Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-08

The first debate which has yet taken
iace In the Senate at the extra session
occurred yesterday, when the bill appro-
,riatins $500 to place a fence around Lee
monument was put on it's passage. Inc
tebste was interesting. in that Senat tor
kcnwaire, uaistaking what was a ten
tatiye report ct one of the sub-commit-
tees Of the Finance Committee for the
snai report of the committee. said that
be proposed to fight the BILL as 1t was
the most unjust, most undemocratic
measure he has seen" in the Legislature
the committee. saying that the Consti-
tutioaal Convention had made it necessa-
~ to raise revenue from some source.
as the revenue would not be sufficient
TO meet the expenses Of government, and
that the idea that expenses would be
reduced was erroneous.
The Senate was called to order at noon
Colonel Willard presiding. The attendance
IF members was the maximum since the
holidays, thirty members being present
There was no prayer at the opening ses-
zion, and the reading OF the journal was
dispensed with.
These bills were introduced and re-
fer-ed 10 committee for report:
BY Senator Hobbs: To allow the voters
Of the counties of the State to vote on
the question Of changing the county site.
BY Senator Hobbs: To care for the in
sane of the State. (This bill was printed
in full in the Dispatch yesterday
BY Senator Mann: To make dealers and
persons who give away toy pistols and
cannon crackers liable for damages aris-
ing from such sale.
By Senator Stands: Defining what shall
constitute q lawful fence.
To Fence the Monument.
The bill TO provide for placing a fence
around Lee monument was taken up and
put on its passa sc. Senator Anderson
explained that the monument was the
property Of the State and that it was
beng neglected. being the loa1ing place
ior many persons who had nothing TO do
hut TO loaf. Recently one of the orna-
.1le9tS of the statue had been tempered
with. and the erection of Il fence would
beauty the place and keep it safe from
The dispoiling hands of the randal.
Senator Barksdale was not opposed to
The fence, but he was opposed to placing
Il fence around a monument which had
been erected in an old field as q boom
Lor corner lots. The place for the nonu-
mont he said was the Capitol Square,
GIongsiGc those Of Washington and Jack
son, and in the spot in which all the
j.Aople OF The State had an interest, and
tr!lich the visitors 10 the city would
Hce without having to so away out in the
muddy fields Of I5enrico. He said that
W placing The monument III the Capitol
square police protection would be at
fordcd and The statue would be forever
,afc from the vandals and burglars of
Hicnmond and Fenrico.
He indulgcd in a little Tepartec with
Senator Anderson, which entertained the
Members and the visitors. After the lat
ter had read the record in which the
property was conveyed TO the State, Sen
htcr Barlssdale owred up that the statue
could not be moved, and voted for the
bill
Senator McIlwaine said that the Senate
should not make the appropriations he
thought the monument should be protect
ed, but he was unwilling at this time to
make a dollar appropriation for any pur-
pose which was not absolutely neces-
gary He sounded the alarm and gave
EARNING that the State was treadlng upon
dangerous ground. He had report OF
he Committee on Finance before him,
md while he was not disposed to cast
my reflection on the members of any
aommittee Of the two branches of the
General Assembly, yet he was compelled
o say that the taxation bill was the
most unjust the most ubiquitous, and the
most undemocratic lie had ever seen since
lis legislative career began.
Discrimination In Taxation.
The measure was uniust, in that IT
nught 10 tax one form of property at
,ne rate, and then attemp ID to tax an
Ghcr class OF property at another rate
Tangible property was to be taxed at the
rate of thirty cents on the one hundred
dollars, and intangible property was to
pay twenty cents. In other words. the
holdings Of the poor man and the poor
farmers was 10 be assessed at the higher
rate, while the intangible property of the
banker and other classes was to be placed
1t the lower Was it fair, he asked, to
discriminate against the man who could
not hide his property in favor Of the man
who could give in what he might be dis
posed 10 give in and which could be Sc
creted at pleasure?
The Democratic party was face TO face
with a proposition which would surely
mean its ruin If it were adopted. The
measure should never become q law as
long as he had the power to oppose II.
lie gave notice that he meant to hight tor
fairness and justice and the supremacy
Of The Democratic party. II mean to de-
clare war TO the knife, and knife to the
hlt." he exclaimed. in closing.
Senator Wickham advocated the appro-
priation OF the money. and in doing so re-
piled 10 the speech Of Senator McIlwaine.
in SO far as the Senator from Peters
burg had served notice OF war. The State
would be compelled to look around for
new subjects Of taxation, the Constitu-
tioaal Convention having fixed the rate
Where vas the State to get the money
TO meet the deficit of sisaooo, which had
been created by the reduction of taxes?
The plea had been made that there would
be a reduction OF expenses of govern
ment- He denied that such would be the
case. Iha idea that the deficit would be
met by an increase In the method OF tax
ing railroads vas far from correct. On
the floor OF the convention 1t had been
stated that If there was a deficit it could
be met by an increase in the liquor Ii
ceases but even if the bill which had
been introduced by Senator Mann were
enacted, there would be a deficit of more
than 100000. He would join hands, ii nee
essary TO secure the revenue TO support
the State, and help 10 carry the propo-
eitjon OF Senator Mann through. The
State was face to face with condition
which had been left by the constitutional
Convention.
wouldn,t TNit sicIl,vaIne.
aenaror wickham was not disposed to
EVIL Senator McIiwatne about his
ftaxr 1sfn /, f1t to