford, lis the irst 10 ena =,
law with reference to oysters wh.ch W..
eventually settle the question OF 'm me-
taxation upon business principles. ~
laws passed first provide for an accurate
survey and mapping of the oys.e'
grounds; then for their lease TOT a sohe
nneriod at the stipulated price OF ~ PEI
acre. The legislation is necessarily
crnde. but it will be improved upon by
succeeding legislatures, and will, RS
saw. eventually result in the preservation
Of the oysters, which are uow beihg ae-
p|eted, and securing to the Commonwealth
large revenue from these sources.
Governor Mckinney has evinced srea'
interest in this matter, and h's va!uaDie
message was great source OF assissance
TO the General Assembly in dealing WIN
this subject.
"The subject of the distribution osthe
direct tax, amounting to four hundred
and odd thousand dollars, was as well
DISPOSED of as could have been expected
under the circumstances. The bill provides
that each treasurer in whose county or
city this tax is to be distributed sha'i
rive new bond With security lof Tue
DroDer distribution Oft fund coming IN
to his hands, and it is through him that
the parties entitled are to receive their
several shares.
GROUP or IMPORTANT ACTS
GA great many minor acts, impor'"N.
in themselves, though possibly not OF
such general interest, were passed-sucn
as the law prohibiting book making ana
pool gambling; providing for the expense
and treatment Of the INDECENT but durable
blind; providing for the erection OF work
shops at the rcfornatory established M
Lnurel, and the incarceration at that IN
stitution Of youths who we're hitherto
sent to the jails or penitentiary; Tor me
copying and preservation OF all the oid
records in the Clerks ofticee Of the Com
monwealth anterior to AGO; for the cree
ton of public library building costing
100000, in which are to be provided
apartments for all Of the bascmen' OLD
GERS and the room for the Supreme court
OF appeals: and .he act making LABOR
Day legal holiday.
VIRGINIA At THE PAIR.
"The passage OF the Worlds Fair nil,
though the appropriation is small, Us ia
my opinion, n source Of congratulatlon.
The bill proviaas for the appointment q
commission Of one person from
each congressional district; who
are to serve without pay; to employ TWO
agents, whose duty it shall be to collect
and to Chicago IN exhibit Of the manu-
featuring, agricultural, mining, and c''.v
interests of Virginia a build
inr, the fac similc Of aft. Vernon, is to he
erected on the exposition grounds, wli'ch
will he the headquarters for Virginia
and place for distributing statistical
literature relative to the resources OF our
Commonwealth. The State is now taking
the lead, and if our cities, counties,
towne, railroad corporations, mining and
and other concerns VIII
ali unite we can make the exhibit at Chica-
gn an honor to Virginia, which Will 'urnto-
our borders capital and emigration and
weld one hundred fold Tor every dollar
expcudcd. Newport News is Nearer Chi
cago than New York, and there is no rea-
son why, with proper effort, large portion
of the European travel, either going to or
returning from Chicago, WiSbt not be
brought through Virginia.
PRUDENT IN APPROPRIATIONS.
"In the matter of appropriations this
General Assembly has, on the whole, been
reasonably prudent, the only marked M
stance Of increase being for the care OF
our lunatics and our wounded Contede-
rate soldiers. Under the appropriation as
made the schools will derive larger fund
than ever before, ample provision inside
the walls of our asylums will he afforded.
for every lunatic in the Commonwealth
and the old soldiers have provision Tor
the care OF 200 inmates in the Soldiers
Home and considerable increase in the
fund distributed among those who 40 NOT
come to that institution. AS to the IN
creased appropriation to the Soldiers,
Home, the State will eventually receive
in return property amply sufficient to re-
inburse the outlay, as by the terms OF 'he
bill all the present property OF inc lhsu-
ta,ion, and any that it may hereafter &C.
ouirc, is to become the property of Fee
State when it's inmates shall have passed
away.
nIsruApGEp 3arORTANr TRUST.
"The Legislature also assisted in the
erection of the monument 10 the private
soldiers and sailors by y small approprla-
ton, and discharged debt of the highest,
honor in paying Rufus B. Weaver, OF
Pennsylyania, his claim for services rend-
cred in removing the dead bodies OF our
soldiers from the battlefield OF Gettys-
burg and interrng them in Hollywood
cemetery.
.In addition TO the passage OF the
above lnws, which are q few among aii
the many, and the consideration OF divers
other measures, this General Assembly
had TO elect United States senator, all
the hish officials OF the State government,
one hundred county court judges, five cir
cult court judges, and numerous other
minor officials. 1t apportioned the State
for representation ia Congress, and tor
representation in our State Senate and
House OF Delegates.
"As I.haye stated, large majority of
the lower house were farmers, and thoagh
there were many measures brought before
that body, which at first had the appear
ance Of being especially conducive to the
interests of that class, yet they were
carefully considered, and the treatment
:no3 tbo nrofound cnnser-