The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-01
CURRENT TOPICS.

Booker Washington, the learned Afro
American, will lecture in Richmond, Va.
in February, and it is intimatcd that
possibly the Virginia lawmakers will so
10 hear this distinguished colored man.
They will be invited to do so, at any rate
l; is possible that some may be deferred
from Gearing Washington through fear
that political capital WIFI be made of it
by their advcrsarieS. but to OUT mind
there could be no unbccoming dignity at
tached to sucn an act. On the contrary,
it should be az advertisement to the rest
of the country that Virginia Democrats
are not unfriendiy to industrious, talented
and worthy representatives Of the colored
race, and are willing TO aid ard encourage
them in every way that leads to their
material Advancement. II any NlrSln4an
is ayerse to tie He.. 'o's becoming a bet
ter citizen it - a matter CT regret that
he si1 luz ever acknowledge his nativity
Fredericksburg Free Lance.
Booker Washington has proven hin,self
to be a good and intelligent citizen, whose
ambition is TO promote the true interests
of his race. He deserves a respectful
hearing wherever he lectures, and he will
receive such a hearing when he comes
to Richmond
The Norfolk Ledger says:
I'VE thoroughly agree with the COM
nerts of the Richmond Times relative
= that portion of The Governors message
the LEGISLATURE, in which that official
urges that more business-like methods be
adopted in the handling of the States
funds
AS we have said elsewhere, the bust
ness affairs OF the State should be con-
payers OF the State have the right 10 ex-
pect it. and they shou'd demand it.
The New York Journal of Commerce
Prints the following communication from
a correspondent at Wilmington, n. c.:
Il see it stated that the Senate VII
probably refuse TO concur in The action Of
the House repeating the tax on checks ana
drafts. The opinion seems to obtain that
the tax is evenly distributed and does
not therefore, bear heavily on any par
ttcular class This Is no doubt, true as
regards large centres, but i'll the rural
districts LIE UppblLail4tiSS IOi s,Sbb-i5
revenue stamps are very poor. and III our
immediate section Of the country the
Wholesale dealer is very much imposed
upon by being made 10 stamp large
proportion Of checks received from cOun-
try customers. OF course, the customer
does not intend to violate the law. and
20 charge him with 4 &c. stamp would
scarcely be worth the labor In the az
.treeate, however, the item IS considerable.
Assuming that the evil c5mplaineo OF IS
general as applied to The thnly rUrulated
sections OF the country, | believe i oEly
necessary u caN the attHnti>n {; tie
Congress 10 the matter to insure the re-
peal o. the tax.
In an interview in the Richmond Dis
patch of yesterday Senator John n. Opie
said:
IF we adopt an educational qualittca-
ton we eliminate the best element among
the colored population-tilat is, the re-
s2ectful, well-behaved poll c, old-tine
darkey. and we do not reach the new
issue-the crap-player and idle hanS-on,
who can read and write, but will not
work; the fellow who accEnulateS roth
ing and has no poSSessIons. He IS the
man we ara after. Therefore, l am OF
the opinion that a small property qualiti-
cation-ss,y, $50 or S1G0-wil accomplish
the object aimed at Moreover, no con-
stit,ltional grounds of objection to this
c,,a Life, rinn could be raised.