Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-26
LEGISLATIVE.

at the last session to investigate and re-
port the real and assessed value of the
mineral lands of the State, submitted
his report. 1t is very interesting and
exhaustive paper and deals at length
with the subject in hand. The conclu-
sions of the committee are that LANDS
for agricultural purposes are assessed
far above lands containing minerals
and that mineral lands are assessed Tar
below their value. That failure to ex-
press the true consideration in deeds
conveying property has deprived the
Commonwealth of her just dues, and
the committee believes that if taxation
upon real estate be fair and equal, the
State will be able to meet promptly all
her demands, perfect her free school
system and reduce the rate of taxation.
The report shows that in many coun-
ties where there are rich mineral lands
there is no assessment upon them as
such and that they are assessed at a
mere nominal value. The report also
shows that in the year 1899, the taxes
assessed on mineral products in Fir-
ginia amounted to 1899, and in 1898 to
S9O5. Mr.. Fairfax believes that the
amount thus assessed should have been
at least $4,000. Two years ago, Mr..
Fairfax, in the Senate, and Mr.. With
row, in the House, brought this i'm
portant subject to the attention OF the
Legislature and it was through their in
strumentality that the committee was
appointed. The report makes some
startling disclosures, and the present
Legislature will no doubt take such ac-
ton as will result in largely increasing
revenue from this source.
The Miller bill to modify the local
option law again came up in the Senate
yesterday and on motion of Mr.. Jones
it was made the special order for Tues
day next at o'clock.
Senate bill extending the time for
funding certain old securities into new
centuries was made the special order
for Tuesday at 1880 o'clock.
The Richmond and Danville reor-
ganization bill was again passed by at
the request of its patron, Mr.. Mush-
bach.
In his prayer at the opening of the
session Of the House Rev. DR.. Tudor
thanked God that he had given Wis
dom and grace to the servants of the
people in general assembly in times
past so that there are laws upon the
statute book which enable the Governor
and Judges and executive officers to ar
rest the brutal prize fight and to dis
solve the haunts of the gambler and
poll-seller, and prayed that God would
guide the Legislature OF to-day so that
our Commonwealth, in this age of pro-
gress, may advance in all morality and
righteousness as we'll as in material
prosperity.
Mr.. Cooke, of Norfolk, at the request
of a number of business people of his
city, yesterday offered in the House a
Joint resolution reciting that the Rich.
mond andPetersburg andPetersburg and
Weldon and the Norfolk and Carolina
Railroads are reported to be owned
and controlled by a traffic alliance and
operated in a manner that discriminates
against the port of Norfolk and Ports
mouth generally and in the cotton
trade particularly, and providing that
the committee on roads and internal
navigation be instructed to inquire and
report what, if any, foundation exists for
said reports and what, if any, legislation
may be necessary, and that the COM
mittee have power to send for persons
and papers in order to make proper
investigation. 1t was referred.
Mr.. Withers, of Danyille, in the
House presented a petition signed by
numerous citizens Of that city asking
the Legislature to repeal the local OBJ
ton law so far as it applies to cities o.
5000 population and over. Among the
signers are many prominent citizens o.
Danvlle.
A spicy discussion took place in the
House when Mr. Jones's bill to extend
the time for commencing work on the
Richmond and Rappahannock Valley
Railroad came up on its second read
ing. Mr.. Diggs opposed it. He said
he thought the time had come for the
Legislature to stop granting paper
charters" The bill was finally passed
by.
A bill was introduced by Judge Bu-
ford to amend the code. 1t provides
that the electoral boards before making
appointments of judges of election shall
give ten days notice of the time and
place of making such appointments by
posting notices at each voting place
| within their respective cities, counties,
and towns, and that such judges shall
belong to different political parties, and
shall be appointed upon the recon-
mendation of the county or city chair
man of the political parties, entitled to
representation among the judges of
election to be appointed. The bill
seeks to remove certain causes of COM
plant, by giving publicity 10 the action
of electoral boards, and by giving to
each party at every voting place rep
resentative of its own selection, as one
Of the Judges of election. The idea of
the patron is that every reasonable
and legitimate cause of complaint as to
election methods should be removed,
not only as matter Of sound political
policy, but as matter Of right and JUS
| tiee.
Mr.. Hunton introduced a bill to in
corporate the Manassas and Virginia
Railway Co.
In the House on Wednesday Mr..
Gibson offered a joint resolution direct
ing the Attorney General to sue Mr..
Faank Blair, late attorney general, for
moneys due by him to the State. The
resolution was adopted.
Among the bills introduced on We'd
rH1 nr.,ox,I +le a1,la IL,