The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-11
A CASE or DEsERli0N.
R;c,,nond dispatch Of Sunday con.

lhSL UT UESLN ifo:t'
.-ae Richmond Dispatch Of Sunday con-
teins Tie following editorial:
T,.,a market for Virginia bonds shows
disturbed condition by reason OF the
action taken in the Constitutional Con-
ycntion proposing to reduce taxation Tor
period of four years from 30 to 80 cents
on the stce.
The Dispatcl, thinks that chat action
was u,.wise and improper, and we would
he rcjclccd 10 sec ii rcscinded. The liking
az the tax rate would better be left to
the Legislature 80 that it may be ad-
iustcd from time 20 time to meet exist
ing conditions.
All, this comes from having seven OF
eight hundred thousand dollar surplus III
She State Treasury. But at the worst
the Legislature IS to be authorized 10 leNS
n ssyecal tax, not exceeding cents On
tbe 500, for pensions, and it is confidently
believed the railroad franchise tax agreed
upon will produce somewhere near sz'o'tVo
Per arrrm Thus a sum equivalent 10
that eliminated by the Decent reduchon
would be realized from these two sources.
But why should the convention cut down
taxes 10 cents if the Legislature forthwith
has to raise them 5? That Virginia IS GO
Ing to .afe care OF al; her obligations goes
without saving; but good businessmen
world prefer that tax-rate t.:;sin.s should
ie LETT 10 the Legislature il would be Il
safer way, and our position as state
would be more easily dnde:stcoo-uo
triflins matter now that the old State Is
receiving SO much attention from IN
restorc.
1!ere is a case of cruel desertion. Sew
eral years ago, when Mr.. Withers began
to agitate the question of constitutional
reform. the Dispatch was one OF his
most ardent supporters. Mr.. Nithers
made speech in the House of Delegates,
of which he was q member declaring
that the government Of virginia was
enormously expensive and he exhltlted
a table Of figures in verif!catior OF his
contention. These figures were in turn
taken up by several newspapers. notably
the Dispatch, and brought to the atten-
ton OF the Taxpayers Of the State.
There were some who contended that
the figures which Mr.. Withers gave were
not fairly representative of the financial
condition of the State. But the Dispatch
took sides with him, and declared that
he was right. and it did all that 1t could
To aid him in arousing the people Inns
agitation was kept up until finally the
Constitutional Convention was called. II
was charged against Mr.. Withers, by
some that the real object he had in
view in asking for a Constitutional Con-
vcntion was to disfranchise the negro.
But Mr. yvrthers replied. with some
show of Indignation that his object was
to reform, the system OF government so
as to reduce expenses and, therefore, tax
alton. we say that in all this the Dis
patch stood by Mr.. Withers and cham
pioned him.
Bv and by the convention was called
and assembled and some reforms were
made b.- which it is said that expenses
CT government will be decreased. More
over. by adopting different system OF
taxing railroads, it is claimed that the
revenues of the State will be largely
increased from that source. Now, with
a reduction Of expenses on the one ana
the increase OF revenues on the othcr'
we say in all fairness and irankhess
that it was perfectly logical for MI.
1yithers to ask for reduction OF taxa
tiicious for the convention to say that
the people Of Virginia shall, under no
circumstances. for the next four years
tax themselves on real estate or per-
sonal property at higher rate than thir-
ty cents on the one hundred dollars of
value But we say that it was perfectly
logical for Mr.. Withers to ask for It,
In view of tho earnest, and we must say
able fight which he made for tax re-
form. and we say that it is unpardon-
able for the DISPATCH. which so en-
Enthusiastically championed him, now in
the moment of a,is success and achieve
rnent, to desert him.
AS for the Dispatches solicitude concern
ing the bonds of the State, we have to
say only that if our contemporary has
any centuries or new IS to sell at,
bargain. we should esteem it favor II
our contemporary would give US an OPP
portunity of purchasing before throwing