The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-07
nEyENUE> or me SAFE.
Colonel Mayre Makes AN Interesting stare
rent Before tho finance committee.

Colonel Mayre Makes An interenbhE ''"''
ment Before tho finance tonmiitee'
The Finance Committee of the House
met in the room Of the southern his
torical Society yesterday morning win
AIR Moon. Of Albemarle. in the chair.
The first bill taken up was a SENATE
biu. which authorizes the Board OF
Sinking Fund Commissioners TO pur-
chase from the surplus in the state
treasury bonds issued under the Riddle-
hereer Act. approved February is, lSsz,
and under the Olcott Act, approved
February 10Th. no bond shall be pufchas-
ed unless all the coupons not yet ma
tnred are attached to it. The soard
ebau meet ON the first Monday I'm every
month and ascertain what amount can
he spared for that purpose, nut 'ilc
amount appropriated in such manner
each month shall not exceed the sum
Of 100000
The committee determined to report
favorably.
IL was decided to take up Senator Mil
ler's local-option bill next Tuesday morn
ing. when all parties interested in the
matter viii be given an opportunity 10
express their views.
Mr. Ryan's bill. which exempts local
mutual insurance associations from tax
alton, was next taken up. and the com
mittce agreed 10 report the same favor
ably.
similar action was taken on Judge
Tdmondson's bill. amending the Code In
relation TO the sale of lands returned
delinquent for the non-payment OF taxes
and levies. approved February 2S. 1880.
Mr. Downing, of CLARKE and Warren
had prepared two bills for the relief of
y. NJ Mallory and h. i. Buford who. in
the Brunswick County Court. had gotten
into a row. and were fined for contempt
Of court The bills were reported favor
ably.
Judge Shelley advocated a bin which
allows $50 TO Mr.. A. NJ. Dickinson, Com
monwealth's attorney of Smyth county
for services rendered IN the Federal
courts Judge Sheifey produced letter
from the Acknowledgement, who stated
that the amount was reasonable and the
services had been rendered al his direc-
tons. The matter was referred 10 a sub
committee consisting of Judge Edmond
son and Mr.. willard.
Mr. Harw0od appeared I'm favor Of
bill which seeks TO refund 10 Mr.. >. G.
Greenhow. the late treasurer Of Rich
mond. the sum of S2Sil2. The money was
expended in making four copies Of lists
OF delinquent lands which had been pur-
chased by the Commonwealth. The total
amount paid out by Mr. Greenhow for
the work was Si33G0. but the sum Of
81 IS had been received from individuals
who purchased some Of the delinquent
lands.
Mr.. Cooke thought it would be a bad
precedent TO pass bills for the relief OF
any officers who knew what duties they
would have TO perform before they
accepted their Offices. and who had sub
sequenty enjoyed the emouments Of
their offices. In his opinion. the custo-
dians Of the public funds should be very
careful in passing relief bills
Mr. Willard thought all such bills
should be passed by until it was known
what amounts would be appropriated 10y
the state. If any surplus remained in the
treasury the most meritoriOus relief bills
only should be passed. lie did not
doubt that the present bill was a very
meritorious one.
Colonel Morton Marye. the Auditor Of
Public Accounts, explained the merits Of
the bill. but, on motion of Mr.. Willard,
the bin was passed by.
Judge Shemey called up the bill intro
duced by him, which appropriates the sum
of so. 800 for the present year, and a like
amount for the next year for the erection
of a new wing each year 10 the South
western Lunatic Asylum. At the sugges-
ton or MIR. Moon the bill was passed by
until the Committee on Asylums and
Prisons will have submitted its report as
10 the recent inspection and needs Of the
various institutions.
Colonel Morton Marye. the Auditor Of
Public Accounts. submitted an interesting
statement as 10 the revenues of the State
He explained that the revenues were am
pie TO pay all expenses as they exist
now. and besides the interest on the public
debt even il it's whole amount was funded
and 1t would then leave a surplus Of $780,.
600
Colonel Marye explained that in his
statement he had not included the re-
ceipts and expenditures Of the peniten-
tiary. He thought that hereafter that in
Situation would net the State n revenue
Of rom $1,000 TO 10000 year. At present
nearly an the surplus had been spent
in improving the institution. and during
the present session bills had been passed
which appropriated about $4,000 out Of
the receipts for such purposes.
The taxes OF licenses of merchants for
the present fiscal wear had been based
on the business OF the previous year nS9e),
when the business i'm the various branches
was exceedingly large. the license taxes
from all sources amounting to 100000.
The revenues for the next year would be
based on the business Of 1898. which had
been the worst one in twenty-five years
1t was therefore. possible that licenses
would next year fall off perhaps 500 900.
The last assessment of the real estate
I'm the State had been very high, II hav-
ing been taken during the boom period,
and he apprehended that the value Of real
estate, as well as that Of the personal
estate would be materially reduced during
next year. However, the State was con-
a,a1 fffp no 81
four years its revenues had increased
.f..,.t c-no lol