Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-06
GOVERNOR TYLER's MESSAGE.

COnVeUeu lOudy. 1uo lolloHiuS Ao
synopsis oil the document:
Sluce the adjournment of the last
legislature, this State has been called
upon by the President of the United
States to furnish volunteers in the war
between this country and Spain. Ga
the 25th day of April, 1898. was
notified by the Secretary of War that
Virginia's quota of the first call would
b, 900 ,nen. I Immediately issued d
p :oclanation calling for volunte ere.
La less than forty-eight hours responses
came not only for enough to supply the
number desired, tut more than five
times as many proffered their services.
The next call of 1870 men was
promptly furnished the government.
I am glad 10 slate that there were no
better troops more promptly offered
the federal government than tho
Virginia soldiers, and yet the
entire expense to the State in
cident TO all the work will not
amount to over $1,000, or about
twenty-five cents for each soldier, and
| hope to be able 10 have even this
small sum returned by the general
government. I want to make acknog-
ledgnent to the many employers of the
soldiers who reserved their places for
them TO be taken again as soon as the
war was over. l would also suggest
that the legislature make small az
preparation to furnish each officer who
served in the Spauish-American War
with suitable commission of service
that they may preserve rs mementoes
| 10 their families, and suitable badge
might be provided for the non-commls-
stoned officers and men. | would tai e
this occasion to suggest that it would
be wise expenditure on the part Of
our S ate government to provide means
Tor The drilling and discipline of bodies
of State troops. I have designated a
b ard of officers to report plan, which
| il is hoped win promote the interest OF
of the service.
Ths last legislature made provision
for q State Board of Fisheries, and
| passed new law regulating its action e,
| refer with pleasure 10 the report Of
this board, and TO the fact that instead
| OF being burden TO the State, the
ioyster fields yield, d the first yer
+, under this new system the handsome
sum of S54 900, more than S34 900 OF
which was clear profit. l am of the
| opinion that any disturbance OF the
basis upon which the present law rests
would be harmful in the highest degree
to the State, as we'll as to those who
are directly interested in the CULTIVATION
and marketing of oysters.
Toe State will have to make
provision after the first of Jan.
uary, 1902, to meet the one
per cent. additional interest charges on
It's bonded debt. This will impose an
increase burden upon the State of
SlS0,000 per annum. do not feel
That the lands of the commonwealth
could, in the continued low price of
products, stand greater burden
than now exists. II it should
become necessary that any property
should have an increased assess
ment, I believe that the railroad
and some other corporations of the
State would gladly bear reasonable
one on their properties. They are get
ting more and more prosperous every
year, and the amount of taxes paid Dy
them in proportion to their income is
nothing like that paid by other proper
~ holders in the State. All ofthe frs, :
class lines in the State are assessed at
$751; 900 per mile, while it is known
| TACT that hundreds OF miles of these
roads are mortgaged at two, three aud
four times this amount, and while there
| is provision for railroads and all corpora
lions to pay under our laws an income
tax, yet before paying this income tax
they are allowed to deduct from their
Income interest on three or four times
| the amount of bonds their road is ae-
sessed for. l would recommend to this
legislature that no corporation, in as
pertaining its income, should be allow
ed to deduct interest on bonds greater
| than the amount of the assessment for
| taxation against the property. In this
connection l would recommend, 10 or
der to relieve the railroads of burden,
for which no one gets any correspond
lag benefit, the abolition of the Office OF
State Railroad Commissioner.
The General Assembly at its last SEES
sion, for the third time opened the door
for the funding of the old securities
which had not been funded under the
act of February IA, 1882, or February
February 20, 1892 AS there is still
outstanding small remnant of bonds
with tax receivable coupons attached,
| would suggest that the opportunity
be again given to fund these, under
such conditions as in your judgment
you may think equitable.
There has been wide spread dis
| satisfaction concerning the act of the
last legislature providing for the sale of
the delinquent lands of the State. The
measure has been found to work hard.
ship in some of its features, and in that
respect should be amended. 1t has
been the practice of many parties 10
quietly acquiesce in the delinquent sale
of their lands, knowing that the State
would hold them, aud that only the
usual rate ofsix per cent. interest would
be charged at redemption, and 10 some
instances only the first penalty of five
per cent. would be added, This was
equivalent to the State loaning said
parties the amount of their assessments,
whilst those VINO are annually paying
their taxes are realizing the threatened
danger of an increase OF tax burdens to
meet the demands of the State, occa-
stoned by the failure OF some to pay.
This condition of affairs naturally forced
the State to take necessary steps to COL