Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-23

Do you think that we can reduce criminal
expenses under this condition of things,
or stop the production of lunatlcs ana
paupers and tramps? The penitentiary
must be enlarged, the asylums must
make provision for large additions TO
their inmates. and we shall need $l5OVO
to pay IL per cent more interest on our
public debt az soon as the Legislature
can possibly provide the necessary reve-
nue..
6. If Senator Chandler is correct in his
estimate of the shrinkage in the value
of property in the United States durihg
the past six years-viz., $l9,OoOOW'o0c-
the disease which afilcts the body polite
II not confined TO this State. nor IS the
cause one which our Legislature or a
convention. either. is competent TO deal
with. 1t ia neither local, sectional, nor
temporary. If that be true, then 1t Is n
grave matter. and should not be passed
over flippantly or pooh-poohed out of
countenance We should look the condi-
ton squarely in the face, and prepare to
meet II.
T. Senator Chandler called attention TO
another very grave fact. which expert
writer's or economics have pointed out
viz, the inequality in taxation which
exists in this country, and Virginia is
not exempt from il. The professor OF
political economy in a leading university
of the North calls attention to the fact
that, taking this country as a whole,
one family out of 100 owns as much
wealth as the other 49, yet the l per
cent. (he rich at the top pay less than
l per cent. tax on their property. while
the 80, who own the other half. pay
more than per cent. tax on their pro-
perty.
Now, I think. If the approaching Legis-
lature has 10 elect a United States sena-
tor. all the basement officers, all the
city judges, and approve the school super
intendents selected by Mr.. Massey, ETC.,
etc, etc, etc, they will hardly have time
to consider and mature such legislation
as will meet this crisis.
s. The United States Government.
which is now taxing us at the rate OF
81 per capita, had to borrow $3.50, 900 90
last year, and is now engaged IN
framing a tariff bill which will add from
$7J, go to 100000 more to our taxes
Sugar coffee tea clothing-all the ne
cessaries OF life are to be raised I'm price,
and the conditions Of life are TO be made
harder still. The argument OF those who
oppose n convention is that we can't
reduce the expenses Of the government.
Hence taxes must re raised necessarily.
When that day comes, 1--WE will know
then who will control the convention"
1t will not be the people who have got
the ballot-boxes now and have dictated
the legislation and controlled the policy
Of this State for the past twenty years.
even will not save the
grand old party. No. unless Senator
Walcott will give us international BIZ
metallism, and that very quick, we
shall be brought face to face with an
empty Treasury. and the wheels of gov
eminent will be blocked, and we shall
have enacted over again those hum.lat-
Ing scrambles in our courts between the |
bOndholders, the free schools and luna |
tics, and old soldiers and. officc-holders. |
As things stand to-day, our expenses |
are increasing, while our assets arc |
at a frightful rate, Yet the |
people are not yet sufficiently impoverished |
and Inundated 10 submit tamely TO the |
CALLING bondage which lies before them. |
There are some sparks OF manhood and |
If liberty still left smouldering in their
Josoms, which must be crushed out.
Then we can have a convention, and |
Ne will know then who will control II.
But It will certainly not be those would
% guardians who do not think the peo-
lie OF Virginia are capable CT self-goy-
With great respect, &c,
RICHARD w. GAINES.