The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-03
The Debt lucstton--The Harbour biii-
The SchOols-The Remedy.

The SchOols-Thc Remedy.
To the Editor of the Dispdich'
In nv Judgment your correspondent,
OK. ~ from Lexington, in your paper OF
the 29lh instant. takes practicable view OF
the debt question. SO -,
II differs from the Barbour bill only III
this-that bill proposed to collect IN money
% cents on the 800 worth OF property 'or
the support Of the Government. ana 10
cents on the 800 and all other taxes, eX-
cent the school levy. Tor the beneht OF tne
bond-holder. 1t was part OF the plan 10 ioi-
low nm tbe Barbour bill. with bill making
all amounts assessed OH privileges payable IN
,nnrcv. but on the motion OF Mr.. Phlegar,
In the Senate. il ! remember CORRECTLY,
tbe funds 10 be collected from privileges
were included in the bill for the beneht OF
the creditors.
The proposition Of on" is to provide
for the ordinary expenses OF government
by requiring the amounts assessed ior
licenses of every kind to be paid III money,
and this amount, together with tne none!
Maid into the treasurv by the property-taN
payers, will be sufficient for the ordinary
n,lrposes OF government. Then, as TO the
schools, they are TO be supported by strict
compliance by the Legislature with the
constitutional provision for the support OF
the free-school system-that Is. to levy ana
collect not less than 10 cents on the SIo0
worth OF property in money for schooi
purposes.
The school fund should be made sepa-
rate fund-distinct from all Others III IT'S
assessment, collection, and deposit in the
Treasury. 1t should not be regarded at
any point between the TAXPAYER ana the
State Treasurer AZ any other than the
school fund; its identity, as the school
fund should never be lost; and the state
Treasurer, on the receipt of it or any part
OF it. should be required forthwith TO de-
post the same to the credit OF the free
school fund.
1t may be said that the decision iii the
case OF Antoni rs. Wright is against this
Not at all and If it Is. there
are eases OF record wherein even Supreme
Courts have reversed themselves. At and
before Antoni as. Wright the Taxpayer
paid his taxes in bulk-the school fund
was not kept separate fund by law. nor
did the law absolutely require the school
tax to be paid in money. Further, the
court in Chat case says that ii the Legisla-
ure will do its duty and levy taxes sufli-
,ient for the support OF government,
he schools, and TO pay the interest on
he public debt, that the question OF
he right OF The Taxpayer to pay
lis school-taX with coupons cannot arise.
" course not; but if the Legislature fails,
because of war, pestilence, famine, or sim
by because it does not see tit 10 levy taxes
,nough for all purposes, who is to make it
evy more? And will the court hold that
he claim of the coupon-holder, IN case OF
deficiency, is superior TO the claim OF
he children of the State. for whose special
benefit, under the Constitution and law,
lie levy was madeS Further: This qucs-
ion never was fairly presented to the
'ourt for decision, and never as a distinct
Now, if law is passed requiring licenses
o be paid in money, and another requiring
he school-taX to be paid in money, inclu-
ling capitation, the taxes for State pur-
POSES proper can be reduced without al
Getting the amount levied on licenses and
or school purposes. separate the taxes as
now levied-being 40 cents on the 500
md there will be levied for State 80 cents
IN the 500, and 10 cents for schools.
Now, who would be affected by a reduction
Of the State tax from 80 cents TO 20 cents
The coupon-holder, and no one else. And
4 reduction from 80 cents to 20 would
bring more cash into the Treasury than at
because there would be more
small taxpayers and less demand for cou-
pons. Let this plan be adopted. and the
surplus now in the Treasury he held to
meet extraordinary emergencies and to
nav the interest on the RIddleberger bonds
while these laws are tested in the courts,
should any one desire to test them, and the
result Will be the solution of the whole
question. The policy OF starvation has
often won where stealth and assault direct
and by EXPERIMENTATION have failed.
Malone had the debt settlement COM
pletely in his own hands, having absolute
Of the Governor and the Legisla-
ture last winter, and court known to lie
favorable 70 his measures; and he settled
the question so far a. he was able or willing
to settle it. But his settlement is worth
less. Quite near twenty-four months have
elapsed since the Legislature passed bis bill
for settlement, and yet, outside OF the bonds
funded by the Danyile Railroad Company
and Upper App0mattoX Company, but few
bondholders have accepted the settlement.
Malone is guilty OF nOn-use, misuse,
or abuse OF the power given him BY the
people, or he was not capable OF re;idluSt-
ing the debt; and OF course the people
will not entTust him with the power again.
The Democratic party is pledged to set
Element of the debt under the Riddleberger
bill, and the people must rely on this party
to do what Malone failed to do-.that is,
they must make that law effective.
To make the counties collectors OF the
State taxes would be held SHIFT by the
courts, and to refuse to pay any money out
OF the Treasury except by special appro-
priation would take away the remedy given
the coupon-holder by the Rlddleberger
bill, and would be held void. Coupon
Killer Nos. and are ineffective, and do
not bring the bondholders in, and they
allow the railroads, banks. other cor
porations, and large taxpayers to drain the
Treasury at their pleasure. Whether this
state of things Is the result OF Malione's
mistake, ignorance, or design, do not
know. Certain IL is. the bOndholdels do
not intend to fund under the Riddebcrger
bill without further legislation. What can
be donef | answer shortly :, collect the
license levy and school taxes In money, re-
peal the coupon-kiler features Nos. and
2, pass General Wickham's resolution. and
turn the coupons loose to feed on husks,
aud keep the surplus in the Treasury.
The schools are doing well, and the people
will be satisfied il they are provided for in
the future. They don't need back ratlons.
They want future supplies. Ii the Legis-
lature is wise they will hold the surplus in
the Treasury till the debt is settled-not as
Malone settled it, but till the bondholders
come in and fund under the Riddleberger
bill. Y.
A Fortune that Came Too Late.
Virginia tNev.) Enterprise.l
We are informed by Deputy United
Sfafes Mnrshll Ricketts, that ahonf three