Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-01


telligent effort was made this session to
correct these evils by the passage OF
bill which requires counsel for the prison.
er to reveal TO the trial court the errors
TO which he objects. The same bill In
substance established as the rule Of pro-
cedure for the appellate courts that they
should look to the merits of the case.
and hold In favor. II possible. OF the regu-
larity OF the proceedings below.
THE TAXING OF SECURITIES.
For years the taxpayers of the State.
especially those paying taxes on real
estate. have complained that personally,
more particularly that In the form OF
stocks bonds, and notes. has escaped
taxation. The House has passed two
measures designed TO remedy this condi-
tion, one having reference to the listing
for taxation OF bonds, notes. and other
choses in action, and the second looking
10 the listing of chattel property.
In addition 1t has passed two laws look
ing TO the better collection Of the taxes
on stock In banks and other stock COM
panies.
The House has not shown itself insen-
sible TO the demand for legislation against
certain forms OF gambling in some
measure prevalent in the State. but
having reached their most offensive and
obnoxious shape near the city of Alex
dria. The Maupin bill which passed the
House of Delegates by an overwhelming
majority. is the answer of that body
TO the demands of the moral and law
abiding element Of our population, which
insisted that this evil should be curbed
before IL attained the colossal proper
tions. which made it so potent for mis-
chief in the State OF New Jersey.
FENCING IN RAILROADS.
Perhaps nothing interests more power
fully those farmers who are contiguous
to the railroads. than the question OF
payment for stock killed by the engines
and machinery Of the corporations, often
under such circumstances that 1t Ia i'm
possible for the owner TO have any wit
ness of the actual killing. lie cannot
understand why II is that In many other
States Of the Union the roads are re
quired to fence in their entire tracks
or else pay for the stock destroyed by
them. while in Virginia save in certain
special cases, the roads are not charged
with this duty. The House attacked
this problem, and following the example
Of other States which had found the
system satisfactory, it passed general
law requiring the fencing of tracks in
Virginia.
The measure is in conformity with the
soundest public policy. consideration for
public safety, as well as regard for the
interests of the contiguous farmers,
whose enjoyment OF their property is Sc
riously and prejudicially affected by the
changed conditions introduced by the adj.
vent of railroad corporations in rural
communities. requiring that the corpora
tlons should fence their tracks. Ii is but
question of time when Virginia will
follow the lead of other and more pro-
gressive States, and place this as well
as other laws IN restraint of corporations
upon our statute-books.
No question affecting the management
Of the public institutions of the State
has aroused more widespread, and uni
versal interest than the proposition to
provide in each lunauc asylum of the
State a female physician. whose duty
| shall be TO serve exclusively In the fe-
male wards. Her very presence there
would protect these institutions against
the foul tongue of slander. which too
often, without foundation, assails the fair
name of these Institutions, and thus inn
pairs their usefulness. However great
NAV the confidence which is justly felt
IN the estlmabl6 and accomplished male
physicians who serve In these institu,
tions, yet the public still feels that a
still greater confidence would be ex-
tended to skilled and competent female
physician attending in her professional
capacity those wards where innocence is
exposed TO attack by reason OF Its very
helplessness. A bill providing female
physician for each lunatic asylum In the
State passed the House some time ago.
II was stated in the papers a few days
since by the opponents of the measure
that If they had known that the bill was
I'm the House II would never have passed
that body. Let me assure these gentle
men that no amount Of reactionary oppo-
sition would have availed to hinder the
passage in the House of measure sup
ported by so many satisfactory reasons,
both Of sentiment and policy. and called
for by so overwhelming popular de-
mand.
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
The overcoming oyster question de-
manded its share Of legislative atten-
ton, but the House decided to adhere
TO the policy adopted two years since, and
which promised TO be final
solution Of problem which has VeXeu
every LEGISLATURE since the days of Henry
A. Wise. who first brought the
"oyster fundum' into prominence. The
accurate and comprehensive survey made
by Lieutenant Baylor, ascertaining and
fixing for the first time the limits of
the natural rocks and Of the barren
areas, forcibly called the public attention
to the enormous area which was open
under proper restrictions for oyster
planting. This ground is already being
slowly taken up, and even now the rent
ais from 10000 acres of planting ground
is about 5000 in excess of the taxes re-
ceived from the dredgers and tongers
who operate upon the 10000 acres OF
natural rock.
AS the House has refused 10 reopen to
litigation, the findings OF the Baylor sur
vey, IL has given an assurance to pros
pective planters that the policy of the
State 70 rent out its barren areas Is to
be a permanent one, and that planters
may take up and make expenditures upon
these grounds without fear of being
thereafter involved in costly litigation to
determine whether their ground, with Its
artificial additions. is natural oyster
rock or planting ground. II may be rea-
sonably apprehended that hereafter
the number of planters will steadily in
crease, and that in time these extensive
bottoms will yield handsome revenue
70 the State.
CAREFUL IN MAKING APPROPRIA-
TIONS.
The Finance Committee during this
session has been particularly cautious
in respect 10 appropriations. Fully cogni-
zant of the necessity for the strictest
economy, they have detected. and pre-
pared against the insidious approaches
OF many specious and plausible applicants
for aid, who had hoped to find
the watchdogs of the Treasury slumber-
ing at their posts. But while the COM
mittee has been careful. II has not been
parsimonious. Within the limits fixed
by q wise regard for the credit of the
State. and the funds Immediately avail
able for appropriation, they have not been