Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-06
VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA.


that OF Virginia, and usually the inter
ence is Left TO be drawn that the reason
of this IS that North Carolina has a
much less expensive court system than
we have. Now. let us see about that;
In 1880 the population OF Virginia was
.655. $50; area. AZ. $50 square miles; value
OF real estate assessed for taxation in
1896, S9oG, 2OoGSs.
In 1890 the population of North Caro-
Ina was l.6l7s47; area, $3.50 square
miles, value of real estate assessed ior
taxation IN 1896, si53. SIS, 5A.
1t is a fact that North Carolina has
more economical court system Than ours,
but 1t is not fact that this item ac-
counts for the greater part of the di1-
| ference In the expenses of the two states.
For instance, we find that North Caro-
| lima pays annually as interest upon her
public debt s2g7.e62, while Virginia pays
100000. Here is saving of over $780,
900 a year.
The state OF North Carolina pays for
purposes of education Sl,0iS.52S per an
mum, while Virginia pays $4,000. Here
is saving OF over 900. In tho ST.
25o.OO we include over 100000 paid to
colleges, &c. in 'excess of interest
In the sl.OiS52S raised for educational
purposes by North Carolina Is included
all of the funds realized from
the tax of IS cents on the 500.
This is levied under State law
but is left in the counties where it
is collected, and may be added to by
county or township leyies. Tho ST.
0iS,52S also includes sol, $50 appropriated
for the education and maintenance of
pupils in schools for deaf mutes and
the blind, orphanage, &c.
North Carolina pays to Confederate
soldiers and soldiers widows. &c, $llS,-
81 per annum. while Virginia pays for
like purposes Qncluding appropriations to
Soldiers Home $4,000
North Carolina pays for the care of
gler insane $4,000 per annum, while
Virginia pays on like account 1913, GOA
saving of $1,000.
Why this is So we doubt not that some
Of our friends who are more familiar
than we are with the necessities and
systems of the two States can explain
better than we can. There are four
asylums Called hospitals now in Viz
ginia, and three in North Carolina.
From the foregoing items it will be seen
at once that North Carolina does not so
much depend upon her court system as
upon her legislative appropriations for
her satisfactory and economical admin
istration of government.
We do not know that 1t would be at
all practicable to bring the foregoing
expenses Of ours down TO the level of
North Cardinals, but If so. that work
could as well be done by n Legislature
elected for that purpose as by conslitu-
tional convention. But, of course,
neither a Legislature nor a convention
could reduce our interest account, and
neither would reduce the expenses of ed
ucation, or the appropriations TO veterans.
We do not know exactly how TO compare
the criminal expenses OF Virginia with
those of North Carolina, for the reason
that the two State systems are so very
different. That North Cardinals is the
cheaper We cannot dispute. We have
10 say also, that it seems TO give salts
faction there. Bnt some expenses that
we pay out OF our State Treasury are in
| North Carolina paid by the counties or
cities. or by fees. There at once arises
an obstacle to proper comparison Of costs.
IT is to be observed too, that the urban
population of North Carolina is much
smaller than that of Virginia, and it is a
well known fact that crime is more fire.
| quent and the detection and punishment
| of criminals moro costly in cities and
towns than in agricultural communities.
But. from the information before US, II
appears that the criminal charges that
| North Carolina pays out of her State
Treasury is $i3. 800 per annum, while ours
is $3.50. OOo--from which we may deduct
forty or fifty thousand dollars per an
mum of net prof, derived from the hiring
out of our convicts to contractors. 1t
may, possibly. be THAT the disparity Of
these TWO sums could be accounted for
| by showing that North Carolina throws
upon counties and cities some criminal
charges that in Virginia are borne by
| the state.
Here In Virginia the cost of the
administration of criminal justice in
some OF the counties is greater than the
sum total Of the taxes paid the State by
those counties; while many counties draw
| out Of the state Treasury for criminal
costs and for educa ton more than they
pay In in State taxes. We doubt II our
sagacious and economical North Caro-
lima friends allow anything of that sort
| to be done. Nor is it probable that II a
new constitution were framed for this
| State. our present system would be re-
tanned, However, the Dispatch does not
! favor. and has always argued against,
| putting all of the criminal costs upon the
| Justice be thereby impeded or impersllled.
| In some cases, 1t might be that the people
| of a small and poor community would re-
fuse 10 burden themselves with any such
cost. but would rather resort TO the In
expensive processes of Judge Lynch's
court.
The subject that we have here discussed
Is one of growing importance. and we
think II may be safely committed to the
LEGISLATURE, which is to be elected In
November next.
-----------------------
The Charleston CIV. Va) Gazette pro-