The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-03

| Let us. then, survey the SITUATION.
! The Auditor estimates the expenses OF
the Government at....... ....SI,OOO,OOu
| or public schools sat..................'" oos'ooo
s1.5Os,ooC
Available for these purposes. s75,00c
Deficit. ,..,.........s 633,ooC
II We will only believe 1t, we can destroy
this deficit; and the process will be healthfu
and invigorating, and to the great bulk OF
the people decidedly picasurablc.
| l. Our criminal code should be thorough
" overhauled. We pay annually for crimi-
nal charges and for penitentiary expenses
the appalling sum OF S230,000. The only
effect Of this enormous expenditure is TO
make Industry more languid and morals
more putrid. We could save S125,000 OF
this amount with vast benefit to our inter-
| ests, Thousands are confined unnecessarily
in our prisons. Labor and capital are taxed
to support them at cost greater per capita
than most OF us are able to incur in the
maintenance Of our families. But this is
not the principal loss. Society loses their
labor not only during their Incarceration,
but generally forever. Weakened by con-
inemcnt and corrupted by the conta-
gion OF evil association, upon their
release many are unable, and nearly
all unwilling, to labor. They prowl
about. the pests OF the community, ready
upon the slightest opportunity to repeat
their crimes, glad in many cases of detec-
ton and OF return to their former comfort
able quarters. Indeed, the whole theory OF
the pcnitentiary has utterly broken down.
1t is not place OF penitence. Defined by
its results, it is State institution, support.
ed at heavy expense for converting novices
in crime into adopts, neophytes into con-
| firmed villains. The easy remedy is the
whipping post: The philosophy OF the
hickory has never been explained. | snail
not undertake the task. Enough to know
that when a rogue has forced a hen-house
or robbed a pig-pen, and is well whipped
for the ofience-w whipped until be Is
humble, supple, subnfssfve-he realizes
that he has committed transgresslon, put
that, having paid the penalty, ne is restored
to society and expected and encouraged TO
lead an honest life. But let him feel, as our
system teaches him to feel- that his back,
| like the back OF Roman citizen, is sacred
| from the lash, imprisonment but gives MN
sullen stoicism, and deaves him hardened
and unrepentant for lifetime OF crime.
Nothing hut the lash will subdue and
soften him and put him in that humble
and repcntant frame Of mind which
NAV lead him to mend his ways.
Despite the howlings Of a weak and wicked
fanaticism, whose profuse sympathies so
| lovingly invest the rogue, maintain that
not to whip is crueEcruel to the offender
because Incarceration in the penltepIary
blasts his future by almost destroying the
possibility OF his refor7nation-cruel to So
ciety, compelled to support him during the
hideous process OF hardening him in crime.
Flagellation, we'll administered, is not only
the only merciful and inexpensive mode OF
punishment, but is best calculated to reform
the criminal and protect society.
9. The last Legislature reduced the pay
of its members from 1920 to $40 per ses-
sion, and cut down their mileage by half.
At the next meeting OF the General Assem-
bly, by constitutional mandate, its number
of members will he thirty-fye less, and BIZ
ennial sessions will be inaugurated. The
effect of these changes will be diminution
OF 100000 in the expenses OF the General
Assembly.
3. Repeal the act which adds $4,000 to
the annuity to the University OF Virginia,
and cut off the loan Of $4,000 per annum to
the Virginia Military Institute, leaving both
institutions, as until recently, with $4,000
per annum, and so save 900 to the State
treasury.
We have no money for the payment Of our
debts, but plenty of it TO lend on long
time, and, for aught know, on insufficient
security.
Refuse further appropriations to Blacks
burg, and so save at least $4,000 per an
NUN.
We thus provide for saving 100000 per
annum, leaving the first two institutions on
the same footing they occupied when we
were rich and prosperous, which certainly
ought to satisfy them; the appropriations to
BIacksburg being that much in excess OF
what was stipulated in the bargain when it
received from the Legislature the Federal
land-scrip.
4. Raise the capitation tax to two dollars,
and throw the public schools entirely upon
that tax.
The capitation tax now yields S273,000
1t will yield under the proposed change
S54G.000. The public schools are now sup
ported as follows:
Capiation ta1........................
Property tax. isS9o 9on
s5os.ooo
(The public school is q bondholder,
"bloated." il you choose). The public
schools would get $4,000 more than now
and S235,000 would be saved to the Com
monwealth. Besides, there is simple justice
in this. individuals, not property, enjoy
the benefits Of the system, and it is proper
that its support should fall upon individuals,
and not on property.
8. Heretofore railroad property has been
assessed by the owners; henccforth the as
sessment will be made by the Board OF Pub
lie Works. The Motfett liquor-law is about
going into operation and will be new
source OF revenue to the Commonwealth.
Let us put down the increased revenue to
be derived from these two sources at q
lower estimate than has ever been made
before-say SLAB, ,000-and make general
resume To run the government and ad-
minister the public-school system, as now,
making no allowance for increased revenue,
there will be, as before explained, deficit
OF $633, 900.
We annihilate this deficit as follows:
~ Save on account Of criminal charges, oo
&c.......... @IZo,OoU
t2( On account General Assembly....... 100000
t3j On account University OF Virginia,
Virginia Military Institute, and
=. 1'ackaDurK K.......................s.... 0O.uOO
~ on account public schools. ...... 235,OO0
to) On AGiett l4uor-law, increased lax
Oh 5allfoadS.... l4S,OOo
esss, 900
might have suggested other than the
foregoing retrencbments. Several occur to
me which might be made with decided
benefit both to public and to private inter-
oS4a R,Yt haVa bad cnosSs q NJ rsSsrone. fn