Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-12-09
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.

shall give forth no uncertain sound.
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.
Nothing has less claim to attention
than the high sounding clamor for
public economy which sometimes rises
above the din Off party conflict, and
after its close is heard no more. Any
call for reform, to be availing, must be
directed to practical results.
The following statistics are sub
mitted with view to thoughtful in>
vestigation and action. During the
period of ten years, ending with the
year 1860 inclusively, the average
ANIMAL taxation was twenty nine cents
on the one hundred dollars, and the
average annual disbursements of the
government were: For legislative -..ex-
penses, $lO0,6l91 IS; for criminal ex-
penses, S65;529,sl; and for all the
ordinary expenses of the government.
including the two foregoing items,
1888, 1861. For the last six fiscal
years the corresponding disbursements
have annually averaged: For legislative
expenses, $l87, 599,22; criminal exs
penses. Sl45, s3O;l7; and for all ordl
nary expenses, including the two last
mentioned items and excluding all pays
ments on the debt and for free schools,
S1,0s4, 1929 These figures show
that the average, annual cost Of sup
porting the government has been more
than "a per cent. greater during the
latter period than the former, while
the rate Of taxation has been increased
by over 70. per centum. In other
words. before the war when Virginia
was rich, and prosperous, and en-
braced 81, s4s square miles Of territory
and population reaching IN 1860,
1899 31s, the government cost ahsoN
utely but little over half as much as
during the latter period Of impoverish-
ment, when the. State embraced but
38,3l8 square miles of territory, ahd
her population numbered 1925, 163.-
And, relatively, our dwarfed and
struggling State now carries more than
twice the governmental burthens which
were borne by the original Common
wealth in the plentitude Of its wealth
and power A Simple calculation will
show that if the cost Of the govern.
ment be now made relatively what it
was before the war; the present reve-
nues will more than discharge the
annual interest on the debt and that
consequently taxation may be reduced.
The people of Virginia are not re
sponslble for these augmented taxes
and expenditures. They resulted from
the cruel and coercive rgors OF recon-
struction. A constitution containing a
costly and complicated frame Of State
and local government, suited to none
but a wealthy and densely populated
community, was propounded to us at
the behest. Of conquering power. We
had to accept that constitution or none.
Our people took ii to escape the sword
OF a satrap.
Nevertheless, it is in your power now
to inaugurate the constitutional reforms
which l recommended to your prede>
cessors- As the careful proprietor,
whose estate is curtaiied 10y misfortune
cuts down his establishment in the pro.
portion of his losses. SO does it devolve
on the Commonwealth to simplify, re-
duce and cheaper the whole machinery
Of the government, adjusting it mex
orally to the straitened condition of
the people.
I have regretted that only occasional
and fragmentary changes of the con-
stitution were heretofore submitted to
the people. Partial amendments, by
lessening d few Of its evils, serve but
to increase the difficulty of thoroughly
reforming that instrument. Precisely !
as far as is consistent with Federal |
obligations, the changes ought to
sweep through it, purging 1t of its
cumbrous and costly innovations. This
Recommendation means no interference
with the public school system. |
We cannot expect to build up a
fourishlng commonwealth without first
s:ernly recurring to the only true prin-
ciples which underlie all national and
individual wealth. By severely prac-
ticing retrenchment, trugalty, industry
and perseverance, by producing more
and spending less, we must liue> back
to our lost prosperity. |
One most alarming tendency of the
times, already threatening and endang-
ering free institutions, is to be found
in the increased cost of all governments,
Federal, State and municipal. The
various governments over the people
of the United States now cost annually
not less than $700,0OO,000. Our re-
publican system has been subjected to
so great b departure from the simple
design Of its founders so extravagant-
ly and recklessly is 1t being admins
tered, that it is costing annually more
than any one of the several of the most
powerful and splendid and wealthy
governments in Europe which main
tain thrones and aristocracies and
standing armies. The aggregate of
State, municipal and corporation debts
is estimated at $4,000 900. The
interest on these and the national debt,
amounting annually to about $780, |
100000 is drawn from the production |
and labor of the country, and a large
portion of 1t goes as our annual tribute
to foreign creditors. So extravaganza
expensive and oppressive is our repub-
llcan system becoming; so large pro-
portion of the earnings of the laboring
and producing people is being absorbed
in its support, that it is fast making
them but ''hewers OF wood and draw
ers of water" Unless great political
revolution shall arrest the alarming
tendencies of American government,
and bring it back to its original repub
lican simplicity and purity, it will be-