The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-30
.DRUMM ERS LICENSE
State Treasurer issues a Circular Interpret
sSs Ing the Law Enacted Last Session.
21At TOTAL or TAXABLE PROPERTY
The Supreme Courts Decision Makes
lSS a Decrease of; S75 600 i'll tho states
RE ings Nearly Completed = Butler
$ss Populists Issue u Circular.

h iRaleigh, N. c., April 2s.-tspec!al2-
The State Treasurer to-day Issued the
following important circular:
$50 Section 81, revenue act Of 1897, pro-
svides that Every person, firm, company
SCR corporation who shall engage in the
h business of selling or offering for sale by
"a drummer or drummers, with or with
sont sample. goods, wares, or merchandise
Sof any description in this State, shall,
afbefore selling or offering for sale any
Ssuch goods, wares, or merchandise, pay
sto the State Treasurer tax OF fifty dol
liars (S50.00l and obtain license. which
Sshall operate one year from its date
1T is evident that the General Assem-
! bly,. by saying .every person, firm. or
corpora tion." meant that this tax should
apply to oil drummers alike, both for
ss.gn and resident. But as the Supreme
Courts, both national and State, have
adetided that a State can not tax foreign
ssdrnmmers, therefore this section is In
Operative and void as applied to foreign
sdrummers. 1t is further evident that as
gIhe section was intended to apply to all
Sdrummers alike. and can not apply to
foreign drummers, 1t should not and can
mot justly apply to resident drummers.
lit! is also evident that the Legislature in
tended to put this tax upon class. If
s5their power falls as TO a part Of the class
there Is no reason to helleye 1t was in
tended to be In force MS 10 the rest. It
ggtsi not rational to ascriPe to the Legisla
Sture q purpose to impose q burden upon
Ea portion Of that class resident within
ats BORDERS, and exempt that portion Of
the same class who are nonresident.
\ INT hold therefore that section 81. reve-
s5nuey act OF 1897, inasmuch MS 1t can not
sapplyAto oil drummers alike, as clearly
intended, 1t can not apply to any drum
5nlers, and It therefore imperative and
void" s.
S$S TAXABLE PROPERTY.
sSt The total taxable value of property in
the State is oby the last years taxes)
st$2267, 4S7 .0C0. The loss of per cent. by the
sSdecisson Of the Supreme Court is over
I S75, 900. s5
5SSI Twas said at the executive office to-
day that the Governor would fill the va
Sea ncies$on the insane asylum boards.
tsSfde has filled three on the board OF the
zone at AloTganton. He Will fill the four
son the board at Raleigh. and the three
son the board Of the one at Goldsboro.
S.Ihls statement was made by Private
Secretary Alexander
a The Secretary of State to-day issued n
charter to the Randlemnn Warehouse
company, composed OF John H. Ferru
land two others.
s$ Henry L. Knox LEFT to-day for the
state convict farms on the Roanoke river
S1orathe purpose Of making survey Of the
! country for artesian wells. He said he
mad mad as yet no idea Of the depth ut which
good water could be obtained.
L: I THERE ARE OTHERS.
4 It is asserted that the decision of
nudge Adams that John r. Smith, by his
acceptance Of the position of superin-
Stendent Of the penltentiary vacated his
position as director OF the Goldsboro
asylum. will also apply to Senators
White Of Alamance and Whtener, and
1 that they forfeited their positions as al
Irectors of the Western insane asylum
when they took the oath Of office as
members of the Legislature.
81. Judge Ewart. Of the Western Crimina,
.:Ssircult, Is In Washington, and it is as
serted that he Is an applicant for the
place OF superintendent Of the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing.
500 fx-Judge Whitaker last week had ar
attack of paralysis. Tt was Slight, ant
me IS now better. When first attac &c
lie was in the court room, and at once
/ left for his home near here