Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-04
SATURDAY...... DECEMBER 4, 1897
OUR DISABLED VETERANS.

The Governors suggestion that the
States %annuities to institutions of learn
ing should be cut down rather than that
Virginia should fail to make proper provl-
sion for her disabled veterans presents
a dilemma that never ought to be per-
mitted to occur.
Ii is the duty OF our Legislature to
see to it that the question is never
narrowed down to that point. The path
way TO increased appropriations for the
care of our disabled veterans or widows
Of veterans must be cleared, as far as
possible. by measures OF retrenchment
that will not make education a victim.
If there Is to De a horizontal reduc-
ton in the salaries Of all of the officers
OF the Commonwealth, equity may require
that this principle shall be extended
10 appropriations made to all State in
stitutions; but the Legislature must be
sure not to cripple the usefulness of any
Of the seats of learning that Virginia
has built up at so much cost and pains.
If savings can be made, why, we say,
Of course, make them; but we do not
like the idea Of having to sacrifice either
of the great objects named for the benefit
of the other. We must try to provide
for both. While it may be possible that
the State institutions of learning may
be able to get along with a little less
money than they are now receiving, it
is as certain as anything in the future can
be that Virginia will for some years to
come be called upon to do a great deal
more for her old soldiers than she has
ever done in The past.
For several years to come many thou
sands Of dollars more than have ever
been appropriated, will be needed an
nually to pay the States pittances Of
pensions TO veterans or veterans widows
and to maintain Lee Camp Soldiers
Home. And TO be entirely candid
about the matter, the Dispatch must say
1t doubts if the most drastic measures
of retrenchment within the bounds of
reason will enable the State to pay the
increased rate of interest and the in
creased amount that our old soldiers
wants will necessitate.
or iate'we have been appropriating to
the old soldiers $4,000 per annum. This
sum is wofully insufficient. 1t is not
much more than half enough. Now.
considering the probability that there
viii be a large reduction in land values ,
by the reassessment of 1900, and having 3
n view our obligations to our veterans :
md TO our creditors and public ~instjtu- Z
ions, whittier are we TO turn TO make 3
sure of better provision for the old men @
who gave their youthful strength to Vir-
what are we TO do II we should be dis Y
ppointed in our effort to retrench enough /
0 make both ends meet? q
There would be but one way out Of the =
ihcuity, and that the way adopted in q
ieorgia-to levy a special tax for the Il
eneft of the old soldiers! If orr b
iemory serves us right the question p
as first submitted 20 the Georgia peo- r.
lie as to whether they would authorize n
ieh a tax, and they said they would. Il
nd now they are doing it cheerfully. W
At present no movement in favor OF ~
ieh a tax could succeed; nc, though it Fl,
'uld be shown that it would only be W
scessary to levy a mere trine upon each in
"P~StA. RAN lht SliutlllOn may be -.
Try different after the work Of re- y,
enchment has been done. Then it may -,
seen that after the most vigorous ef- -
rts upon the part OF the Legislature ~,
curtail the expenses of the State. we -,
. still without sufficient money TO pro-
dc adequately for our soldiers. Then. -,
hat can we do? What, indeed. but -
which Georgia has d~one-gain the ~
nsent OF the dear people to bear a =,
Ming special tax for the benefit OF ~
+ poor. old. WORKOUT and broken =
wn veterans or their helpless and
ngry widows? ~
This may be anything but a popular -.
"a just now. but two TO one the time
II come when IL will be presented 10
as ar alternative which we cannot
ect. Pa
spe