The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-01
q FAIR PLAY.

The Times Is anything but a p~aternans''
As taxes are reduced. The Times thinks
tho neople are better OF. which would
inevitably lead 90 the conclusion that
II there were no taxes At all they would
be still better IN II there were no taxes
! then the Government would have MOTH
ing n distrlbure. 80 that The Times
| n~osition NJ the least taxes possible. makes
IT necessarily the foe Of all subventions
and largesses from Government. New
| erthelcss. ~ Government necessities re-
ouire an expenditure Of Government
money The Times insists that this money
shall be spent impartislly in all sections
Of our country 80 far as the needs OF the
Government will permit Of 1t. All parts
Of the country are supposed TO contri-
butte ratably to the taxation that is
raised. and expenditures should, there
fore. be proportionate amongst them as
far as the public service will permit.
When If was announced some days back
that the Richmond Locomotive and Ma
chine Works had made the lowest bid
for a number Of torpedo boats and tor
pcdo-boat destroyers. a thrill of JOY went
through our entire population. because
they knew il meant the expenditure OF a
large sum Of money here for labor ana
materials. besides the establishment OF
An entirely new and independent plant,
which might get sufficiently well upon
it's legs in preparing its part In that
onterprisc 10 maintain itself as an indie
pendent plant hereafter. our people sup
posed. Of course. that the Locomotive
Works would get the contract because II
had made the lowest bid, and was. there
fore. entitled to It under the law and
upon every principle Of honorable ana
fair dealing in business.
IL is now freely stated, however. that
a movement is on foot I'm Washington
city 70 Gust the Locomotive Works OF It's
earned advantage and to deprive Richmond
city OF the benefits that our people had
a natural and a perfect right TO expect.
IL is said that another MANUFACTURING
concern has turned up at the Navy
Recruitment Win 81 am AihA ~" mo-
senger was on the way with a bid lower
than that of the Locomotive Works
when the bids we're opened. n that he
arrived at the department within "
hours after the opening. The department
is being pressed to place this tardy bid
der on the same footing with the others.
1t is to be hoped. upon every consid-
Grafton. that the department Will not
listen to this proposal The other con-
Germ is a Northern one, and If this hin
is done our people will think. and moth
ing will ever convince them TO the con-
trarv. tina. II is done TO favor the North
at the expense of the South. The South's
part in the Union has not justified my
thing of this sort. She cheerfuliy Virginia
particularly. pays more than her ratable
proportion into the public Treasury, re-
ceiving in return what is the merest
pittance compared with the enormous
pension fund paid out annually in the
North. and the munihcent appropriations
to harbors and public buildings there.
w Ntn WAL UiUkf UWh wv tfN+
South came TO the front at once with
the flower Of her younger men to fight
the country's battles with all the heroic
courage for which she is renowned, and
the Secretary of War declares that one
Of the South's sons. the gallant F1tz Lee
is the best corps commander the Gov
ernment has. while, upon all hands II
Is conceded that another of them. the
heroic wheeler, saved the day at San
tiago. and turned into a magnificent tri-
umph what was just about becoming the
tragedy of the country.
The South does not deserve unfair
treatment at the hands OF the Govern
ment. and the thing it Is now beng
asked to do. ought not TO be done.