Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-22
LEGISLATION VERSUS VIRGINIA.


vantages aud attract capital, and while
the undeveloped resources Of the State
are attracting the attention OF capital
isis, and many enterprises have been
and are being worked up, looking to
tie building up Of our great State, We are
threatened with legislation that prom
les no good and will have tendency
10 clog the wheels CT progress and sd-
verti7e the State as non progressive and
the enemy of capital.
1t is amazing that men deemed fit to
represent the various interests of the
State will allow themselves to aid or
even countenance legislation that is il
imical to every interest of the Sate;
rquestionably they lose sight Of the
fact that they are sent there TO pro
mote the best interests OF the State auT
oy so doing, the interest Of every Cit
zen of the State, but instead Ct that
many Of them seem possessed of The
idea that to pOpularize themselves with
their constituents, it is necessary to
champion some bill levying tribute Oh
capital; adding to The burden of corpo
rations and in every possible way d.
urtssiDg BUSH ess. Fo this emo call at
tention to the several bills now under
consideration, such as the boiler in
spsclion and engineers license bill, IL g
tax on stock Of corporation, the iDsp. :
;.nce bill, the tax on stock OF corpora
lion, the insurance bill, etc.
The fist OF these is abou; as peces
sary as TO provide for the inspection Of
cook-stoves, and from which, directly
or indirectly, there results about as
many casualties as from the explosion
If boilers. This is matter that can
safely be trusted to the owners of the
engines auG boilers, as they alone take
5ha risk Of unlicensed engineers in ol-
Grating their machinery, and besides
there are hundreds Of good, competent
engineers that have run stationary e.
gines for years, VITO may not be able to
answer scientific questions that would
possibly be propounded; besides this,
nearly oil large corporations and many
of the small ones, insure their boilers
which includes frequent inspection by
experts, so that the only effect of the
law would be more officers, additional
burden to manufacturers and in many
cases hardship to those serving as er-
Qineers, and no possible good to any
one.
Second-as to the tax on sock OF in
corpcrated companies, held be indi.
viduals, corporation is number of
individuals associated together, for
specific purpose or business, and the
stock issued is the certificate of each
mln's holdings in the property of the
Incorporated company, and whatever
that property may be, ii is taxed jus
as that of an individual, and why
should ii be taxed again in assessing
the stock representing it. Certainly it
cannot be claimed that it is crime to
hold stock in an incorporated COM
pauy then, why require of its holders
a double tax? Individuals or private
companies only pay on their property.
Suppose the stockholders in our many
real estate companies throughout the
State, that have done so much toward
the development of the various sec
tiops, their whole capital represented
in property and most of them in debt
after paying taxes on all-be required
to pay tax on their stock-holdngs,
would it not be great hardship? Many
poor men have all their earnings in
these companies. UDquestionably the
passage of such a bill will compel the
winding up of many companies and
prevent the formation of others, which
would be a great calamity, as very
largely all developments are made by
corporations ~
Third : As 10 the insurance bill.
While the Southeastern Tariff Associ-
alton may deserve very largely the
cepsure visited upon it, the remedy IS
with the people. and they are, there
fore, to blame for the continuance OF
that association; there is no necessity
for legislative action, and it is danger
Gus to undertake to correct every seem
ing wrong through the enactment OF
law; it is q species of paternalism that
should not be INDUCED ip; matters OF
that kind will, in the end, correct
themselves. If insurers Will seek in
surance outside of this assc cciation, they
will soon remedy the evil, and, indeed,
q great many OF our business men are
providing their insurance outside and it
is having telling effect.
am persuaded that the enactment OF the
Wharton bill will work moro evil in other
directions than good ia the one proposed,
therefore let US rather depend upon The sense
of Justice. Judgment and business co-opera-
tion of our people to regulate or business
matters than to run to the leg stature for re-
Lief. The fact is we are stt1icted with Too
much legislation, too much government;
the sessions of the Legislature ana oon-
eress have become seasons OF uneasi.
bess on the part of business men, snd II
would be great blessing if the sessions we're
at longer intervals May We hope tnat our
representatives will carefully consider tne
several bills referred to, from bioad. pusl,
ness standpoint, with view OF dong Jusllce
TO all concerned and serving the best interests 81,
of the S.ase.- Communication IN the NofloiA
Landmark
Mrs NJ. B Ford, Ruddell's, Ill suffered for
eight years from dyspepsia and chronic con- 1a
situation snd was finally cured by using De.
Wits Little EARLY Bisers the famous ,,tie