Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-15

There seems no good reason TO believe
that there Is any change In the views OF
members OF the General Assembly re-
trdng the urgency OF rctrenchment
Hesitation.
90 is recognized that there win be an
hrtase Of $4,000 in the States annual
c>pr d.turcs by reason OF the increased
interest on the State debt in 1901. This IS
oct from which there is no escape
rHai points % retrcnchmout as neces-
sy.
is admitted 10y nearly every one thar
tn< value OF real estate has decreased so
lra,h that a diminished valuation at the
new assessment in lsO) is practically a
certainty. This also points to re;rencn-
mont OF failure 10 meet obligations.
The fact that there is $4,000 of state
.ands iu the Treasury is not regarded by
those having the work in hand as reason
why retrorchment should not be under
taken. Expressions obtained from leading
members Of the General Assembly last
ught indicate that they are determined
t1 press with vigor the movement to re-
Cace the expenses Of the State Govern
mert.
THE NEED is IMPERATIVE
Senator Barksdale the chairman Of the
special committee which investigated the
expenditures at State institutions and
llc1mmended sweeping reductions in their
a0nropuations. expressed IN a homely
way the gist OF the opinion OF the great
majority Of those who discussed. what
81 wc have got this $4,000 in the Treasury
as the States railway oividendsg' he said.
els that any reason why We should throw
ii away? We have been spending too
much money. Cur committee certainly
showed retrenchment was badly needed,
lD matter how much money we have got.
And. besides. if we have got an this they
say We have. ii would not last us TWO
years ID we began 90 use IL TO pay the
Increased interest on the debt in 1901 and
Oh. meet the deficiency that Is bound 10
result from the decrease i'm the value of
real estate under the next assessment.
which is certain 10 very greatly reduce
our revenue
GREATER ECONOMY Is NEEDED.
3lr. Winborne. who mas taken such a
prominent part I'm the fight Tor retrench-
ment in the House. expressed practically
the same views 1T is immaterial how
mlch money we have IN the Treasury"
ha said. ''The states bonded debt is 50
arel as 10 make it necessary 10 husband
our resources in every way possible.
cannot see how any one can think re-
rrnchment is not urgently needed, when
he takes into account the facts that our
'..t e.i---t--harges VIII De increased Do 1901.
.ud the ce tainty that real estate values.
and conseq iently revenue receipts. Will
hs greatly diminished in 1900. 1 shall 90
mg best 10 press through every measure |
designed TO reduce state expenditures"
WILL PASS HIS Bills.
Delegate Withrow was very emphatic /
his views. "The States Richmond. /
Treiericksburg and Potomac dividends, |
l. said. "are for interest on the debt |
They should not be used FOR any other /
purpose. The bills which / now have in /
the Finance Committee would effect /
-raat saving I'm the States expenditures, /
and I am going 20 press them 10 the ut
uost Why should We waste money /
because we have money! On, ] tell you |
something Is going to happen when land |
is raassessed I'm 1900 The people were told
in 1855 that land values must be Kept up
,n order 20 MAINTAIN the credit OF the
state But YOU just let this Legislature
refuse 10 keep its pledges to cut down
exrenditures and every land-holder will
lemand-aud perfectly justly-that his
realty be brought down 10 its real value.
Then. where will the State be. i could
say but it wouldn't sound well The TACT
mat we have this money in the Trea-
furv has no bearing. whatever on the
question of retrenchment.
EXPENsES EXCEED OUR REVENUES.
"Of course. we know there was $4,000
.n the Treasury" said Senator heezell'
"hrt what on earth has mat got 10 90
with retrenchment. That is no reason
In the world why we should not reuuce
ernaulitures. Why look here: For the
-u4 wears ending October l. 1891, the
States current expenditures, over ana
above her revenues, was $69lSS, and some
cents How in Heavens name are we 10
t.rtre I'll further deficit unless we re-
fr.,ab eonowhercg 1 think II more or
le-. mathematical whether any legisla-
tIou Of the present Assembly VIII eMeet
n Increase ln the states revenues. lha'
Is my honest opinion. The only sale way
t0 make both ends meet Is 10 redu,e our
expenditures. In 1901 We nave so' ~ ad, va
r.s.a our yearly expenditures by SioJ,yUl.
r...f estate is going 10 show a decline
when IL is assessed for taxation IN lt'.
There can't be any doubt about that we
have cot 10 reduce our expenditures
wherever ID can be- done We nave got 10
-.t ready for the hard time that IS
coming after 1901"
THAT SUM NOT CONSIDERED.
AR Merritt T. cooke chairman OF lhs
finance Committee OF the House selu -,
clsslng the statement that .-,,'e,
..,.,. h..n understood that this ~'1yD
i II fo N. used in paying the interest on
Inc e+ote d4bt II was understood by the
.~..l,to,. ,sben the debt was settled lhdt
B ,,ss fo be reserved for TINS, an" t"'
.mount is never taken ini" col'9io' 80,
% estimating the State assets, ~ ..,,-rc,- ,.,
eeards the payment OF cur ~ ~ ,,i,,,,,,t
gras We have also 70 take into account
.. f.rt mar much of the present Valua-
ION Of real estate was maue III D+Oi'
.r... and This IS going 10 be reduced III
So Whether this is true az 70 tity ~
..-r,. cannot saw. but everybody knows
b. true as 10 farm lands. We nav
af down expenses. or run Deninc' d"u
h. Treasury Watch Dog walked away
,Ifb Tine air Of "a man who knew what nc
,as talking about. and az the suDJeot W.
..trcn nobody doubted that whal ne
ald WAS true.
Oh BUSINESS TROUBLES !
"Tne statement. II true" said senator
.urnbun. should have no eIteet "ro.-
ser lpOn those who favor relrenchheh"
0f Z am OF opinion that the State ahaiIS
mould be- managed upon business pin-
lpics aud If the revenue the S'ate ~
elves is more than enough 10 pay ls
2pcnscs. when 80 managed, the ra'e VI Z
axauOn Should be reduced i cannot say {
.hat eject this statement VIII nave on {
ihers. bat this IL my view. ! am OF opin-