The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-11-04
KING GEORGE COURT
Small Crowd Out-Court Adjourned to
wednesday Much Opposition to
Building Of a New Courthouse, ETC.,
Efr

wednesday Much Opposition to
Building Of "a New Courthouse, ETC.,
Etc.
The Indian summer weather kept the
farmers from King George court Mon
day and the fields along the route were
filled with drills, harrows, ETC., putting
in wheat, and gangs OF men cutting
down. shocking and hauling of corn.
The corn crop in some portions OF the
county Is above the average, while IN
in others drought cut II short The
rains were very partial, some sections
having a plenty while in others there
was but little. On the whole the farm
ers think a fair crop will be gathered
and the prospective price will make up
all loss.
When Judge Mason convened court
there were only four lawyers present
and the business transacted was small,
and Judge Mason adjourned court at
noon until Wednesday. The docket IS
large and when court convenes on wed
nerday the first case to be taken up ~
that of DIR. Cline. He has as counsel
Messrs. Hunter and Tayloe, while At
torney Rose is assisted in the prosecu--
ton by Messrs. Carter & Carter, OF
this city. II is probable the term VIII
last all the week.
The proceedings Monday were: G. o:
Tayloe substituted trustee in place OF
C. w. Tenant in deed Of trust from
II. johnson and wife to secure b. {.
Grymes.
W. f. Grigsby was allowed pension
of $36.
DIR. V. o. Caruthers was granted per-
mission to carry concealed weapons Tor
IL months.
Account of II. c. Southworth as adj
ministrator of estate of j. I. King APP
proved.
ANTI-coURTHoUsE MEETING.
An effort is being made to build anew
courthouse at cost some say OF $lO,,
600 and others $40, 900. This has raised
hornets nest and massmeetlng was
called. Nearly every man on the court
green hurried into the building TO the
meeting, which was called TO order by
Mr.. James L. Rodgers. On bis motion
DIR. T. T. Arnold was elected chairman
and J.R. Baker, secretary. Mr.. Rogers
made a strong speech, IN which he
bitterly assailed the board Of super
visors for the present levy of S5c on
the 500 and offered the following, which
was not seconded:
Whereas il is commonly rumored that
the board of supervisors of this county
have in contemplation the bonding OF
the county Of King George for the pur-
pose of raising money for certain pub
lie improvements, such as erecting new
public buildings, roads, &C., and where
as our tax rate has been arbitrarily
raised TO an abnormal, extraordinary,
and almost prohibitive rate already.
Resolved, That we, the people and
taxpayers Of King Geroge, in conyen-
ton assembled at the courthouse, pro-
test against this arbitrary, useless and
excessive tax rate as fixed by our board
of supervisors at the last laying Of the
levy, and demand that our board OF
supervisors at its next annual meeting
to lay the county levy do not exceed
for all county purposes the sum OF sixty
cents on the 500 of assessed values,
and that the board do not exceed the
minimum rate fixed by law for county
and district school purposes. We further
demand that when in the judgment OF
The board of supervisors any extraordl-
nary expense that would increase this
maximum rate should be incurred for
public purposes, that the extra rate Tor
that particular purpose shall be SUD-
mitted to vote Of the people for ratl-
fcption before the expense IS incurred.
This brought . protest from Mr..
Forest p. Tayloe, who insisted that the
meeting was called only for the pur-
poses Of expressing its disapproval OF
building a new courthouse and not TO
make any attack on the present levy. |
DIR. Arnold sustained Mr.. Tayloe. Mr., |
II. T. Berry, Of the board OF supervis |
sors. was asked several questions and
he declined to answer unless the other |
members Of the board were present.
Sheriff Owens as led if the board were |
empowered to bond the county without
a vote being taken by the people. At
torney Rose was called in and read from
the code that the board Of supervisors
could bond the county, provided the |
Judge Of the Circuit court certified their
action, without it being submitted to
the people. This brought Mr.. Heze-
kiah Potts TO the front with this reso-
luton, which was seconded and unani-
mously adopted:
Whereas il is commonly rumored that
the board Of supervisors Of the county !
are contemplating building new court
house, we, the people, in massmeeting
assembled
Resolved, That we, the taxpayers of
the county, request that the board of
supervisor before entering into any con-
tract for the building of said court
house or issuing bonds for the payment
of same, submit the matter TO the vote
of the people,
Resolved further, That a copy Of this
resolution be sent to each member OF
the board of supervisors.
The meeting then adjourned.
There was much feeling evinCed,
Those opposed to the new courthouse
claim that with an expenditure OF ST.
500 the old building will fill all the
needs of the county and court.
NOTES.
A petition was in circulation, and nu-
merously signed, asking that the court
appoint Mr.. James H. Thompson land
assessor Of the county. There did not
seem to be any opposition TO him.
Mr.. Forest P. Tayloe has been APP
pointed by Gov. Swanson delegate
to the Farmers National Congress at
Raleigh, N. c., which meets on Nov.
6, and will attend.
Last year the board of supervisors
passed an order to close the bird season
from Jan. /, 1909, to Nov. Is, 1909.
The question is being raised, could the
board last year pass an order affecting
this season?