The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-19
MR.. suNfoRD's LETTER.
another collIrln ne print a comMu-


state of Virginia at this time to reduce
taxation. Mr.. Munford has had rich
experience in public matters. having
served for many years in the State Leg
isIaturc. having always been q pubic
spirited citizen. interested in matters OF
public interest and making a study OF
them from the point OF view OF. lawyer.
Iaw-p1aker and,citizen.
Mr.. Munford coricurs il the view ex-
pressed by The Times the other day
that it would be injudicious for the Con-
stitutional Convention to reduce the rate
of taxation from forty cents to thirty
cents on a hundred dollars. Our con-
tcntion was. and is. that this Is q mat
ter for the General Assembly to deal
With as conditions may suggest or re-
c1Ijre. This reduction is proposed upon
The assumption that there will be IN
der the operation of the new Constitu-
ton some reduction IN the expenses OF
government, and again upon the pre-
sumption that the additional revenues to
he derived frcm the railroads Of the
the reduction proposed in taxation. 1t
IS impossible to know just yet whether
there will be a material reduction in ex-
penscs There will be some reduction
here and there, but there may also be
and doubtless will be, some increases
here and there, and it will not do We
say to assume that the net decrease will
be material
Nor will it do to assume that the rev.
.,,ues from the railroads of the State
Eill he increased to such an extent as
.ito justify this reduction in taxation At
the present time the railroads are all
prosperous and their earnings are alb
normally large. but there is no Guaran-
lee that this condition will continue. In
some cases earnings have practically
doubled within five years. Who shall
say that earnings will not be cut in half
during the next five years? There is
no reason to believe that such will be
The case, but it is all guess work.
But, granting that expenses Will be re-
duced and that the revenues of the State
iaom the additional railroad tax viii be
increased. Mr.. Munford still urges that
Il Will he injudicious to make the pro-
posed reduction in State taxation. He
points out that the State Will need a
large sum of money to make improve
menta at the pententiary, which COM
mon humanity absolutely demands. Our
State prison is a disgrace TO our civili-
cation, and if the people of the State
generally knew how bad these conditions
are they would rot suffer them to con-
,inue for long. Sooner or later i'm
provements must be made. and it will
require large sum of money to pay
: for the wor,i.ai155
Mr.. Munford also points out that, as
a prudent people. We must make fire
proof the ole Capitol Building, in which
is the famous statue of Washington and
other valuable treasures. The old build
ing in its dilapidatcd and unkempt APP
pearance Is n very poor advertisement for
Virginia. Visitors are aptSto judge the
State by the appearance of this. our
representative building; and, apart from
The considerations urged by Mr.. Mum
ford, the building should be improved at
The earliest possible date.
again, AIR. Munfo!d urges that Viz
ainia ought to make crelitahle exhibit
1T tta st Louis Exposition. This prop
os.tioa does not need to lie argued. We
must advertise our resources il we would
keep sup with the progress Of the tines,
and the st. Louis Exposition will give
us an excellent opportunity fer such an
exploitation.
Reference is also made TO the fact that
much money mast be expended 10 pro-
vide ample accommodations for the in
sane, especially in view of the destruc-
lion OF a portion of the Eastern State
Hospital at Williamsburg. We remind
that there is a demand in Virginia for a
colony FOR epileptics. Such an institu-
lion would be both in the interest OF
humanity and in the interest OF economy.
Mr.. Munford speaks OF the demand for
q larger pension fund and also urss"s
that more money should be expended on
the public highways OF the State FINAL
ly he points out the pressing need or
larger State appropriations for public
education. and what he says IN this con-
ncction is worthy of the most careful
consideration OF the members of the con-
Sention. It was pointed out in these
columns Some time ago that one of the
greatest drawbacks to the public schools
IS the wretched condition Of the roads
during the school term. 1t is sometimes
almost Impossible for children to so to
school. because OF the terrible condition
OF the roads. And SO 1t would seem that
road Improvement and school improve
ment arc questions which are very close
~ associated
1t Is plain from all this that the State
will have abundant need for all the sur
plus revenues which she may be able to
acquire under the new Constitution, and
for the present Mt least it would be ur-
wise In oar op;nicN TO lower the rate of