The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-27
NO. 81
Taxation, Free Schools, State Debt and
Readiustment. ~

| %Sa"VaolA3 Jaw 0SAooAo' SpStS 0VUO esAu
Readjustment. aa
Editors Vauey Virgt,idn.-It seems to be
conceded that the debt OF the State of Vir-
GINA is increasing at the rate of six or seven
hundred thousand dollars annually. This
being constantly added to the large amount
of principal, constituting lien upon the
property of the State, producing shrink
age in the value of property in proportion,
is well calculated to make the people open
their eyes, and give great uneasiness. In
stead OF calling each other repudiationists,
demagogues and bloated bondholders,, we
had better 60 to work and try and make
satisfactory arrangement of the debt. Much
of our troubles has arisen from unwise legis-
lation. f.i
| The Funding Bill has been made the great
| scapegoat This ought not to be. The
! blunder in the Legislature was In putting
the Free School system in operation in adj
vance of the requirements of the Constitu-
| ton. II the Legislature had taken the mo-
| ney appropriated to Free Schools, applied 1t
to the debt of the State, passed Funding
| Bill putting the bonds at per cent. nom
| taxable, we would to-day be- III first.rate
| condition. i4s,-fl.7..,s,
| 1t is not in my judgment too late to DO
this very thing never too late to right
wrong. just apply for five years the taxes
| levied on property for school purposes to
I the payment OF debt, ask the creditors TO re-
fund at 4 per cent. coupons non-taxable-
or refund in bonds bearing per cent. for
ten years, after that 6 per cent, or 1 would
say per cent. for five years, IL necessary to
an adjustment. This would give million
| and half per annum, and, we'll managed,
would with present taxation reduce the debt
in five years ten millions. Be just before
you are generous, is a sound maxim of the
law l wonder if the taxpayers of the
county Of Augusta have locked closely into
this tax for school purposes. Upon exami-
nation 1 find that the county Of Augusta
pays to the State on property $62,000, a
capitation of $4,000, which, with one-fifth OF
the $1,000, making SIG, 500 for school pur-
poses, goes into The general fund OF the
State. OF this, the county of Augusta gets
back about SO, 900 for school purposes within
the county, leaving $500 to 60 where the
woodbine twinetf-we know not where.
In addition to this, understand the Super
visors of the county levy on property for
school purposes-building schoOl-houSes, &C.,
SIS, 000-this added to 500 before stated,
makes the sum Of $34, 500 paid by the county
to keep up this much lauded school system.
Whilst am an adjuster, would, il Il
were a member OF the Legislature, be
ashamed to ask creditor of the, State to
dUdGC OllC lOtt Oll LIS uCUb Ill ULlC 1dCC III
such supreme selfshness. There can be no
constitutional objection to the application
for five years Of the tax on property hereto
fore received by the representatives of the
School fund.- they had the advantage, hav.
ing received it in advance. 1t did not be-
long there; now let it come back where it
does belong. The truth is, Mr.. Editor,
there ought to be an amendment to the Con-
stitution, would say, abolishing the entire
school system; but if we must have it, make
it a capitation tax exclusively; give the
management Of it to the counties, and do
away with the thing as it now stands, cost
ing, am told, 100000 before it reaches the
teachers. 1t is like the railroad high Off
Gals receive big salaries, whilst the brakes
men who have to stand the killing are
ground down to low wages. So with, this
system. High officials get big salaries, and
the teachers are cut down and crowded to
suffocation to give the thing the appearance
OF being cheap education. l am somewhat
amused, Mr.. Editor, at parties as they are
dividing. We have the last-dollar- bond-pay-
ing party and the adjusters. hree-fourths
of both are opposed in heart to this school
business two-thirds of the three fourths are
in or want to go to the Legislature. They all
think the school thing is popular, and won't
say anything about it, but hold on to it.
This has been my great objection to Gen.
Malone. Let me say to both parties-you
have got to face the music, gentlemen. If
you hold on, both OF you, to the money i'm
properly received for school purposes, and
hold to the thing as it is now running, you
are bound to one OF two things-either to
raise the taxes to, in my Judgment. from one
to one and one quarter per cent, or you
must repudiate. 9 .fs..A
With one remark, Mr.. Editor, to The la
boring man with reference to this School
system. The back and the belly are Of the
first mportance-more than book learning.
Whilst you are taxing the property-holders
for the purpose of education, you are de-
stroying the demand for labor. The farmer
who is heavily taxed loses his means to en-
ploy labor. There is community of inter-
est between the property holder and the la
borer. If you vote to tax the property
holder for your benefit, he can't and won't
employ you if he can help it.
JUSTICE.
lit is scarcely necessary to state that we
do not endorse the views advanced in the
above ommunication.-ED.] "I1'lT