Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-05-22
STATE DEBT AND POLITICS.

Inc DOul DOH Cll HOW ~ hctp
the state debt out OF politics ~
Such has been his cry from the
beginning and whenever it has
been pressed by the people them
selves, the seton has been " boss.
ism and "niggeI."
The state debt is in politics now.
Two years ago it was out. Bour-
bon laundering makes it necessary
for the people TO take tho matter
again into their own hands, and
see that friends of readjustment, as
it was and still is, is not again put
in peril by trifiing and unconsti-
tutional "license acts"
No man and no party in anywise
responsible for that legislation is
to be trusted with the fiscal affairs
of this state.
If the law on It's face could ex-
hibit any possible good to result
from it, excuse might be offered
for its enactment.
But what change did it effect ?
There is no beneficiary under it
except the "drummer," or, as he
prefers to be called, the "COm-
merclal Traveller" For many
years the tax on these men WAS
$500, or just SO, a county. In 74.5
it was reduced to 800. In 'S0'81
the readjusters, assisted by few
funders, made it $3.50. This
" license act reduced it to $40, or
80 cents o county. The lowest tax
imposed on any Virginian to do
business in a single county of his
state is $500, and this upon the
common crler." An auctioneer
is $50, Daguerrean artist s2O;
stock buyer $50, Book Agent $40,
Land agent $50, Pedlars $50,
Fertilizer agents $40, Hobby Horse
Machines $40, Labor agents 325,
Livery Stables S15, Stations and
Jackasses clio, and tho drummer is
90 cents per county.
1t was for this the license law
was changed. 1t was to do this
that an unconstitutional law was
passed and the debt question
brought prominently back to the
minds Of the people.
If counties average Ia stores, the
4" Drummer pays O cents a year
for the privilege of visiting and
selling to each one bills OF goods
upon which profits are realized
from 10 to 80 per cent. The average
Virginia farmer whose land yields
less per cent than the rate Of
interest charged by ourbanks must
raise pretty good horse each year
to be converted into tax money.
But the "Drummer" is a poll
tician first; then what he does not
know on any subject is forbidden
to the finite mind. Above all
other things, the drummer"
wants to save the honor of " Old
Virginia" He would vote in
Maryland, but he must speak in
Virginia and because of his self
sacrificing devotion to the smother
of states and statesmen" the bour.
bon would give him the closest
possible shave to entire immunity
from taxation.
So far as benefits granted and
derived are to be considered, this
is absolutely all there is In the great
bourbon q" license act" which car
ried the debt question back to the
courts, and brings it thence to the
people of Virginia to determine
whether they will again put their
fayOrite child in the custody of its
enemies to nurse and raise.
As far as the record shows it was
for this, and this only, that we had
FIVE sessions of q biennial legis-
lature and government expenses
alone increased $3.50, 901.O0 it was
for this that 81 ,5S7, 2O4SS, left by
the readjusters in the treasury was
scattered TO the forewinds of Heav-
en-: it was for this the state is to
pay s25, 900 costs and lawyers fees
for defending her in the U. s..
Supreme Court.
Yes, we shall have the debt, the
land commissioners bill, diminution
of court costs, free schools and
other Virginia interests on one
side, and intimidation, abuse,
falsehoOd, "nigger' and stuffed bal
lot boxes on the other.