Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-04-24
THE JAMESTOWN ROBBER.

There is reason to fear that the
Jamestown Exposition bill will pass
the Senate, it has already passed the
House and has been reported favorably
by the Senate Committee. The vote
in committee was close it is true
being to 6 in favor of the bill-but that
it should have made such Roadway is
surprising beyond belief. The bill
appropriates 5000, 900 to the jamestown
Exposition out of the funds of the
State treasury. Think of it, Two
Hundred Thousand Dollars-for what?
for an exposition which has less merit
than any scheme that has been started
in Virginia for years, in fact is the
most gigantic scheme to loot the treas
ury that has fallen within our day and
generation.
What we can do with an exposition
at jamestown none can fully explain,
what our legislators want with such
vortex for our money passeth human
understanding, what is to be the profit
in it only those who are to handle the
Doodle really know. The idea if ever
meritorious was Matched at the most
inopportune moment, for here we are
with the St. Louis Exposition on US,
an affair so huge that it will satiate
all with expositions, and beside which
the thing proposed at jamestown will
be as a mole-hill to a mountain. This
scheme has been looked over and ana
lyZed and it has never yet been doctor
ed or galvanized into anything better
than scheme to put money into the
pockets OF some officials and some
people who have lot of broom sedge
and sand, they have heretofore been
unable to palm off upon other people
so they now propose, in round about
way, to sell 1t to the taxpayers of Vir-
gina. This Two Hundred Thousand
Dollars is mere drop in the bucket,
this goes only to clean off the site and
put it in shape, and when this is done
the same crowd now in charge will be
found knocking again at the door OF
our treasury asking for more. Then
we will be told that we must put up
more money or loose what we have
put in, and if the promoters can get
$500, 900 now when they have done
nothing, how much more easy will ii
be to get money when they have spent
100000 scratching around In the
sand?
Gen. FitZ Lee is at the head of the
scheme, he has moved to Richmond,
and is right where he can throw the
weight of his body and name upon
members. He is said to be making
this affair almost pers onal matter
with old soldiers.
We delight in friendships, but not
to the extent of making one forget
what duty he owes to bis constituents,
and We should feel sorry for any mem.
Der of the Senate should there be such
whose friendship for Gen. Lee would
blind him to the duty he owes the
taxpayers whose hard earned substance
be would thus cast to the winds. There
never has been any constitutional an.
thority given our law makers to thus
use their taxing power. The only right
to tax that was ever given was the
right to tax for the support of govern
ment. To tax therefore for private
enterprises in the hope that good may
result therefrom Is wrong in the
broadcast sense, and should never be
resorted to unless in the case of great
calamity or to do charity, which the
private purses of the people cannot
meet, in time to avert great loss of
life or suffering.