Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-25
sUNDAY...........APRIL Is, 1885,
The Debt Figures.

nO DObs - AfSt<NN'
Tho figures upon which we have relied
to prove that not one person in ton can
by any possibility pay his taxes in cou-
pons are Observation-Disclosures by the
Second Auditor. Nobody doubts his
reliability. We use these figures, there
fore. with Is much confidence in their
accuracy ss we feel in the accuracy Of
the statements which the same officer
makes a. to the amount Of the public
debt, or the amount funded under the
RIDDLEBERGER bill, or the amount Of
Riddles purchased by the Board OF
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
The other figures that We use are
from the census Of 1880, which shows
that in that year there were in Virginia
s34,505 males over twenty-one years
old. This number has increased by
about Is per cent. in six years, but we
do not need to claim the additional
$4,000. But we ask you to remember
that 206, 900 of the 1884, 900 were whites,
and that the white taxpayers now num-
Der, say $4,000. Not one in ten Of all
the taxpayers, nor one in five of the
white ones can by any possibility use
coupons.
What are the Second Auditors
iguress Read. He says;
1.-THE number of the tax.receivable
coupons annually maturing is 1887,
distributed in five denominations about
Is follows: 23,695 Of $50 coupons.
making s71O,S50; 1880 Of els cou-
pons, making s262,5 500; l,340 $3.50
coupons, making sl0,050; 4.lSS Of SO
coupons. making sl2,564; and 1904
Of sl.50 coupons, making $780,"
The whole amount, therefore, that
can be paid in coupons smaller than
els is only 26,6l0-so small q sum
that it is not worthy of being taken into
the account.
As it Is thus shown by the Second
Auditor that all the small taxpayers in
the State together would pay only the
insignificant sum Of s26,6l0 in coupons
If oil the coupons under els were thus
used by them, We may dismiss all those
small taxpayers, and, in order to DO
exceedingly liberal to the bondholders
We may concede that all the els cou-
pons may be used in paying taxes, and
then inquire how stands the account?
Add s26, 6lO to &262, 500 and we have
$3.50, ITO paid in coupons and s7l0,S50
OF ESQ coupons still on hand. Who
are to use these? Let us see.
The Second Auditor says there are
but 1905 persons in Virginia who pay
more than s25 of taxes. But the fact
is that no man who pays tax Of less
than cal can use q $50 coupon at all !;
for the Supreme Court Of Appeals has
recently decided that one fourth of each
mans taxes--that part devoted to the
public schools-must be paid in money.
So also must the capitation tax. So q
man paying $40 or even GAL Of taxes
cannot use even one $50 coupon. Why
notY Read:
Whole amount Of tax.....,.......s4l 90
Less one fourth for schools $40 IS
LES capitatlon tax....-......". so
Sill 05
Deducted from cal, leaves s29. 95, or
less than $50. Therefore no man who
pays cal or less can use q $50 coupon.
How many persons are there paying
over OIL year Of taxess There are
only 1905 paying over a25. whatpro-
portion Of these pay over s4lS As the
whole number paying over eos and uptO
$500 is 9,695, and as 1920 Of these
pay $50 or less, and only S,769 Of them
pay over ESQ, 1t is evident that there are
In Virginia but very small number Of
voters who can use ESQ coupons, and
that, making the most liberal allowance
that the bondAolders can possibly claim,
that number is SO small that their influ.
sncs in any given community must be
insigni6csnt indeed. Let US concede,
however, that even half Of the persons
who pay over s2s pay over s4l, and
then how many persons can nse the csc
couponss The small number Of 4,S47-
not half ~ many ~ the number o
voters In Richmond alone.
L won't do. There Is no use in ar
euins against facts; and the Secon
Auditors figures are facts.