The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-19

Mr.. Boykin took a step Monday night
which he viii never regret whom he at
te.ded the meeting OF the Committee on
Streets and cast his vote for having
sewers excavated by contract instead OF
by day labor lie has heretofore ex-
planned in a card published in The Times
that lac was prevented from being NJ
the two previous meetings Of the COM
mittee when this matter was De-
fore II, once by sickness ana
once by sbsence from the city. Sut'
when he did attend. his vote was inc
vote that n representative having the
welfare OF his constituents at heart
should give All honor TO Mr. Boykiu
and TO Messrs Allen, Thomas. brauer,
GRAY and White for the stand hey have
taken for conservative. economical gov
ernment for Richmond. Yielding to the
clamor OF the demagogue, the loaier anu
the idle ward politician. this city has
been steadily drifting. since the famous
for infamous) day of "the Reform from
one extravaganza to another, uhtl we
were threatened with all the worst evils
~ rotten and corrupt municipal gov
errment modelled after that OF NEW hCrK
city In Tweed's days. Monday nlsh'
action Of the Committee on Streets III
aecidlng that sew or exCayatiors should re
nv contract instead of by day labor is
n
the first protest which the taxpayers Vi
the city have made against the spoiiauon
and robbery with which they were
threatened. Others will come along IN
du. time. and we sincerely hope "s we
firmly believe, that this is the hrst step
i'm a true movement Of reform when VIII
end in bringing us back to policy when
seeks to save the taxpayers every posi-
HE burden and to secure for the city
all that is to be had for the money
spent.
There Is but one principle for conduct
ing any business. and that is 10 save Eli
expenditures that can he possibly
saved. and to bring into the treasury
If the business every dollar that can
ba brought TO it, This is the principle
unon which the successful merchan. or
manufacturer conducts his business, and
II is the only principle upon when any
business can be successfully conducted.
The affairs Of a city government must
be conducted upon exactly the same
principle or it will run into riot and END
in corruption and bankruptcy.
We say with great deliberation that
the further prosperity of Richmond I'M
peratively demands the closest economy
in public affairs. Our bonded debt has
now reached a point that makes 1t, and
our extravagant scale of municipal ex-
penditures, a serious and grievous DUR
den upon the city. Taxation in Richmond
is far too heavy for prosperity. The city
rate Of direct taxation is, 1t is true' Only
$40 on the hundred dollars OF value
But property is assessed at its highest
mark. and. in some quarters, for more
than II is worth. which makes the taxa
ton on real estate much too heavy Tor a
healthy state of improvement. Not only
so but all business is taxed by license
taxes to a point that makes 1t absurd
Elsewhere communities invite new enter
prises by wholly eXempting industry,
brains and energy from all burdens.
Richmond. on the contrary, imposes upon
them every load she can devise. until
what is here is staggering under its
burdens. while effectual barriers are
raised against importations of those
qualities from abroad.
What Richmond needs, and what she
needs imperatively, is remodelling OF
this whole business. Direct taxation
should be reduced, and all license taxes
on business, energy and brains should be
cancelled as rapidly as possible. There
is but one way to secure this result.
and that is by economizing in spending
the city's money at every possible point.
Economy means prosperity; wastefulness
and day labor, where contracts will save
money, means stagnation and decay