The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-11

Eighth Congressional District, in which
Capt. Willard is the fayorite. State Sena-
tor Jeffries, Of CuIpeper, Is also popular
here. He stopped over in the city on his
way home from King George, where ne
bagged the delegates. RumOrs are al
ready heard Of efforts 10 beat Represen-
tatiye Jones next year for a renomina-
tion to Congress, but such rumOrs have
been current from time to time for many
years without working any harm TO the
present Congressional incumbent. He is
very strong in the district, and as far as
I anybody knows, Fredericksburg has no
candidate to run against him.
Calls for the convention 20 nominate
State Senator on September II and TO
nominate a member Of the House Of Dele
! gates on the first Monday in September
have been issued. State Senator Wallace
will be renominated, and, as Delegate
Embrey wants to practice law instead of
serving in the General Assembly, sue
cessor will be named this year from the
county. Mr.. j. Henry Biscoe, OF the
county, who seems assured OF the nomi-
nation without opposition, il tall,
prosperouslooking farmer, who has a
brother engaged in business in this city.
He is Democratic chairman Of thecounty
and never ran for but one Office before,
which was supervisor. He was defeated
by one vote by Republican, but is said
TO be certain of better luck this time.
MIR. A. b. BowEMNG.
1.-TWO or three years ago secured from
the Commonwealth Attorney list OF
owners of our city bonds" asserted Mr..
A. b. Bowering. as he stood, tax books
in hand.
1.-The bonds arenot taxable by the city,
but | wanted a report from the owners
to return taxes thereon due to the State.
sent my interrogatOries to those
owners. Who have several thousand dol
lars ofholdings here in Fredericksburg. |
am still waiting for the returns in most
cases. Some Of the bonds were deposited
in Western banks, but at any rate you
can't get at them. That is only an ex-
ample When people talk TO me about
taxing invisible wealth in this State or
any other State | have to tell them it
can't be done l would like to see taxes
solely on real estate. Fortunately, here
in fredericksburg much OF the invisible
wealt., locks, bonds, and the lilSe-is
being "a yerted into realty and improve
ments. But, talk asyou may, the taxes
ON personal property are gradually di-
minishing among wealthier people; the
poorer classes pay the bulk of that class
OF revenue.
"Of course, we haven't many very
wealthy families in fredericksburg. !
could name two or three worth some
thing like 100000. Before the war
there were more Of them, but, strange TO
say, most of their money was made over
in Falmouth, and most of these families
were of foreign extractiOn-Scotch or
English. remember as a boy the -four
ing mills and the cotton mills there. The
products were foated down the river in
barges, and sometimes brigs came up for
cargoes. Now even Falmouth is no
more. "
Like young and vigorous shoots on an
old branch does this city exemplify mu-
nicipal expansion. The aged structures
with square windows-inseparable from
memories OF six or seven generations OF
graves in the outlying cemetery, whose
present occupants were former tenants OF
these same aged structures ARE pressed
by modern business blocks and residences.
The groupings Of a thrifty suburb, with
neatly painted, well-arranged dwellings,
are evident on many sides, pushing out
upon the slightly hills where forty years
ago contending armies fought and bled.
But it will be many moons before the
scars of Fredericksburg and Marye's
Heights are obIiterated Gab!9speppered
with mimic balls and furrowed with can
non shot are still preserved with as much
pride as the German duelists at the uni
versities bear the marks OF sword thrusfs
on their countenances. The greater holes
have been plastered up, where they aG-
mitted too much weather, but the locali-
ties are pointed out to strangers as to-
kens OF the hail Of iron and lead that de-
seended on the city.
CAPT. T. MccRAcKEN.
Capt. Terence McCracken, one os the
most substantial business men Of Fred
ericksburg, has been a part Of the week
the acting Mayor. For something like
fourteen years he has been a member OF
the board in charge Of the Eastern State
Hospital. and since the resignation OF
ColW. II. Taylor, he has been mentioned
as the latter's probable successor. Thor
oughly identified with the city's best IN
terests is Capt. McCracken. Apart from
his large business he finds time to sue
eessfuIly dabble in politics, and is now
city recorder by virtue OF which Office he
becomes acting Mayor in the absence Of
that official, and member OF the common
council. He is also a Montague delegate
to the Norfolk convention.
As head OF the committee in charge Of
constructing the new electric lighting