Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-02

| reports much less than living expenses
The penalty fixed for raise Us re-
turn Is u fine OF not less than Slv no'
more than SO. to be recovered as otnei
fines are recovered. / would recomihenu
that the stabte be so amended as 20
make the offence a felony; the ptnalty
now prescribed is without force. for In
| a vast number OF cases tnes could not
be collected II there were successiui
prosecutions would recommend tnat the
| commanders OF all vessels VINO receive
| oysters from tongmen, and all dealers
| who receive oysters from tongmen, be re-
quired. under severe penalty, 10 Keep Il
lst OF the names OF all persons from
whom they receive oysters, with tne
dates. quantities. and prices, and make
reports under oath TO an officer. TO Do
| designated In each county, OF such nanes
dates. quantities. and prices; Iurther
| recommend that all commanders or yes
| sells and dealers be prohibited under pen
| atty from receiving oysters from any
tongman who Is not duly registered
| tongman."
The statute requires all oysters plant
| ed, or shells deposited for propagation,
| to be assessed by the bushel for pur-
poses OF State and county taxation, and
! that an ad Yalorem tax of W cents on
the 800 be levied, still keeping within the
Constitution. Fourteen counties report
|, 6S7, 243 bushels with the valuation OF
s22i,99S.S 81. The total tax is $500, or less
than 8 IL cents on the 100 bushels OF
oysters planted. which are taken up,
generally. a few months from the date
OF planting and sold on the ground for
$50 or $40 per 100 bushels. The Governor
thinks this seems to be trifiing with a
great State interest. He recommends
that the statute be amended so as TO
require the assessment TO be made UPON
the annual sales OF all planted oysters,
in lieu of the present system.
1.-THE annual license tax on dredger
Is g for every 100 feet capacity OF the |
vessel or craft employed. each ton OF
custom-house measurement, as per en- |
ro1 aar,t Of 1af kafp nGff inn a
TO contain 100 cubic feet. For one month, |
or for a single cargo, the tax is cents |
per bushel on the capacity of the vessel. |
Every 100 cubic feet capacity is estimated
to carry twenty-five bushels. The Gov
ernor advises that the statute be amend
ed so as TO require the payment OF an |
annual license tax of $40 for every 100
feet capacity of the vessel or craft en-
bushel be levied on the capacity Of a
vessel for n single cargo or where the
license is for one month The total
amount. received from dredgers last year
The Governor says further on this sub
iect: AT present all licenses to dredgers
md certificates Of registration to tongmen
IRE issued by the oyster inspectors, and |
.he taxes are collected by the inspectors.
For various reasons, / think the statute |
should be amended so as to authorize and
empower the Judge of the County Court |
" each county, either in term time or |
'acation. to issue such licenses and grant
uch certificates, and that the Clerk of |
aid court should be required TO keep a !
ecord OF the same. Virginia cam
lot longer Justify herself I'm allowing her
asst area of valuable oyster-grounds to
emain unremunerative. only realizing
herefrom the pitiful sum Of about 10000 {
nnually barely enough to maintain her !
yster police force and protect her I
Xpending all in this direction; securing !
othing from this source to meet her I
ressing wants. The time is ripe for 7
ecsve action: Justice to the taxpayers I
essities require II. | again earnestly | r
commend an amendment to the Consti- n
ition striking out section of Article y. o
here is sufficient time to accomplish this y
nd before 1902 when our increased in o
rest obligation on our public debt will Il
If immediate steps are taken. J I
again earnestly recommend that the ex- s
ting statute be amended i'm the particu- | 7
RS hereinbefore set forth" e
VETERANS WIDOWS. ri
There should be no question before L
)ur honorable bodies" the Governor | u
ys, which should receive more prompt | 3
nj hearty attention than the care of | "a
)nfederate soldiers who are I'm dependent | %
rcumstances. A country that shows an n
TO preserve from want and bC
We from the poorhouse the men who co
we their services and risked their lives m
her defence. and at her call. not only -
/ |
ilty of ingratitude so base that in COM an
rison all of its other dereictions and IN
ortcomings could well pass for vir- 20
es. The Confederate soldier who is tn
wed down under affliction, his strength ca
d vigor gone, penniless and homeless, uc
s no country to sustain and support IN
m, but he has a State at whose COM 81 81
md he went forth to defend her rights ca
ID uphold her honor. and having done sd dl
duty by her, she is bound by every az
nciple OF justice and humanity TO do an
r duty by him, and If she permits him U no
suffer for food, raiment, or shelter, ~. 10
e deserves to fall In the scale of States 10 10
d to rank among the lowest. Virginia al an
able TO make better provision for her az
and decrepit, sick and wounded, worn | a.,
4 weary Confederate veterans, and il is 81
the fault Of her people, but her law bes
kers, that she has not done more for | Co.
IN. These are frank words but when | "a,
find scattered everywhere brave, loyal ttai
i true men Of 1S61-'65 in poverty and col
MT, and near their appeals for help, the los
le for frankness and candor in pre- fra
ting their condition and urging their for
inns upon you has come. What / have
. as 10 dependent Confederate soldiers
dies with equal force to the dependent II
lows Of Confederate soldiers. bee
SOLDIERS HOME. uor
This institution, founded by private s si,''
scrlpuons and conducted by a board visi
lposed OF Confederate soldiers. who ten
their time and services without any nv
|
*, but, in spite of the boards most eve
nest eLoIls' they nave Deen unable 10 slit
u the demands made upon them from und
parts Of the State. The home is taxed the
its utmost capacity, and yet many thai
1torious applications for admission the
on file awaiting vacancies caused by can
tbs. In the mean time. the applicants ton
living on private charity or, per- | NOR
s. too proud to accept 1t, are strug- be ,
Z TO Keep BODY and soul together by ! and
ing pltldnces, While In pain OF body out
anguish of mind they engage daily Stat
mental labor. l most strongly urge and
a larger appropriation for the benefit orna
he home be made. At present the serv
e contributes $4,000 annually towards cam
support. wea
TO INSTITUTIONS SUPP
OF LEARNING. a sa
he aggregate appropriations for the ioIn
3 of 1886 and 1S96'97, respectively, IN
EDUCATIONAL institutions not including TIL
Deaf and Dumb and Blind Institution, Of q
IN should be considered as eleemosy- discl
= was Sl35,0OO. The aggregate amount than
Opriated for pensions and to Lee unfit
y Soldiers Home was $4,000. NO him;
en- of the Commonwealth Is a better Gen,
ID TO our institutions Of learning than a VI
Elf. / would be glad indeed TO see mess
fostered. If ii could be done with ton,
regard to the sacred obligation the II
? is under TO her dependent soldiers. reins
when Virginia cannot care for her of
who a generation ago went forth will
attic at her command and are now fare
md decrepit, weak, and helpless. in veal
rty ana distress. and at the same with
assist her young sons in acquiring many
alton, she should recognize the for | upon
TO the exclusion of the latter She that
ID be just before she is generous vice