Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-27

morning. Inc penalty tDS sioihtus WIS
shall be a fine of not less than $40 nor
more than 500, and in addition thereto
forfeiture Of the license. The bill fur
Their provides that nothing therein con-
tanned shall apply to any city having police
regulations on this subject. and an ordi-
nance providing a fine equal TO that i'm
posed by this bill.
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.
BY Mr.. Kendrick: To amend an act to
incorporate the Bristol a1d Danville Rail-
road Company
BY Mr.. McRae: Substitute for Senate
bill TO make husband and wife competent
witnesses.
BY Mr.. Irvine: To authorize an election
to determine whether the county seat
of Wise county shall be removed from
Gladesville TO Norton.
BY Mr.. Boiling For the relief nj Will
liam T.. Jessie. 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.
PLACED ON THE CALENDAR
The following bills were. under
suspension OF the rules, placed on the
calendar:
To amend and re-enact an act to pro-
tect game in the county of King and
Queen.
For the protection of sheep in Fluvanna
county
To amend certain sections Of certain
| acts In regard 10 the iowa OF Clifton
Forge.
| To provide for working the roads. re-
pairing bridges. and opening rev roads
In ha Hf
To incorporate the Pennington Gap
Railroad Company. IN Lee county. This
bill was substituted for the bill vetoed
by the Governor.
| TO REDUCE ASSESSMENTS
At 1 o'clock Mr. Randolph Harrison
bill to correct erroneous. fictitious. and
excessive assessments OF certain lands
in the State came Up as a special order.
| Mr.. Cardwell Glr. Nlcol In The chain
| opposed the measure. taking the stand
that as the land referred to was assessed
at boom values. and was so assessed upon
/ the returns made by the owners them
selves, who were endeavorng TO dispose
| OF their holdings at many times their
true values. they should not be given
relief.
! Mr.. Logan produced a map of Salem.
compiled in 1890, showing acres which
I were never anything but farmfng-lands
| cut uD in town lots. This land he said,
is assessed at 5000 an acre, and Is hardly
worth $50. Mr.. Moon spoke at some length
In favor Of the measure, and referred to the
justice Of the bill. claiming that such ex-
| cessive assessments we're hardships on
tho people.
Mr.. Gibson said ii was clear to every
one that the assessments are erroneous
and excessive, and there should be no
hesitancy on the part OF the Legislature
to pass the bill. There are many reasons
| why "" should pass the bill" said he.
but there is only one reason why we
should not. That is that the revenues OF
the state derived from taxation will be
| reduced"
Mr.. Moon offered an amendment pro-
viding that no money already baid into
the Treasury shall be refunded and that
no values shall be decreased except those
Whlch were excessively assessed in 1880.
MUST GRIN AND ENDURE.
Nj. Saunders said there was no doubt
but what the land in question was ex-
| cessively assessed, but 1t was done only
at the instance Of the owner of the
property. II have number of lots. -
said he. which are absolutely valueless.
But / do not propose to ask the State to
relieve me from an obligation which |
have foolishy assumed. | don't believe
In this eternal tinkering at taxes Such
measure is calculated to assail the
revenues of the State to an enormous
extent"
Mr.. Logan offered an amendment limit
ing the time in which applications for
relief may be filed to July LIST next in
stead Of ApDnCt CT
was agreed to. as was the amendment
offered by Mr. Moon. The pending ques-
ton was here called. and the bill as
amended was ordered TO its engross-
ment
WEST VIRGINIA'S DEBT.
The West Virginia debt-settlement
question was the next special order.
Mr.. Downing took the floor and said:
Some time since | was the patron Of
n resolution touching this matter. which.
in my Judgment, was little more per
| suasive than the present measure. /
| have. however, decided TO accept the
measure now pending as a substitute
for the resolution which / originally in
troduced." He gave a brief history Of
| how the debt was created and spoke of
the dismembermtnt OF the State Of
Virginia. He referred to the settlements
! Of the State with her creditors attempted
by the bills of 1871. 1879. 1882. and 1892.
/ and argued that Virginia had always
| taken the position that she did not owe
| bat two thirds Of the original debt. and
| In this position she was supported by
| the consensus of writer's of international
law. 80 far" said he, las the certih-
Gates of West Nirginia's part of the debt
| given for the bonds funded in 1879 1879,
| and 1892. these certificates upon their
face reneve the State OF Virginia from
any liability. But, unfortunately. this
| was not the case with the certificates
| given for one third of the bonds funded
under the act of 1871. These certificates
| upon their face acknowledged some OBJ
legation upon the part of the State OF Vir-
GINA. for they are signed by the State
| officers Here the speaker read one OF
| the certificates.
WHAT VIRGINIA NOW HOLDS
besides" Mr.. Downing continued, 1.-THE
original bond itself is now held by the
| State Of Virginia in trust for the party
who originally funded IT, So long as
there may be changes in the political
complexion Of our State, and so long
as there are designing politicians, these
certificates of 1871 will be a menace 10
the peace of the State of Virginia. and
some remedy-the milder the better
should be resorted 10 TO relieve us and
! those who follow after us from the situa-
ton In which we find ourselves. The
State OF West Virginia. In its ordinance
creating the new State, declared that
| the young sovereign should pay an equi-
| table portion of the original debt. Its
| Constitution had a provision to the same
effect. Commissioners have been more
| than once appointed by the State OF
West Virginia to adjust the Indebtedness
of the two States The senator's OF West
| Virginia recently declared the State s
willingness to stand by the original ordi-
nances Of that State touching their pay
ment of an equitable share of the debt"
| The remedy, Mr.. Downing suggested
was in the present resolution. Ii pro-
| vided for a commission OF five of our
own people. who. without force, or tn.
suggestion of force. should undertake
| to amicably adjust the debt question De-
tween the two States. The resolution,
| he declared, provided for the strongest
sort of indemnity against loss to the
| State under any and all circumstances
and that the holders OF the certificates
should be at all expense of the commits
sioners. In conclusion. he said that the
resolution could in no event be harmful
to the people of Virginia. but, in the
mutations of politics might be very
| beneficial to the old Commonwealth