Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23
PLAN TO TEST ISSUE
Anti-Sa|oon League to Force
Vote on License.
REVENUE REPORT POOR
Cities Pay Much More Than the
Counties.
CAPITATION TAX IS IGNORED
Richmond Has Epidemic of Measles.
Many Victims of Dogs Causes
Action by Health Officials.
REVENUE REPORT POOR
TAX IS IGNORED
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
/ RICHMOND. Va. February 22.-Read-
ing between the lines of the proceedings
of the recent Anti-Saloon League con-
vention in the city Of Roanoke, there is
seen by many persons determination to
force the issue in this state and to have
a test of strength on the issue of license
or no license. The fact that the present
senate will have another two years to
operate, that it is wet by vote Of six
teen to twenty-four. the trend of senti-
ment in other states seems to have in
spired the dry folks with renewed spirit
and zeal.
Whether the state could force a vote at
any time remains to be seen. There is
! ample law for holding local option cleo
| tons, but the method for having the en-
| tire state vote on the proposition is COM
pick. That sentiment for the drys is on
the increase in every direction is appar
| ent, and when the election of members
| or the lower branch of the legislature
takes place this IL The members will be
| subjected to rigorous quiZzinS. 1t is be-
| lieved that the dry forces will have a
| safe working majority in the next legis-
| lature, and it is almost equally certain
that the senate will again defeat the mat
| openly charged that a deal was made
| whereby republican senatorial districts
| were unchanged in return for votes to
| defeat the statewide measure.
That conditions in the state are far
from satisfactory is gathered from the
recent report of Auditor Moore. Figures
! Show that during the year the nineteen
cities paid very much more than all of
the 100 counties; that the state is carry
ing some thirty or more counties at
dead loss, the total deficit of the counties
agsregating close to 100000. Capita
! ton taxes to the amount of S5,6S7 ,65S 80
We're assessed, and of this sum only ST.
119 1850 was collected.
/ The report points out that much of this
should be collected especially in tie cit
les. where the percentage of delinquents
is very much heavier than in the counties.
| This is due, in large measure, to the large
number OF negroes in the cities who pay
no attention to the payment of any sort
of taxes. 1t is believed that the aggre-
! gate increase in revenue determined by
the grand juries will reach more than
$25.O0O,OO0, however, the increase in this
city having been more than S7.ODO.O0O
! Campaign Opens Soon.
Now that the date for the state primary
has been fixed, the date for formal filing
of notices by candidates set, it is eX-
pected that the next three weeks will
see the candidates making the first swing
over the state and getting in touch with
the voters. Candidates have till noon
of June to get in their notices. BY
that time the cabinet possibilities will
have been eliminated, the men who are
reported to be waiting for Wilson's de-
cision will have been Informed and they
will be ready to say if they are in the
race for any particular place.
II Some OF the candidates have announced
that they have been approached by
friends OF the President-elect but SO far
none of them has been given office. Mr..
stuart has opened his headquarters here,
and is doing some little work.
n Under the laws OF the state the cand-
oates are restricted in expenditures, and
FOR that reason the extensive campaigns
which have been Wagcd in the past will
be memory only, much to the regret
OF those who have fattended at the ex-
pense OF ambitious gentlemen. There are
just three avowed candidates without op-
position so far: Henry &. Stuart for
governor: Samuel W. Williams for at
torney general, and r. c. Stearns for
superintendent of public instruction.
commissioner koiner of the department
OF agriculture will have to measure
swords again with j. Thompson Brown
ii of Bedford
Richmond has just had an epidemic of
measles. and while there were more than
$3.50 cases the disease appears to have
about consumed all the available ma
terlal Another epidemic is threatened
at TINS me-mumps. school children
being the largest sufferers. Like the
measles epidemic. the type of the attack
is mild and the observance of the usual
precautions will prevent d loss of life.
Disposition of Allen Gases.
Gov. Mann has not yet disposed Of the
cases of Floyd and Claude Alien. the
Carroll county men who are sentenced to
die March for the shooting at Hllsville
nearly year ago The governor has
been so occupied that he did not have
time to complete the task Of considering
the appeals for the men this week. 1t
is believed that the first of the coming
week will witness his disposition OF the
cases He has declared that when hc
makes known his decision he Will give his
reasons succlnctly. He is refusing to
hear any further discussion of tho mat
ter in any way, saying that he has heard
enough
Some ten persons are at this time here
FOR treatment for dog bites. White and
black patients come from all over the
state. In practically every case SO far
the victims are shown to have been at
tackled by rabid dogs, examination of the
heads OF the animals having disclosed
this. The situation is such that the
health department of the state has taken
the matter in hand and is urging that
the counties shall enact a law requiring
all dogs running It large to be muzzled.
Some forty cases have come to the atten-
ton of the Pasteur officials in the last
few months, prompt treatment preventing
serious consequences.
Sir Moses Ezekiel, the famous sculptor,
now of Italy. is being sued i'm the circuit
court for this city by man named
Lentz. Sir Moses is a native of this city,
where he has many relatives and friends
and attended school. He owns consider
able property here. Some time ago a
house owned by him was condemned II
was ordered razed. While this was being
done one of the walls fell. Lentz being
injured. The suit was brought more than
a year ago. Judge Scott. when counsel
/ for Sir Moses asked that it be dismissed
on demurrer, ordered otherwise and had
the case set for trial. 1t will come up q
later date during this term. Sir Moses
has not been TO this city since the suit
was begun.
Dabblers in Syndicalism.
| no yDda