Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-03-03
RICHMOND LETTER.
Richmond, Va, Feb. 20, 100

Mr.. Editor:
l know write bad hand to read, and
that my letters are unwecome visitors TO
any printing office. l am afraid to write
TO the newspapers lest my manuscript pro-
woke profanity among The printers who
try to read it. am too hardup financially
to employ typewriter. For these reasons
| only write at rare intervals. Now, if the
printers will keep sweet just this time |
promise not to write another Richmond |
letter. l am all swelled up fit to "bust'
with information and news political. l
must relieve my mind by giving you few
items
Today the House passed bill which is
the fret step toward re-establishing hu-
man slavery in Virginia. Heavy penalties
are IMPOSED for enticing farm laborers
away from their employer with whom
they have a written contract for service.
This will be hereafter extended to all
casscs of employees as soon as the princi'
pie is established.
The annual franchise tax required to
be paid by corporations is assessed on
the 'smaximum authorized capital" L |
have introduced a bill fixing the basis of
this tax on the amount of stock actually |
issued or subscribed for. Mr.. Cation, OF
Alexandria, has pending in the House a
bill postponing the collection of the tax
bevond the lst of March so as to give cor
poratlons time to meet and reduce their |
maximum capital Mr.. Bosz, the czar of
the House Finance Committee, has planted
himself against any measure to relieve
corporations of this unjust tax. l do not
think any relief will be granted. If the
people continue to keep legislature here
dominated by men who are as hostile to
corporations as those who dominate this
body now. the development of our State
will be greatly retarded. 1t is really dis
trcssing to me to have to contend with
thia spirit of obstruction to development.
There is a little fun injected into our dis
cussons sometimes. Some lines thing is
80 serious it becomes real funny. On Sat
urday House bill amending subsection
seven on page S5S Of Acts l9O23-4, in re-
ation to supervisors making allowance for
scalps came up in the Senate. Crow scalps
were added to the list in the House bill
and the Attorney for the Commonwealth
was to act with the board on the scalp
question. Senator Tavener, of Shenan-
doah, in most solemn and impressive
manner advocated an amendment offered
by him substituting a Commissioner IN
Chancery for Commonwealth's Attorney.
He frankly admitted that his reason for
the amendment was that he did not want
Republican Attorney for the Common
wealth to participant in this thing When
he took his seat I arose and addressed the
Senate in as solemn style as | could un-
der the circumstances, as follows:
"Mr. PRESIDENT do hope the Senate
of Virginia will vote for the amendment
proposed by the Senator from Shenan-
doah. should regret to see Virginia en-.
ter upon 80 dangerous career and bring
upon her fair name such dire calamties
and consequences which will inevitably
follow and fall upon her should she be
compelled to be humiliated by the awful
spectacle of seeing Republican Common.
wealth ATTORNEYS handling and inspecting
crow scalps do insist that We rally as
one man and avert this threatened outrage
that would be perpetrated upon the State
if we do not adopt this amendment"
The amendment was adopted, the Re-
publcans voting for it. The Senator from
Halifax then moved to strike out the
"crow" which was done. Then the Sena.
tor from Petersburg suggested that the
amendment of the Senator from Shenan'
doah did not reach but one section OF the
bill, 1.-THE scalp section) therefore the bill
was passed by till today. This is sam
pie of small politics as practiced in the
Senate of Virginia. am very fond Of
my fellow senators personally, but politi'
caIly. would rather fall into the hands of
the Philistines than to cross the path Of
their partisan spirit and methods Of some
OF them. l will have nv last battle this
week on my bill to allow Republican COM
mittees of counties and cities to furnish
lists of three discreet persons" from
which one judge and clerk Of election at
each precinct shall be chosen. OF courae
I shall 90 down in defeat. They talk for
fair elections but will vote to keep this
door wide open for fraud as the electoral
board may think necessary to use the
door,
Frank Griffith, of Russell, is stirring
up the animals" on his resolution to have
legal proceeding instituted against the au'
ditor of public accounts to recover back
the 1000 stolen by Joseph II. Shep-
pard, fret clerk in the Auditors 6eice.
Sheppard was sent to the pen for five
years, but we want the money.
The balance of the session will be spent
in raiding the treasury. We must not