Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-08-31
A R EV w.
The RtddIebergcr Bill.


The Rlddleberser Bill which was
passed by the last legislature and We
tssd BY Governor Holiday has become
a part Of the platform of the co alition
party Of Virginia. 1t is the platform
upon which Cameron, Lewi' and Blair
stand as far as the debt question is in-
volved in tie political contest that is
now being WaSed among us. We pre-
nose to look into this measure OF read
iustmsnt so called from time 10 time
during the canvass and point out what
we conceive to BE some Of Its de-
fccts to The people.
We take 1t for granted that the gen.
tsmsn who uphold the measure viii not
claim that they 90 before the people on
4 platform containing false statements
OF fact. Should they do SO this OF itself
would be amply sufficient to damn their
scheme IN the estimation of all honest
men.
We will demonstrate however IA aRo-
ther article at some future time that
the main premises Of the preamble on
which the bill Is based ara essentially
and absurdy fllse, but we propose to
look at the measure nov from coali-
ton stand point, and cOneode for the
sake of argument that the bill does
contain honest and correct statements
Of fact in its preamble.
lis said by the coalition speakers
and papers that the certificates under
what is termed the Allen Amendment
to the McCullo;h Bill we're for the
benefit Of the brokers aud paper shaw
ers while the Riddlebsrger "loan ssrtia.
catesr were devised fer the benefit of
the tax payers. We only propose to
discuss the latter branch Of the prOpo-
stlon. As for the absurd and silly
statements about the Allen Amend
ment certificates, we care nothing
about them now as they are not german
to The pending proposition. tbs with
the Rlddleberger bill that we have to
deal. and with the ''loan certificates" to
DO issued hereunder should it become
q Law. The advocates Of the bill are
industriously seeking to make the
Impression on the taxpayers that with
these certificates on the market they
could pay their taxes fer 50 cents on the
dollar. We desire to do a~ay with any
such impression By demonstrating That
taxes will have to be almsst doubled
on real and personal property to run
the State government shosld the bill
become Law, csnccding as we have
STATED, that the statements OF fact in
the preamble are correct, and we will
demonstrate it by the bill itself. Ii
will be conceded that the legislature
that passed the bill, if passed at all will
have to lay the tax at 100 cts. on tie
500 worth OF real and personal pro-
perty, and on subjects, the taxes en-
which are paid directly TO the treasurer,
instead OF so cts as it Is now in order to
sell the loan certificate at so cts. on thu
dollar as proposed, and RAISE the same
amount Of revenue as is received into
the treasury under the present rate.
And if the statements in the preamble
of the bill be correct this will be asso-
lately necessary in order 20 raise suffi-
cient revenue for the expenses OF the
government, for the schools, and for in
terost on the debt as funded under the
Bill, for according to one clause OF tn at
most remarkable preamble "the search
for new subjects Of taxation has been
exhausted" and we can rely in future
for revenues only on the sources from
which they few now. Another clause
of the preamble says that "the net
revenue Of the State caunot safe ly be
relied on for more than 80, 1863 900.
after the reassessment required to bs
made IN 1880 owing to the reduction in
taxable values, estimated to be conss-
quent thereon, and certain necessary
reforms ia the system OF assessment of
property and licenses"
Further on in the fifteenth section of
bill is is provided that loan certificates
shall be Issued by the Auditor sufficient
to cover the amount Of taxes annually
assessed against the land and personal
property Of the citizens of the Common
wealth, that subscriptions to the amount
OF taxes annually assessed against d Q
land and personal property of the sui
scrIber for which he is not delinquent
shall be received by the coanty clerks.
aud that the party subscribing TO this
loan, upon the payment in cash Of his
b ;criptlon. shall receive a certificate
OF indebtedness acknowledging the
liability OF the state TO him for an
amount twice as large as his subscription
payable. al the treasury at The rate OF