The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-19


| the property; he thought any rule adopt
ed by the board would be an arbitrary
rule.
The committee then adjourned until
next Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
10 INCRE1SE TAXATION.
For the Enlarging Of the Pensions for the
Needy Confederate Soldiers.
The House Committee on Counties
Cities and Towns met yesterday morning
IN room No. on the upper floor Of the
Capitol building with Mr.. d. c. Hatcher.
| Of FPuquier. in the chair. 4 number of
bills were considered and # was decided
10 report the following bills favorably:
To authorize the board Of supervisors
Of Culpeper county TO make one special
levy 10 provide for the payment of the
interest and principal OF the bonded in
debtedness of Catalpa School District in
said county and 10 authorize the Board
Of School Trustees for said district to APP
ply the proceeds thereof to said indebt-
edness.
To provide for working Migrants on
public roads in the county OF Henrico
To authorize the board of supervisors
OF TazeUell county 10 increase the pay
OF overseers Of the poor in said county.
To authorize the board OF supervisors
OF TazeNeu county TO rent law Offices
located on Courthouse Square I'm said
county.
\ COMPULSORY TAX.
Mr. Stubs bill allowing boards Of SUI
pervisors and councils Of cities to levy
tax not exceeding four cents on each
hundred dollars worth of assessed prop-
erty 10 pay pensions 10 needy Confede-
rate soldiers. caused some discussion.
Captain j. G. Featherston, Of Campbell.
and General George j. Hundley. Of Anne
liza, appeared before the committee on
/ behalf of the Confederate soldiers and
the suggestion was made 10 provide
compulsory state tax Of four cents TO
raise additional pensions for Confederate
soldiers. instead Of leaving this matter
optional with the various counties and
cities
General Hundley advocated the sug-
gestion that the State should take charge
OF the matter and the funds should be
distributed by boards of Confederate
soldiers and not TO be given as aims
Captain Featherston also spoke In favor
in making this levy a State tax instead
of imposing IL on the counties and the
cities upon the decision of their rcspec-
tive authorities.
Chairman Diggs. who had come I'm
while the committee was In session. also
warmly supported tho proposition Of hav-
Ing the State tax increased for the bene-
III Of the Confederate soldiers and he
said he felt convinced that such an in
crease Of the tax the people of Virginia
would readily agree 10. He was willing
10 vote for such a measure and If necss-
sary. TO go down with the Confederate
soldiers and never see the Hall Of the
House OF Delegates again. There was
bill before the House new requiring the
railroad companies TO pay for the killing,
manning and wornding of their employees.
while this bill provided that the state
should pay for the killed manned and
wounded soldiers who had rendered their
services 10 the state.
Mr. Booker Ganett Of Essex and Mid
dlesex. said he felt willing 10 take upon
himself the risk for h.s two counties and
vote for such measure.
THE MOTION ADOPTED.
Mr. a. +. Withrow. Of Allegheny, Bath
and Highland. said the allusion had been
made that the Republicans might here
after turn against the Democrats If
taxation should be increased for such
reason. lie represented perhaps more
Republicans in his three counties than
any other member on the floor Of the
House. but he felt confident that not one
OF them would be opposed TO such an
Increase Of the tax.
Col. Thomas Courtney. OF King Will
liam, who was present also spoke i'm IA
vor Of the proposition and Mr.. Diggs In
order 10 bring the matter in proper shape
moved that IL was the sense OF the
committee that 4 special state tax be
created for the relief OF the Confederate
soldiers and that - Subcommittee OF
three be appointed TO draft a bill as a
substitute TO Mr.. Stubs bill The mo-
ton was agreed 10.
Mr. Digs explained, that II one cent
levy was set aside for the relief Of the
Confederate soldiers II would create re-
venue OF 1880 for that purpose. At
present the sum OF $4,000 was expended
by the State for the old soldiers and II
this special tax was made four cents Two
cents could be deducted from the general
tax OF forty cents and thereby the taxes
would not have TO be raised any higher
than forty-two per cent.
The Chair finally appointed Messrs
Stubbs. of Gloucester, Featherston, or
Campbell. and Minter. Of Bedford, mem
bers of the special committee who are 10
frame the substitute bill.
Retains His Seat.
The House Committee on Privileges and
Elections met yesterday morning In room
No on the upper floor OF the Capitol
building with Mr.. j. G.. Parker, OF South
ampton, in the chair The COMMITTEES
took up the consideration of the lie
Sueur- Blanton election contest and after
carefully considering the matter IN eN-
ecutive session. decided by vote or IL
to / that Col. b. W. l.. Blanton was en-
titled To the seat in the House from
buckingham and Cumte rlano counties.
Mr.. j. $. Taylor. Of Patrick tRepuoh-
CAM. voted In the negative.
ToAppear Before the Committee.
DR.. Ben Blackford. the medical super
intendent OF the Western State Asylum
at Stanton is In the city and visited the
two houses OF the General Assembly yes
terday morning. DR. Blackford says he Is
looking for information since II has been
stated public print that his institution
had a surplus OF $4,000 20 IS credit IN
bank.
DR.. Blackford will appear before the
special joint committee on retrenchment
and Reform. appointed under the With
row resolution. today lie says ne