Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-21
TONNAGE TAX FIGHT.
BILL DEBATED FOR HOURS AND
SENT TO COMMITTEE.
TO BE- BROUGHT BACK TO-DAY
General Expectation That the Me"-
sure VIII pass-Bili s"spena'"s
r.sna-crsbbers Act Amended-Mr.
Martin Declared Elected.

amended House bill Imposing a tax OF
X cents ton on all fertilizers sold IN
Virginia.
The nght was over motion TO recon-
nit the bin TO the Committee on Agfi-
culture and Mining. IT was conducted
with much skill and energy on both sides
The bin was recommittcd BY very close
vote. But II was sent back TO the COM
mittce upon the agreement that II was
10 be reported to-day and made the spe-
clal order for 1890 o'clock.
The fight yesterday was the hrst one OF
much Importance this session. IL was
conducted in manner to excite the au-
miratioD Of every lover OF parliamentary
contests. On the one side, leadihs the
fight for an immediate vote. and adVo-
eating the passage Of the bill. were Mr.
Flood. OF Appomattox, and Mr.. Glass, OF
Lynchbure. They conducted the fight IN
"a manner worthy of the most skilled par
Iiamentarians anC deDaters Mr.. Mum
ford. of Richmond, led the fight for re-
committal His speech IN favor or the
motion was very strong one. All the
speeches were above the usual order
one peculiar feature of the debate was
the fact that nearly every speaker, no
matter on which side, declared he would
vote for the bin II it were reoommitted
and amended This fact causes it, adyo~
Gates 20 predict its passage to-day By
largo majority.
There were a number OF manufacturers
about the Capitol protesting against the
massage OF the bill, and several farmers
urging that Il be enacted into law.
There was quite an interesting tight
in the House over an amendment TO the
bin suspending for sixty days the opera
tons OF the "Land-Grabbers" law. Tbs
vote showed the sentiment 10 be quite
evenly divided.
The General Assembly in Joint session,
declared the result Of Tuesdays ballot
for United States Senator. and joint
committee was appointed TO notify Mr..
Martin Of his election.
The Day On the senate.
Rev. Or. Il. \. Calisch made an elo-
uuent opening prayer in the Senate. I'M
mediatey upon its conclusion Lieutenant
Governor EchOls announced that the SEN
ators would repair 10 the hall or the
House 10 meet in joint session 10 count
the vote for United States senator.
The senator's were gone Just nfteen
minutes The regular course of business
was resumed Immediately upon their re-
turn. II ran along for time IN the
usual mOnotonous manner. Beyond The
preaence Of number OF opponents OF the
fertilizer tonnage-taX bill behind the bar
and IN the cloak-rOom there was nothing
TO indicate that a sharp contest was IN
sight There were also number OF srec-
tators present. including several ladies'
HOUSE BILLS PASSED.
The following House bills were taken
up and passed:
Authorizing the Council Of Hampton to
Issue bonds 10 the amount OF $4,000
4 not In wall
ton TO the records of Alexandria county,
approved March 3. 1879
TO empower the Supervisors Of Isle Of
Wight county 10 convey and make title
TO the county poorhouse farm
To empower the Supervisors Of the same
county TO build iron bridges
Regulating appointment Of assessors Of
lands I'm Newport News
Regulating appointment OF assessors Of
lands In warwick county.
TREASURES IN ARREARS.
Mr. Keezcll offered resolution direct
ing the Auditor Of Public Accounts 10
furnish the Senate with a statement
showing what town city. and county trea-
surcrs were in arrears on the list Of Au-
gust and LIST Of December of this year.
The resolution went over.
TO LICENSE UNEXAMINED CHEM
lists
Mr. Donahoe had taken no out OF It's
order and passed a bin licensing W. j. Il.
Duncan. Of Alexandria, 10 practice phar-
macy. According 10 the statements of
Mr. Donahoe ana Mr.. Lyle. II appears
that Mr.. Duncan was entitled TO regis
traitor AZ the time the present law was
passed. but he was not aware OF the
fact. thinking that being under age pre-
vented his doing Sc. lie has been a
practical pharmacist for years.
MIR. lie Cato. as a physician spoke
strongly In opposition 10 the bin JIG
said II n should pass he would offer q
bill repeating tile law requiring an cXami-
nation as prerequisite to the practice
OF pharmacy.
against the bill. 1t passed BY q close
vote
Mr.. Wickham had taken ND and passed
out OF it, order bill amending the
charter Of the Longdale Iron Company
I'm Allegheny county.
THE FERTILIZER BILL.
Then the bill imposing tax OF i;
cents ton on all fertilizers came up In
regular order. Mr. MunfOrd moved 10 re-
commit the bill 20 the Committee on Ag-
rlculture lie said the Senator from Ap-
pomattox CMr Flood had said on Tues
day that a firm which paid $500 taN
under the brand-taX law would pay $1,000
under the tonnaEo-taN law. lie thought
the measure had been hurried through
the committee IN too rapid manner. The
Constitution OF the state gave opportunlt,
TO every one who desired to be heard by
committee considering q bill.
Mr.. Foster asked III the law would no
be retroactive In character If il wer'
passed after the LIST OF January, an,
after the fertiiizer manufacturing firm
had paid their brand tax.
COURTS WOULD HOLD 1T INVALID
Mr. Munford said this was probabl'
true. but that under the Joint resolution
adopted by the two houses, the manu-
lecturers could not now pay the bran'
4 a rIs.tr fl..t
business the law having been suspended
MIR. Munford said he gave IL as his delibe
rate opinion that n the law in It's prescn
form were passed the Supreme COur
would hold II not worth the paper II wa
written on, He said the manufacturer
of fertilizers were human beings and fe
iow-citizens They deserved fair treat
ment. They were engaged In a bushes
essential TO the prosperity or the farmer
lie was friend OF the farmer. If IN
law were amended properly. he woul
vote for II II it provided for a tax OF a
much as g cents q ton. lie wanted IN
Department Of Agriculture supported b
an appropriation direct from the stat
Treasury, and he wanted Il 90 have
much larger fund at its disposal tina
MIR. Munford argued the constitutions
points of tho bill at length, and IN cor
i,lusion said he would be glad TO civ
the bill TO the farmers as a Christina
gift, but il should be perfected.
WITTY AND SARCASTIC.
MIR Lupton followed Mr.. Munford. II
made very entertaining speech. II
said he had thought majority Of n
senators were lawyers. He now foun
they were farmers. lie spoke OF no
the Flood of Appomattox had kissed n
Sands OF Richmond. 8nd flown on TO n
James In support OF the bill. His speec
was Witty and sarcastic. lie alluded
the manufacturers as I'VE fertilizer pc,
ho %