Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-03-10
RAIDINa STATES TREASURY

The legislature whose term expired on
January 11th will be remembered in
history as the one that passed the most
laws; the legislature whose session will
expire next Saturday, bids fair to
be remembered as a legislature which
set an example for tremendous raids on
the State treasury. Two weeks ago we
questioned the possibility oftheir depart
ing from the conservatism of past legis-
latures. but we have now little hope
otherwise.
Last week the appropriation OF sou,
600 for spelling Virginia's historic Cap
itol went through the Senate, and on the
heels of it next day an appropriation OF
sl65. 600 for buildings for the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute at Blacksburg, and
$50. 900 more for new buildings for
the Female Normal at Farmville
Assurances are given that with even
less difficulty they will pass the House.
1t looks very much as if this general as
sembly we're given up to a band OF RAID
ers on the State treasury. The plans
we're laid in the last which ran into this.
The heavy appropriation to the James
town Exposition and the appropriation
to the St. Louis Exposition, in order to
get appropriations elsewhere to James
town, afforded an opportunity for other
interests in the State to get the ear OF
the Tidewater members, who in the past
have had few local interests TO serve out
of the State treasury. Richmond, an
other quarter which has had few de-
mands, felt the taste from the public crib,
afforded by the big appropriations to
enlarge the penitentiary and scented
something larger in a supposed I'M
provemenI of the old Capitol. After
getting 800, 600 she held up her
plate for $3.50, 900 more, and this
demand for quarter of a million
brought Richmond into line along with
Tidewater. Blacksburg, which when en-
dowed by the United States govern
ment 80 years ago was expected to sup
DIV sons of the State with education in
agriculture and merchanies with little
cost to its people but has become next to
the State university its most costly sup
plant, took it to bea good time to bland
ly ask for 5000, 600 in cash from the
State treasury. 1t was apeing as we'll as
it could the demand of the naval acad-
emy from Congress for a cool million for
buildings. And the Female Normal,
which has our sympathy, got in de-
mand for $50, 600 to modestly build to
house its girls. All the interests and all
the influence these represent 60 together
and only an examination of the regular
appropriation bill will show how many
of the old benefciaries were pulling with
them for more. The University OF Nir-
ginia got its extra slice only recently In
a good sized hospital appropriation. And
it can be assumed that its influence IS
fully felt in aid of the raid. 1t has long
been, as we regretfllly view it, demor-
alizing influence on the politics and IL
nances of the State to which it is in
tended to be an honor. Itssees to 1t
that its interest is always represented On
the floor by the most capable men from
Albermarle, the present chairman OF the
house finance committee for instance,
and Blacksburg is following its example.
That accomplished lawyer, Mr. Phlegar'
of Montgomery, as the latter's repre-
sentative. was the leader in the raids IN
the Senate last week, and succeeded IN
overthrowing the influence of the chair
man of the finance committee. Senator
Wickham. whose voice has so often
successfully been raised on the floor
of the Senate in the interest OF the
Virginia taxpayer But his voice was
this time of no avail. The Organl
zation of the raiders was too thorough
and too many men were misled to fee
that the interests of their taxpaying con
stitueuts were dependent upon the pros
peritv of this or that interest of thel
district which asked an appropriation
from the public crib.
There are great many people wh'
are always on the side OF the approprla
tions. The bled, engrossed in the worl
] of honest toll are too often far less sen
sitiye than the bleeders; still we hav
, hopes that the people of Virginia vii
: not fail to rise in rebuke of the squander
ers of the revenues of this State, jus
emerging from the gloom and desPon
dencv of bankruptcy. Virginians wit
the load of negro suffrage removed are
free people, and the nom n-taxpaying, tn
shiftless, the purchasable and the rovini
classes have no voice in its government
1t is tie most dangerous time in NOR
. than so years for Legislators TO forget /
whom they are responsible Rock
None