The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-17
Taxes That Are Gladly Paid.

| axes that kAlC GlduAy Idlu'
The fable OF tho farmer and tho la,Jis
Is just as true for the city OF Richmond
MS II ever was for those untortunat.
birds who incontincntly fled from tho
Safe retreat OF tho narators wheat fields
when the farmer came to reap the grain
himself. The larks know that the wheat
would be cut some day. and the citizens
OF Richmond know that tho city must aud
should no advanced and improved IN a
great number OF ways. Like tho larks.
we also know that this Improvement can
never be made until tho citizens OF r lch-
inond do 1t for themselves Tho great les.
son OF Nrr. NtcFar1and's address OH Har-
risburg was his description Of the
awakening Of consciousness on tho part
OF tho people Of that city that their sal
walton lay in their own hands and in the
keeping Of no one else. With the coming
of this thought Harrisburg undertook
to tax itself for It's own benefit, and the
encouraging and inspiring part OF this
case Is the fact that the people saw
they were getting their moneys worth
and instead of complaining OF the taxes
they gladly and cl,eerfully made the
small sacrifice required for the great
benefit that was achieved.
The greatest need Of the State OF Vlr-
GINA to-day is good roads and the great
est obstacle in the way of achieving this
absolutely essential end Is tho fact that
the public have lost confidence in the
manner and method in which their money
is4 spent by local boards of supervisors.
A great step forward has been taken and
one that NO advocated for years before
its passage in requiring Supervisors TO
publish statement showing how every
cent was 6isbursed. and though this may
he a preventive Of fraud, 1t is .Sby no
means a guarantee against ignorance and
had Judgment. In order for Virginia to
have good ronds or Richmond to have
streets, parks, Fairgrounds or any other
needful and necessary convenience it only
needs, that tax be levied. But In order
to gain the support of the people In such
n step the greatest care must be exer-
ciscd In the selection OF these citizens
who arc TO administer the sum so raised.
One OF the counties of Virginia made
great step forward in building four miles
Of foad for itself by asking fora United
States engineer to come and draw plans
and specifications and supervise the con-
struction OF the road and the expenditure
Of the money raised for that purpose.
This was done with signal success. There
was no extravaganza, no graft and no
ignorance. As a result the people got
their moneys worth. We are informed
that any county which desires the SER
vice OF a United States engineer can have
it for the asking, and we are convinced
that If a county would make the c1-
pertinent Of raising money to be used
specifically for the building OF roads and
were to have these roads built under the
plan that we have above pointed out.
there would be a better object lesson and
a greater incentive to good roads than
could be gained by any number of
speeches or any amount OF enthusiasm
IL the present dlscredited methods are to
be continued.
TO return to Richmond and its problem,
IL the city from its officials or from prl-
waite citizens appoints a proper board for
the specific purpose OF expending tho
money that is raised for municipal i'm
we, too. can have an object
lesson for the present comfort and the
future encouragement of the whole COM
munity.
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