The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-19
Shall taxes be Reduced?
editor of'Thc Times:

Editor OIL Inc I1ncS.
Sir,-TLe report Of the Committee Oh
Finance and Taxation OF the Constitu-
tional Convention brings prominently be-
fore the public the fact that the State of
Virginia has in its reasury u handsome
surplus derived during the past few years
from current receipts, and that under
amendments to our tax laws proposed by
the committee heiannual revenues Of the
State will be greatly augmented.
The existence of this surplus is a fact
as gratifying as it is true, while the in
crease III our revenues alluded to may,
with certainty, be reckoned on as the leg
isiation suggested will undoubtedly ripen
into laws eitAer by constitutional or leSis-
iatlve enaCtmentS.
,Ine committee so further in their re-
port and point out that In consequence
of this gratifying condition in our III
na1lces-present and prospective-the ex-
istng ratio Of State taxation may be
materially reduced. The committee wise
~ rclegates this question of taX-reduction
10 the General Assembly as being the
agency Of the government properly cnarS-
ed with it's consideration. Tho report,
however, plainly embodies q recommended
ton for a reduction, and coming from
such {; source the suggestion ought ana
viii receive the most respectful consider
alton. The popularity, too, of any meas
urc providing for tax reduction IS an as
surance that the General Assembly will
enact the necessary laws unless the most
coSent reasons are presented against tne
wisdom Of such a course.
1 desire to submit a brief summary OF
the reasons which convince me as to the
impolicy of such a course, and to point
out that there exists urgent demands
upon the surplus. while with adequate
appropriations to objects of paramount
Importance the anticipated increase in
our revenues will be absorbed l believe
that it is far better for the Taxpayers OF
Virginia to maintain the present rate of
taxation, and thus meet the needs OF the
State to which I shall presently refer,
than to reduce taxation by the sum OF
five or perhaps ten cents on the S100 and
permit these great interests to suffer.
Forty cents on 500 OF taxable property
cannot be reckoned as oppressive, and eS-
pecially is this true when the assessment
upon which the tax is levied represents,
on an average through the whole State,
not three fourths Of the real valuation
of the property, real and personal, of dire
taxpayers of Virginia. Any taxation to
pay the salaries of unnecessary officials
or appropriations improvidently made is
onerous, but taxes judicious.W applied to
promote the moral, intellectual and mate
rial well-beinE of the people justify their
imposition.
Among some Of the present demands
upon our treasury, l enuInerate tho fol-.
lowing:
FirSt-A State penitentiary of sufficient
size and reasonable appointments. The
conditions existing in our present peni-
Tertiary constitute cruel wrong to it's
inmates and a reflection upon our civili-.
cation. The fact that q large part OF the
above mentioned surplus in our treasury
is derived from the laborS OF the inmates
Of that institution furnishes an unique
reason why q portion, at least, should be
expended to provide a habitable place OF
incarceration. Justice and humanity ike
wise demands that. these people should
answer the penalty of the law without
the inliiction of additional punishment in
the form of mental and physical torture.
impaired health and confirmation III hab-
its Of crime. It is q confessed fact that
the present institution IN no way con-
forms to the law requiring the erection
and maintenance Of a State prison for the
confinement and reformation 81 prisoners.
II is a serious question with me whether
the release OF many OF these people
could not be secured under habeas corpus
proceedings. Any one Of twenty-eighti
men packed in q room inadequate in size
and ventilation for half that number, and
breathing an atmosphere poisoned stencil
might we'll demand and secure at the
hands Of the courts release under the
VI uu,l principle Of our fundamental law,
which prohibits the infliction Of cruel and
inhuplan punishments.
second-.An appropriation to repair our
Capitol building, and make it absolutely
fre.proof
AS to The necessity for the repairs to
this venerable structure lSneedf not pa use
to speak. The necessity has been pointed
ont time and again in messages from
governors and in the reports Of 1egisla-
TIE committees. And of the great pro-
priety Of making it absolutely dre-pro If.
/ am sure the same Widespread conviction
exists. Built in the early days of The
Commonwealth, from plans suggested by
Mr.. Jere, son. consecrated by associations
with mon and measures which recall
many OF this most heroic events In our
history. there IS not q building standing
in tho State-except the Mansion at.
Mount Evcrnon-wh hose destruction would
be 50 deplorabl or carrW such. sorrow to-
every patriotic heart. But not only IS
-f.E..