The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-02
TYLER IN THE CHAIR.
continued from page L

few favored centres, while it is an admit
ted fact that through the broad land and
among the people there is not enough to
meet the tax burdens laid upon them.
Retrenchment and economy is a necessary
principle. but how is it to be practiced on
a paue with an ever decreasing value of
taxable property under our present finan.
cial system I cannot tell. Therefore
earnestly hope that Virgins IS voice will
be spoken by the legislatnre..in no uncer-
tain sound, asking from the federal gov
ernment attention 20 the real needs of
the people in demanding better and
more satisfactory banking system and q
more healthful money circulation.
Our revenues are now barely sufficient
to meet demands. Soon we will hive to
provide for an. increased rate of interest
on our public debt, which we are sacredly
pledged to meet. There are but three
things, as far IA I can see, that can be
done. We must either find new subjects
for taxation. increase the pre-: ent rate,
or cut down expenses. The latter course
is the only line on which hope of relief
can be based, as far as we can view the
subject at present. And this will be
difficult task, requiring almost Spartan
courage. But we must remember that
there is a stern necessity for rigid econ
omy, and that the surgeons knife is
noble instrument in kind but firm hands.
1T is poor captain and crew who will
not take IL reef in their sails an the face
of an approaching gale.
/ do not understand that the complaint
of the people is so much at the amount
of salaries paid as against the number of
officers the present unsuited constitution
allows to be imposed upon them. We
have become an office ridden people. In
to L.
only sufficient to invite a scramble for
the position, while the pay is not enough
ITO furnish even a scanty support. The
official has to find some other means to
supplement his income, and his other oc-
cupation usually receives about all his
time, the State and counties getting buS
little return for the money paid out.
These evils should be reinedied by the
consolidation of Offices, and where consti-
tutioual difficulties are in the way the
places should only be filled temporarily
and the most speedy course possible taken
ito remove these difficulties. To this end
i hope the Legislature will appoint joint
committee of it's own members, or COM
mission outside If deemed more desirable,
to take into consideration the whole
question of constitutional changes, and
get report before the close of the pres
emit session if possible. This, it seems to
me, would he tue speediest and su1est
way to settle the question Of securing q
suitable constitution.
Ihopethe legislature will press the
measures which I believe are now being
considered to secure fuller returns OF per
sonai property for taxation. The total
real estate values of the State are 1904
204, $50, while the value of ali personal
property is only shown 20 be %94, $40, GAG.
There ought not to be so great dis
crepancy. The personal property values
ought to be something like equal to the
value of the real estate. This comes from
the failure on the part of many holding
obligations of debt and other securities
to make proper returns Frequently it is
developed that parties bequeath for taxa