The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-13
C,APII'..AlIf'I((lINIl
WAS DISCUSSED 8 D.
Resolution Went Over Until Next
Tuesday and Made Special Order.
Mr.. WATTS TALKS ABOUT TAXES
The Virginia System is Out Of Date
and Badly in Need Of Change.
Clayton Insurance Bill Was
FayoraDly Reported.

TO investigate the Soldiers Home will
not get down to real work before next
Tuesday. The subcommittee, consisting
Of Senator Tate and Delegate Dupuy nave
not completed the examination OF the ac-.
count of the Iiome at the State 6a hh.
Senator Tate states that he ana Alr. D ''t
puy will certainly be ready to report. Wy
Tuesday. AS soon as the Subcommittee
is heard from witnesses will be suH11no'Heo
TO testify.
INSURANCE BILL.
The Senate Committee on Courts yes
terday heard argument on the CiaSloi
bill in relation to the effect OF eviue !
in trials upon insurance policies as TO m
material allegation in the policy. MAJOR
Charles S. Strinsfeliow made an eioqueh.
Captain Cunningham Hall also spoke
briefly against Senator Clayton opened
and closed the debate in behalf OF the
BILL The committee in executive session
decided to report the bill favorably Win 4
an amendme1-r which was agreed to WIN
Senator's approval. The bill IS a very
important one to insurance companies
and the insured.
PROVISIONS OF ACT.
Inc Dill is as lOilONSs lhS ehiAiSAAAAAASAAs
being designated by the words in pareI.
thesis which are stricken out OF. the Dill:
/. BE it enacted by the Genera! Assem-
bly Of Virginia, That no answer to any
HETEROGENEOUS made by an applicant in
his or her application for policy shal
bar the right to recover upon any policy
issued upon such application. or be USED
In evidence on any trial to recover upon
such policy, unless 1t be clearly proved
that such answer was wilfully false and
was frauiulently made, or it Is material,
and induced the company to issue the
policy, and that but for such answer the
policy would not have been issued (and,
moreover, that the agent or companS had
no knowledge of the falsity or fraud of
such nnSwer).
2. This act shall be in force from its
passage.
The House Committee on Courts Of JUS
tice heard argument on the bill offered
by Mr.. Pitcher, providing for the election
by the Legislature of three persons, who
shall revise. digest and codify the statute
in relation to the assessment and collec-
ton of taxes ana leyies and the re-
demption and sale of delinquent land.
On this bill Hon. j. Allan Watts, OF
Roanoke, spoke at some length in Its
favor.
He referred 10 the conditions surround
ing the government before the civil war,
and the laws for taxation adopted at that
period were not complicated and We're
reasonable, fair. just and equitable He
said these conditions have entirely
changed.
GROTH OF CORPORATIONS.
'.The growth of the country has been
brought about largely by corporate ef-
fort" said the speaker. land its wealth
largely increased in manufacturing and
transportation corporations. he then
cited the fact that in the State OF New
Jersey, 1000 corporations were charter
ed anu authorized to issue capital stock
to the amount of $500. 100000
1.-THE present tax laws Of Virginia are
omen to many criticisms lie said.
Double taxation although prohibited by
the Constitution is in practice carried on
The farm and the mortgage upon it are
taxed, the stock and value It represents
are taxed, the house and the notes given
for deferred payments aie taxed. This Is
hardship upon 4 class Of people that are
least able to bear it, and most need relief.
for it hits hardest those who are invest
ing their money in farms and In homes
in the State of Virginia.
Gust complaint is made that we have
no proper supervision over the money
going to the State. There is no adequate
means Of knowing whether fines i'm
posed by magistrates or by courts. fees,
lax or NOIaTlli SedlS, OE TIC s4IllcultS aduC
from the officers of the various clerks in
the State are properly accounted for.
THE INCOME TAX.
"The income tax is the hardest to col
lect. 1t is impossible to legis!ate men
honest This is a most just tax. howey-
err
In conclusion, the speaker referred to
the collection of taxes on corporations,
requests, ETC., and wound up by saying:
T. - ofo 70 H<aF1
iustment of taxes in Virginia that the
burdens upon real estate could in whole
or certainly in large part be removed,
without putting unjust burdens upon 9TH
err interests, certainly not burdens equal
in proportion to the burdens borne by
the owners of real estate to-day.
The bill was referred to a sub-commit-
tee, including Messrs. A1cRae, Southall
and Patteson.
Mr.. Bland, of Portsmouth, presented
before the committee his bill to amend
section 4O77 Of the Code so as to cover
lust such emergencies which arose.
through the escape of the murderous Wal
ter Cotton from the Jail in Portsmouth
the morning of the Goth of December.
THE GUARD SLEPT.
The guard was asleep and he was arrest
ed on warrant under section 1893 of the
Code, but he escaped punishment there
under because 1t was eStaDllSned- lnaC ne
was not an officer. having not been sworn
in as prescribed by section 16S
Another warrant was sworn out against
him under section 1872. upon which he
was fined by the mayor of that city $3.50.
The amendment seeks to make guards so
appointed or summoned special officers
and amenable to section S753. It will be
reported favorablI-.
bill introduced by Mr.. Baugh amend
in sec. 1924 of the Code in relation to the
penalty for poison NJ horses and other
| teasts. so as to include therein such doss
as are declared by law to be personal
property, and reducing the penalty, came
up before the Committee for Courts OF
Justice and was passed by 50 as to enable
tic patron to make some amendments.
The Senate.
The Senate met, with prayer by Rev. J.
J.. Gravatt. ,
under suspension of the rules. a bill pro-
yiding for erecting and maintaining
water-troughs upon the public highways
of bedford county, for the use of horses
and cattle "A
The following bills were introduced:
Nv senator St Clair-To amend the
| charter of the laurel Railway Company.
BY Senator Maynard-Three bills
an, oh eY.3s of