The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-27
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
THE wEs1 vfRGIyTA DEBT CUES
rIoy OCCUPIES MUcH TINE.
Discussion over the Bill to Exempt cIarks.
VILE Property owners from Taxa
tIon-Birs Introduced.

Speaker Cardwell called the House to
order promptly at L o'clock. Considera-
bic discussion was INDUCED In over the
substitute bill introduced by Mr.. Allen
to exempt from taxation certain property
owners i'm GAINESVILLE VINO suffered loss
by the recent connagration In that town.
Mr. Allen explained the measure, which,
he said, was framed FOR the purpose OF
relieving a number Of the property owners
Of the unfortunate town; that the fire
had wiped out a large part Of the place.
and that he thought in case OF such a
disaster the State ought 20 take this
means Of helping the people VINO were
! suffering greatly from the ehec's OF the
disaster.
Mr.. Saunders spoke in opposition to the
! hill arguing that while the measure ap-
pealed to the sympathy OF the people the
| nripciple of the measure was wrong. and
! IL was the same thing in principle as
when farms were flooded by freshets and
! when barns and houses were burned. The
State could rot undertake 10 look out for
such troubles. said he, and quite num-
Der Of similar cases had occurred, which
were not relieved by the Legislature.
Mr.. Moon spoke strongly in favor OF
the passage OF the bill, as did also Mr..
Downing. both claiming that the case was
one that appealed to the sympatnies Of
the people. and the bill ousht' therefore,
| TO be passed
Mr. Gibson offered as an amendment to
the bin TO exclude from the bill the
property upon which insurance had been
paid. and that upon which litigation was
now being carried on.
The amendment was adopted. and the
original bill WAS ordered TO its third read
ing and passed.
Bill. Introduced and Referred.
BY MIR. Kerdricx To amend an act to
incorporate the Bristol and Danville Rail
road Company.
Nv Mir. McRae: Substitute for Senate
bill TO make husband and wife competent
witnesses.
Bv Sir. Irvine: To authorize an election
TO determine whether the county seat OF
Wise county shall be removed from
Gainesville to Norton.
BY Mr.. Boiling: For the relief OF VII
liam T. Jessie, a MANNED Confederate
soldier.
BY Mr. Irvine: To amend section 1881
Of the Code in relation to injunctions.
BY Mr.. Fentress. To incorporate the
River Front Railroad Company.
Mr.. Crump introduced a bill providing
that no place for the sale Of intoxi-
eating liquors shall be open. and no in
toxicating bittefs or other drinks shall
be sold in any har-r0om. restaurant.
saloon. store or other place between j.
O'Clock on any Saturday night and sun
rise OF Monday morning. The penalty
for violating this shall be a fine Of not
less than ten nor more than five hun
dred dollars. and IN addition thereto
forfeiture of the license The bill further
provides that nothing therein contained
shall apply TO any city having police
regulations on this subject and an ordi-
nance providing a fine equal to tha, inn
posed by this bill
Placed on the Calendar.
The following bills were. under sus-
pension OF the rules, placed Oh the calen-
dar:
TO amend and reenacf an act to pro-
tect game ia the county of King and
Queen
For the protection Of sheep in Fluvanna
county.
To amend certain sections Of certain
acts in regard TO the town OF Clifton
Forge.
70 provide FOR working the roads, re-
pairing bridges and opening new roads
10 incorporate the Pennington Gap
Railroad Company in Lee county. This
bill was substituted for the bill vetoed
by the Governor.
Erroneous Assessments.
At / o'clock the special order was taken
up, and the discussion OF House bill No.
81, TO correct fictitious, erroneous and
excessive assessments upon certain
lands, was commenced.
The bin provides that peron5 feeling
aegreved by the assessment of land or
lots may until August next apply 20 the
court OF the county ia which the land
lies for relief upon complying otherwise
with all the requirements. &c, prescribed
by section 3H of the Code Of 1851 &c.
Speaker Cardwell Clr. Nichol in the
chain thought the bin was mourning a
great risk upon the State. \ regulation
Of the assessment OF certain property in
towns and cities where booms existed
could not be satisfactorily made by the
courts. What courts, he asked, would
not be placed in a predicament in the
disposition Of many points arising from
such a law.
Mr. Logan presented a map and OK
planned that the lands referred to were
assessed according 10 values given By
their owners, who We're endeavoring 10
dispose OF their property az rates great
~ exceeding their true value. and the
assessments were too high accordingly
Mr.. Moon spoke at some length on the
subject. holding the ground that the
court could only make inquiries into
the value of the land at the time IL was
assessed. He did not believe there would
be So many appeals. as claimed. Men
would not 30 into litigation unless they
had considerable grievances TO be rene
died. He was strongly in favor Of the
bill, ana claimed that the excessive taxa
lions were oppressive TO the people Of
certain sections of the country.
Mr.. Gibson said that the only objection
to the bill was that IL might possibly
reduce the revenue or the State. lie
pleaded for justice, and held that the
land owners ought 10 have relief. more
than anybody else I'm the State.
Mr.. Moon offered on amendment 70 the
bill that nothing in this act shall be
construed TO authorize the payment of
any money out Of the treasury of the
STATE on account Of any taxes heretofore
pdln' ahd no conrt shall consider the
value or land as To which Il correction Of
assessment Is sought other than with re-
spect 10 cash value as OF the time the
assessment complained Of was made-in
the year 1890"
MI Saunders spoke in opposition TO the
OH III It's entirety He believed the
measure was radically wrong. and dill
the revenue
Mr Harrison. the patron Of the bin.
S"'u mat MS information Was that there
could De no difficulty in the measure.
"a. "A