Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-22
The Costly State and County
Government of Virginia.
[From the Danville Register.

[From the Danville Register.]
1t is a gratifying fact that the people are
waking up to a realization that the laws un-
| der which Firginians are living are sapping
! their very life blood, and that their burden
of taxation necessary to support the extrava-
gance provided for by the Underwood Consti-
tuition is too heavy for a free people to bear.
The more we go into the study of the condition
of affairs as they are and as they have been
for quarter of a century, the greater becomes
our astonishment that the people have borne
| these things SO long.
| gentleman who has figured on these mat
tiers great deal, shows the startling fact that
since the Underwood Constitution, which was
made in the interest of Offlce-hOlderS then
mostly carpet-baggers and scalawags, the peo-
pie of Virginia have paid in direct taxation
S37, OOO 900 more to support the State govern
ment than the people of North Carolina have
paid in during the same period to support
their State government.
This does not include the excessive costs of
county affairs which, owing to the multiple
ity of offices and office-holders with which the
Underwood Constitution affiicts the people,
are eXhorbitant. Add the necessary fees
which go to pay these unnecessary officers,
and the people of Virginia have paid not less
than $50, 900 OGO more than the people of North
Carolina for the past twenty-five years,
Two million dollars per year to support
useless Office holders That is what the PEG
pie OF Virginia have been doing'for quarter
of century
Let us particu1arize: The last fiscal year
Virginia paid out for State expenses alone
So, 754 629o5. The county expenses, which
come out of the same pockets are equally as
much.
For the fiscal year ending December 1892,
| North Cardinals disbursements for State and
county expenses combined were 50, S6o, Sl2. Al
being 1884, S165S less than Virgnia's State
| expenses alone and about So, 100000 less than
Virginia's State and county expenses COM
| bined.
| With due allowance for Virginia S interest
account on the public debt and her better and
necessarily more expensive public school sys-
| tem though that is more expensive than it
ought to be. and allowing also for slightly
larger population, we are confronted with
the fact that as compared with our sister State,
whose Constitution was not built with view
to overmuch economy, we are being unneces-
sarily bled every year to the tune of -, 0000 900
or more.
The only remedy is to rip up the Underwood
Constitution and make another one to suit us
better. The people arc opening their eyes at
last.
The above estimates do not include the cost
of the hundreds of unnecessary county and
magisterial district officers, or the unnecessa-
of the Peace, County Clerks. etc. On these
points we will speak tomorrow.
1t may be proper to remark here that while
Virginia's government costs millions more
than North Cardinals, it is generally conced
ed that the latter State has in all respects a
better government, both State and county, and
far better and more efficient Judiciary sys-
| tenn.