Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-21
TUESDAY........... SEPT. q, 1897.


The Democratic county and senatorial
district conventions have quite generally
proclaimed their devotion to the cause
of retrenchment and reform in State ex-
pendtures, and no doubt that will be the
uppermost subject before the next Lee
gislature. Everybody will be in favor
of cutting down expenses; but everybody
will not agree where the knife should be
applied. There's where discussion will
arise and disagreements will be bred.
Nevertheless, a search for subjects for
retrenchment must be made and econo-
mics must be resolved interchangeable
~ they may be-if we would not increase
the present rate Of taxation. Now, let
us see what the situation is: According
TO the last annual report of Auditor
Marye. the interest upon our public
debt required the sum Of $7l4, 100. This
sum could only be reduced i'm one way
by declining longer to give the educa-
tional institutions of the State the excess
of interest they now receive, and by put
ting them upon the footing of all other
bondholders. But that any change will be
made in this law we regard as so i'm
probable as not to be worth while
discussing.
paid $95935l to the public schools of the
State. who expects that sum to be re-
duced? Nobody. No Legislature would
take dollar away from the public
schools.
During the last fiscal year the care of
lunatics cost us s3l3,1S7. We doubt if
this expenditure could be reduced; but 1t
10 consider II 1t would not be wise to
tax each county and city with the cost
of its own lunatics cared for in the State
hospitals.
Then, we have the item of $4,000 paid
to our disabled soldiers. and to the needy
widows OF Virginia veterans Could we
retrench there? No. Nor would any
serious attempt be made to do So On
the contrary. larger. rather than smaller,
appropriations are probable.
Subtracting the foregoing sums and
others of like character, but smaller in
amount, that we do not care to cucumber
this article with. we find that the ex-
penses of government proper are
about $4,000 per annum. At least one
half of this is paid out in criminal
charges. There is certainly leak there
but still we must take into account the
fact that about 1887 900 per annurn is paid
10 the State by contractors for hire of
convicts, giving a large net profit from
the penitentiary. Viewed in this light.
while still unnecessarily large our erimi-
nal expenses are not so monstrous as
they would otherwise appear. The last
Legislature instituted reforms which will
save about 1000 per annum
The margin for retrenchment does not
appear 10 be large. The salaries paid
by Virginia are all small. compared with
the salaries paid by most other states;
but il they were all cut Is or 20 per cent
that would not be enough TO put the
State upon sound financial footing
The outlook. therefore, is that new sub
Jects for taxation will have 10 be sought
for. Net many OF these subjects are
likely 10 be found in the country dis
tricts. and the towns and cities WILL we
suspect. be counted upon to furnish them
The transportation companies may also
be required to increase their payments TO
the State Treasury. At any rate, it Is
perfectly plain that the necessities OF
Virginia will require that retrenchment
shall so hand i'm hand with such addi-
tional taxation as may be levied without
increasing the burden OF the landowner.
. And this course. we feel sure the new
Legislature will come here in December
resoiutely prepared 10 pursue.
The grand total Of disbursements by
{, the State Treasury IS about 49, 100000 per
annum; but thIs sum incluoes interest
cost OF public education, pensions, care
Of lunaiics. &c.. as well as the appro-