Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-19


THREE
the state for the old soldiers, ana IL 'nl'
snacial tax was made cents, cen"
could no deducted from the general tae
~ AZ cents. and thereby the taxes "Vuiu
not have to be raised any higher than =
rho chair appointed Messrs. stupps
Featherston, and Minter members OF IN
special committee TO draw up suos'i'
tute bill. ixtIS1i 4
BILLS REPORTED.
The committee reported the following
bills favorably.
To authorize the Board of Supervisors
Of Culpeper county TO make one special
levy to provide for the payment OF tne
interest and principal OF the bonded IN
debtedness OF Cataipa School District IN
said county. and to authorize the Boaro
Of School Trustees for said district 10 ap-
blythe proceeds thereof to said indeDteu-
ness.
To provide for working vagrants on
public roads in the county OF Henrico.
To authorize the Board OF SUPERVISORS
of Tazewell county to increase the pay
OF overseers OF the poor in said county.
To authorize the Board OF Supervisors
OF Tazewell county TO rent law offices
located on Courthouse Square In SAID
county.
Taxing Telephone ana Teiegrap"
Companies.
The Finance Committee Of the House
met yesterday afternoon to consider MT.
Saunders's bill providing for the taxing
of telephone. telegraph. and express COM
panies. and defining what constitutes sucn
corporations Mr.. Cooke, the chairman
presided 1t was decided before argu-
ment commenced that four hours should
be allowed for discussion-two at tnis
meeting and the remaining time 10 De
consumed at meeting to be held ThuVs-
day afternoon at o'clock
There were present besides the COM
mittee and the patron OF the Dill, MI
Moon, Of Albemarle, representing tne
Long Distance Telephone Company; MT.
A. p. Thorn, Of Norfolk, also counsel Tor
that corporation, and Major Robert Stiles
representing the Western Union Tele-
graph Company.
Mr.. Saunders opened the argument with
an explanation OF his bill. His measure.
he said took the Ohio law, and asslmi-
lated IT to the local legislation, with the
object of thus getting at the intangible
property, as had been done in that State.
The bill was planted upon decision OF
the Supreme Court Of the United States,
and he simply asked that Virginia be
given the same powers that Ohio had.
IS CLASS LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Moon. of AlbemarIe, followed Mr.
Saunders and opposed the measure. he
declared at the outstart that It was class
legislation 1t was unjust to require cor
poratons to make public their private
business. and to pick out three classes
and impose burdens upon them which
were not put upon other taxpayers
These companies were treated with less
consideration than the man who solo
liquor, he said. He represented the Long
Distance Telephone Company, which was
Just entering the State. and they were
met at the very Threshold with an enor'
to put them on a worse footing than any
other business in the Commonwealth. A
small telephone company with which he
had a personal connection was already
taxed under the present law 20 per cent
on its gross receipts.
Major Robert Stiles, representing the
Western Union Telegraph Company
asked that further argument be post
poned until Thursday, as he had not yet
had a chance to confer with the officers
Of the company for which he appeared.
Mr.. A. =. Thorn, representing the Long
Distance Telephone Company. also IA
vored a postponement Of the further con
sideration OF the measure. especially al
a conference had been arranged between
Mr.. Saunders and Mr.. Clarence Young, o
the company, TO discuss certain feature
Of the bill. AS far as he was concerned
he was ready 10 proceed with the argu
ment with the lights which he then ha
| before him. He did not know just hoS
| these would be changed, however, b,
| future developments
1t was then decided to adjourn tn
meeting until Thursday afternoon at
o'clock with the understanding that argu
ment be then completed.
Teach the Effects of Alcohol.
The House Committee on Schools ant
| Colleges met yesterday and heard argu
ment in favor of Mr.. Maupin's bill re
| quring the effects Of alcohol as a mar
cotic TO be taught in the public school:
| Those addressing the body on this subject
were Mr.. Garland Pollard, Hon. Isaa
| Dggs. Judge Watkins. and Mrs. Wade, O
the Womans Christian Temperanc
| Union. No one appeared in opposition {
| the bill. Several amendments were mad
10 the DILL ditef Wnlcn IL was OEutIeu I
| be returned to the patron to be perfecte
accordingly. When IL is again presente
to the committee in proper shape, ii wi
be reported favorably.
Mr.. WinbOrne's bill. reducing the sala
ries of school superintendents, was re
| ported favorably. This bill provides tha
| the salaries OF such officers shall be $40 70
the first 10000 population, and $40 add
tional for 10000 to 10000 population. o
| 81 per day for the time such officers aC
tually devote to their business.
Other Committee Notes.
Senator Barksdale appeared before tn
Senate Finance Committee yesterda
| morning and made an argument In fave
| of his bill which repeals that portion {
| all town charters which eXempts ther
| from county or district taxes for road {
pauper purposes. He characterized sue
charters as relics of the boom. and en-
phaslzed the fact that they imposed ac
| dltional burdens upon rural communitie
which are least able TO bear them.
The House Committee oa Privilege
! and Elections met in executive sessiO
yesterday morning, and decided by a voi
| OF y TO /. to seat Mr.. b. w. l.. Blantol
| Of Cumberland whose election was cor
| tested by Mr.. lie Sueur. Mr.. j. 5. TaN
| lor. the Republican member from Patricl
was the member voting In the negative
The Senate Committee on Roads an
Internal Navigation have set next Tues
| day as the time for the consideration