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


The counties and cities are urged to
make their jails secure so as to prevent
the escape of prisoners and attention is
called TO the fact that the cost of sup
porting prisoners in jais is entirely too
heaVy. Under the present law Taller is
allowed 40 cents per day for a single
prisoner. 80 cents each for three and less
than ten; and 20 cents each for ten or
more. The average cost of maintaining
convicts in the penitentiary is Is cents per
day, and this includes clothing and pay
of guards.
The Governor calls attention to the
fact that January l, 1902, the increase in
the interest on the public debt will add
SlSOOOO TO the annual expenses of the
state, and recommends "the appointment
OF a special joint committee to look into
the various items constituting annual
charges on our Treasury. and TO suggest
means for increasing our revenues so
that you may have before YOU i'm succinct
form such information as may enGble
you to determine deliberately wherein
there may be savings, as well as additions
to our revenues"
FERTILIZER TAX.
The Governor recommends ian amend
ment or the act regulating the sale NJ
iertilizers, approved March s. 1894 so es
70 impose tonnage tax upon all sales
made in the State, and recurring every |
package TO have tax tag appended |
thereto before the same is delivered 10 |
the purchaser" He quotes from Com |
that while 1898 tons Of fertilizers were |
sold in Virginia last year the State only |
received $500 therefrom while i'm NortI |
carolina, where 2l3,055 tons were sold. The |
tonnage tax yielded $50,79l. The Governor
"The farmers Of Virginia nav as mucb
Tor FERTILIZER per ton and buy nearly as
much as the farmers of North Carolina
YET that State collects from the manufac-
tufers iVe times as much tax as Virginia.
a n Offfo |
the farmers" e' ~
DEFECTIVE OYSTER LAWS.
The Governor discusses the oyster laws
or the state at great length. He saws:
virginia wealth In her waters can
hardly be overestimated. She has POI, 216.S
acres OF natural oyster-beds. rocks. and
shoals and 100000 acres of plantinr-
ground, and from this immense area she !
has received as revenue for the years |
Ssi, 1872 1896, and 1897 the infnitesimal
sum Of $lSl 63O.3S (Which was more than
n any previous four years., and the ex-
'ense Of maintaining the police vessels
ma executing the law amounted to Sl16-
500, leaving net balance OF only $l4,- |
4o,2S. In 1867 the receipts from the
yster tax were 299S5.20; expenditures
81 ,6S54S That there is something radi-
ally wrong in system of taxation from
Which the State derives so little revenue
rom such immense wealth every rea- ,
enable man must admit when he con- | :
iders the multitude of people who are :
ngaged every season in catching. and !
cling oysters. and conducting lucra- :
I've business therefrom."
In an endeaVor TO point out the diff | :
uities in the way" the Governor argues |
gainst the wisdom of the constitutional |
revision that mo tax shall be imposed !.
n any OF the citizens of this State for |
he privilege of taking or catching oysters 7
rom their natural beds with tongs In the =
'aterS thereof. but the amount OF sales Y
7 oysters so taken by any citizen In any l
ne year may be taxed at a rate not ex-
eedinS the rate Of taxation imposed
pom any other species OF property" and | G
scommends IAN amendment to the Con- s
tuition striking out section OF Article v
-. so that the State may have full and | a
)mplete power over her waters. and the | %
ght 10 impose such taxes as will re- Ii
lire her citizens deriving benefits from | II
er oystor-beds TO contribute something n
ke an equivalent and bear something | OF
sc their equitable share of the expenses | pl
the State Government" OF
the tax on tOngmen the Gov ~
nor says I'm part: THE statute provides n,
'cordng to the restriction In the Con- q,
ftution. that tongmen shall pay tax m
10 cents on the hundred dollars of 10
Tue OF oysters caught. or i'm lieu there h.
. IL tongman elect. the sum OF 81. II he of
'es ordinary tongs, or 81 IL he uses "A
tent tongs. for the season. IN
THE records show that very few elect m
pay the specific sum. but make report 81
their catches. which, In many In m
ances do not exceed $3.50 In value. ~
uRht by two men--or l cent tax per | III
eek. In fact. their reports generally in | Al
cate that they are engaged In "A most | Ii
ggarly business: vet they continua fror. | ~,