The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-02
u 3 !. END al was 50 known by the frameerrss

{, -. 'iiS sitnat the people Oh tne
southwest, Valley. Piedmont and
So9thside will abandon their farms
ana homes and migrate to Tidewater
,ney can avail themselves, Of the States
ilherality 1t means II the farmers,
truckers and mechanics OF Tidewdter
snoose to do SO they can accept ithe
states besleflcence. AZ. &
Ihis Is tnavesty upon the idea of
equal rights which should prevail in
every well-ordered, well-governed
State. 500 81 = 'tsse} 80,
- recommend an amendment> to the
constitution, striking out Section q of
article <. so that the State may have
aui and complete power over her
waters, and the right to impose such
.axes as Will require her citizens deriy-
ing benefits from her oyster beds no
contribute something like an equivalent
ana pear something like their equitable
snare OF the expenses of the State
government ~
Tax on Tcclgmen.-The statute pro-
vides. according to the restriction In
the Constitution. that tongmen shall
pay a tax OF 40 cents ccl the hundred
uoliars or value of oysters caught. or
IN lieu thereof, If n tongman elect, the
sum Of 81 If he uses ordinary tongs,
season. 'E ' -
The records show that very few elect
70 pay the specific sum, but make re-
putt Oh their catches, which In many
instances do not exceed $3.50 In value
caught by two men-or 1 cent tax per
week. In fact, their reports generally
lhalcate That they are engaged in 4
most oeggarly business; vet they con-
tiIiue from year to year, and when the
oyster season opens, laborers leave the
lanins' ana with their canoes and tongs
ply their vocation, from which they de-
rive according to their reports, much
less than living expenses.
:. what must be the conclusion? That
though the State donates the oysters.
enc beneficiaries of her bounty with
hoid from her the little revenue she de-
mands.
Every season our rivers, bays, sounds
ana inlets swarm with tongmen. vet
the total amount of tax received from
was S4,S97.1O. =
as long as the constitutional provi-
sion stands, only 40 cents tax on the
one hundred dollars of value of the
catches can be imposed but some sys
tenn should be devised by which ait
ieast this small revenue would GER
tainiy reach the treasury The law
now REQUIRES weekly reports and pay
ments of the ad valorem tax to the
inspectors. unless the specific tax of 50
OF 10 mas been paid at the opening Of
the season. AS I have said, very few
tongmen pay this specific tax. but
make weekly reports. Now, Is not this
fact conclusive evidence that these men
are detnaudinE the State? Would any
set OF men engage in n business for
eight months in the year. when two
men with their canoes could not afford
10 pay tax of 50 on their catch for
the whole season?
Would laborers leave the firms and
trucking fields and go to the oyster
peas upon such an inducement? The
business Is quite profitable, and this is
the reason they assign for going to The
waters. In my Judgment, the State
ought to receive from the tax on the
eaten OF the tongmen many times as
much revenue as she now realizes.
How this additional revenue can be
secured 1t is Indeed difficult to suggest.
The tax can only be levied upon the
value or the oysters caught. and il IS
impossible for the State to take an ac-
count or them; she must, as the lav,
STANDS, accept the reports of the tong
men. The penalty fixed for n false re-
turn Is fine OF not less than $40 nor
more than $50. to be recovered as other
fines are recovered. would recon
mend that the statute be so amended
as to make the onense felony; the
penalty now prescribed is without
torce, for In a vast number of cases
fines could not be collected, if there
were successful prosecutions
l would recommend that the com
manders Of all vessels who receive ovs
terS from tongmen, and all dealers who
receive oysters from tongmen, be re-
CURED under severe penalty to keen a
list OF the names of all persons from
whom they receive oysters, with the
dates, quantities and prices. and make
reports under oath to an officer, to be
designated in each county. of such
names, dates, quantities and prices
further recommend that all comman-
ders of vessels and dealers be prohib-
tied under penalty from receiving oys-
ters from any tongman who is not n
duly registered tongman.
Tax on Planted Oystcrs.-Thc statute
requires all oysters planted, or shells
deposited for propagation, to be as
sessad by the bushcl for purposes of
state and county taxation, and that an
al Nalorem tax Of 40 cents on the hl,n
ired dollars be levied, still Keeping
within the Constitution. give the
reports that have reached the Auditor
for the year 1897:
No. of bushels of
Counties. Oysters. Valuat'n
Accchnac 167,7SS 5 32S5O so
Elizabeth City ...... 1878 81 ,065 90
gloucester 233.957 3G,1SI 90
Isle of Wight ....... 1850 1855 90
James City .......... 52,5T3 6.992 o.
King & Queen $3.50. 39650 G,54O 90
MiddleSeX ...... -. 1926 l519 IL
Nansemond -. -. 134, 500 1890 90
New Kent .......... 10000 1850 OF
Northumberland :. 13,0l5 AHA Ia
r irhinpp1 90 Occ 400 ~