Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-01-22
RICHMOND OAlLIES IGNORE REPUBLl-
CANS.
To the Working Men of TazeweII-CaE
paign Issue for Next Fall.

Richmond, Va, Jan. 19.-I have hearC
complaints from number of the Republi
can members of the General Assembly
that the daily papers of Richmond, in re
porting the proceedings of the Legislature
studiously refrain from noticing or favor
ably commenting upon anything Repub
lican may do or say. Being rather limo
cent of such suspicious l really had not
thought of 1t until my attention was called
to the matter. do not now recall any
complimentary notice of any Republican
members except one concerning myself.
Last week in opposing the bill to allow
cities to appropriate money to aid secta'
rian charitable institutions, made the best
speech l knew how to make, and all the
dai!ies mentioned it. The Times said:
"Mr Harman's speech was strong one
and sounded the keynote of those who op'
pose the principle of making appropria-
tions by State or municipal corporations
to charitable Institutions"
This kindly notice is as refreshing as
an oasis in a desert. | shall Just walk
down to the "Times" Office and subscribe.
There is no doubt of the imperative need
for Republican daily paper. 1t ought to
be in Richmond. Our Democratic friends
are making good campaign issues for Vir-
gnia Republicans next fall.
Now, to my good friends s. Democratic
working men of Tszewell-I desire to sub
NIT a clause or two from the new tax bill
which has been reported by the joint
Finance Committee of the two houses, as
to the license tax every contractor, large
or small, will have to pay for the privilege
of bidding on contracts to build anything
from hen house to a mansion. Here is
the proposedlaw:
"Any person, finn or corporation solic-
iting or accepting orders or contracts for
doing any work, on or in any building or
structure requiring the use of paint, stone,
brick, mortar, wood, structural iron or
steel, sheet iron, galvenized iron, metahc
piping, tin OF other metal or any other
building material; or who shall solicit and
accept contracts to do any paving on side
walks or streets, public or private proper
ty, using asphalt, brick, stone, wood or
any composition. or who shall accept an
order for contract to excavate earth,
rock or other material for foundation or
any other purpose shall be deemed con-
tractor, and for such privilege shall pro-
cure from the Commissioner of Revenue a
license to carry on said business, on the
first day of May in each year, paying $500
per annum, and an additional sum of one
eighth of one per cent on the gross amount
of the orders or contracts in excess of
81 ,OOO."
Now, Mr. Editor, l will leave you to
figure out the amount of license tax our
working people in the town of Tazewell
will have to pay for the privilege of earn
ing bread by the sweat of their brow. l
shall move to strike out this whole section
from the tax bill when it comes up in the
Senate. The Constitutional Convention
has failed to reduce expenses of the State,
but think rather increasd them, so that
everything on the earth and under the
earth and in the seas must pay tribute to
the folly of these statesmen (?)
The nofence-law; the appointment Of
Commissioners by the courts and the de-
feat of Mann liquor bill, together with this
license tax on working people will give us
at least forty members in the next General
Assembly. What a great day that will be
for Old Virginia when Republicans enough
are elected to the Legislature to smash
the ring rule that has SO long misled and
misgoverned the good people of this old
Commonwealth.
The Campbell case and the no.fence-law
are the main topics for discussion just
now. The Mann liquor bill will pass the
Senate, l think 1t may possibly pass
both branches Tomorrow has been set
by the Committee of Courts of Justice to
hear argument on my bill for the election
and jurisdiction of justices Of the peace.
Some good lawyers have expressed their
approval of the main features of the bill.
We are all down at hard work now.
Some think we can get through by the lst
of April. Others put it at the 1st of July.
]. N. HARMAN.