Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-20

Of the wife when she realizes that, not
wthstanding the brave efforts Of hef
true. husband. the home that has shell
tered him and his father and his father
father for generations before him must
| go 20 the tax-gatherer or to the laborer
Mr., President. have heard that cry
and know its dread import. IT Is, there
| fore, with feelings of the deepest solemn
| ity that shall undertake TO pass In re-
| view before you the situation OF your ar.
| fairs, involving the available assets, ana
| the necessary expenses OF the govern
| ment.
| II am absolutely conscious how entire
| iy feeble anC unqualified 1 am for this
| task The magnitude Of II fills me with
| the gravest apprehension. Nothing but
| the direct necessity makes me approach
| 1t. ] throw myself upon your kind IN
duIgence and ask that you win bear with
me with patience. while review the long
financial statements which / must per-
force present to you. / lack the capacity
to make such task attractive 10 YOU
but / know that you do not lack the pa
triOtism nor the wish to master the ue-
tails OF the subject for 1t Is necessary
that you should know these details In or
der TO arrive at true conclusion, IN
order TO do justice between the various
departments OF this government, In order
TO tighten the burdens Of the people, 10
preserve your party, to preserve the fair
name of Virginia, and give some slight
measure of relief TO the great agricui-
tural people. WHOSE case Is wellnign oes-
perate.
Now. Mr. President. take II that our
mission here is TO retrench our expendi-
lures, and reform. as far as possible, our
governmental system; but L DO not un-
derstand that we are commissioned py
the people, save as laid down in the
Democratic platform which was adopted
at the Roanoke convention, which pledged
the party TO such reform as would be
maintenance
and efficiency or the governmental ser
vice.
STATES REAL FINANCIAL CONDI-
TION.
Taking that platform as the basis.
VIII premise by saying that think there
has been much mlsapprehension as 10
the present nnancial condition OF tne
State. and its needs financially In the
future. ! say here now that reduction
in the rate of State taxation Is at present
practically an impossibIlity. for the rea-
son that ais fast as we retrench in one
direction the popular demands of the peo-
pie themselves cause 1t TO be disDursed
in another. We may save $4,000 here, ana
Immediately there is a demand 10 spend
$4,000 there. We may. however Dy
system of general retrenchment, by sys-
tenn OF more thorough collection or reve-
nue. from those who now escape payment,
pinch here and save there, get enough
money into our Treasury to. make it
certain that we will avoid the dangers or
default-to make it certain that we will
not make the acquaintance OF Madame
Deficit for many years.
But. Mr.. President. / take it that the
cry from the people is not for the bond
holders, but for themselves. | respond
to that cry by showing them where they
can help themselves by showing them
where II is within their power to sub
stantially retrench In their county ex-
penses-for the taxpayer is Indifferent
into which Golfer his taxes go-whether
4 1far0f
State government, il is but one to him.
think the constitutional measures which
we have already passed will give relief,
If adopted particularly as to the county
will of the people TO adopt the
amendment looking to the better collec,,
tion OF the capitation tax that II. VIII
be then possible TO reduce the rate or
State taxation. taken In connection WIN IN
the retrenchment and general saving , oI
money that We make on other lines. we
turn a sympathetic ear TO the cry OF THESE
people and we place II In thelr power
to vote themselves the relief they need
for. as I believe, Mr.. President, this cry
comes from their hearts; they will surely
vote It; they are entitled TO that prlvl-
lege: they are entitled 10 that opportu-
nity: they will avail themselves or II; |
they will get practical relief in that line. !
OTHER METHODS OF ECONOMY.
"But while the burden can be liIted from
the Taxpayer, and We may nope Tor an |
eventual reduction in the rate Of state |
taxation for State purposes IL ths conS'i-
mtional amendments which we nave sus-
gested be adopted, il Is our duty now 10 |
a ascertafn where we can save expenditures |
I'm other ways; where we can increase our
receipts =. Other lines. ~ that Wen tns 4
time cof1sr the reduction IN me rate oi
state taxation will be substantial. NOW, |
Mr. President, i desire 10 lay Defore the |
Senate an estimate OF what viii be our |
annual receipts between now and January |
/. 1902. when the first instalment OF ad0l-
tional interest becomes due upon the CEN
iurv bonds. and in connection with tnat |
TO show you what sums we can appro-
pirate and still be within our revenue,
leaving TO your own good judgment tne
question of what reductions you VIII make
from those estimates; what salaries you
will curtail. what proportion you VIII
for when you fairly understand
your estimated receipts you can set your
house in order; you can apportIon these ese
family I'm such a way as to do justice; you
,an develop a surplus which. In connec-
ton with the estimated gains from your
the estimated gains from
the various bills you have passed looking
to q reduction OF criminal expenses. Will
ay the foundation for a reduction in the
rate of State taxation in the by no means
distant future. unless the anticipated re-
luction in the assessed value OF real es-
tate 10 be made in 1900 give the relief IN
that way. ~
Now. I ask you to examine Table 20
N the Auditors report for this current
year. and see the amount of taxes on real
sstate and personal property for the year
Sg7 in Virginia.
You will find the tax upon real estate
i. .22S. .s17.16. and upon personal property
'4lO. .S5S 2S Taking these two Items IN
Fable 20 and making certain ccddcucns
% which / will hereafter call your atten.
tion: taking the capitation-tax ana
making certain reductions therefrom,. and
hen serIatim taking up each item OF re-
ceipt in the various tables which accom-
pany the annual report Of the Auditor,
ind a total estimated receipts of $3.50
Os.ss.
against this putting the salaries OF
,our officers and employees as they are,
,uttfng YOUR expenses as estimated by
he careful officers in charge OF your
state finances, keeping your criminal
,harges as they are, keeping the appro-
,riations TO the hospitals as they are,
md TO your institutions OF learning,
and the pensions TO your disabled
soldiers, including the SHVOO extra ap-
,ropriations to your schools; paving
very dollar of interest due on the Riddle
,ereer and Century bonds. and bonds
,eld by institutions of learning i'm this
state. you will have a grand total OF
expenses of s., ,972, 600, leaving a balance
II receipts over expenditures OF S.V2So9.
A DUTY TO ECONOMIZE.
This you see Mr.. President, is not
within the danger line, and IL is our duty
o economize 1t is our duty 10 retrench;
mi in our action we need not be oppress-
d with the thought that II is rot entirely
,ossible for us to set our house In order;
y a., -. 40 inSfioa hatWepn the pmDlOVeeS