davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
EqualIzntion Of Taxntlou.

Gditor OF Inc sTlmeS.DiSpatch:
OF taxation has been mooted with eaci
session Of the Legislature FOR man,
years. but nothing has been done.
am glad to soc that the matter ha.
peer more thoroughly aired this time
be hoped that this Legislature Will
take some decided action. Surely d
good measure cannot be enacted too
soon. With proper equalization. double
complaint than now. 1t is the "galled
jade" the one that bears the heavy
load, that makes the complaint---espe.
clally when he thinks he is unjustly
the thanks of I'LL citizens for bringing
out so many figures from the Auditors
office to show the present inequalities
4 few weeks ago. In examining the
land books OF this county, noticed
which had been divided into about
twenty-acre tracts, one OF said tracts
back from the road and not better
than the others. was assessed at IS
per acre, and one on the road, better
II anything than any other. and EN-.
braclnS the old homescat, was assessed
only IS per acre--just one-half. And
yet the last assessor was one OF the
best men and best business men III
the county.
Ought not the assessments to be
posted at each precinct before being
reported to the court, that oversights
ana favoritisms. etc., may be noticed
Is more important. as State inequalities
are more general. and, may say, STU
pcndous.
board of equalization IS needed.
District. or for each two districts, as
is suggested, and as suggested in n
communication years ago. Let said
BOARD be required to take the figures
OF the county assessors and compare
ihem IN several Cor numerous) special
instances in each county with recent
actual sales Of land. and scale for
eacf1 county all the assessments of the
county assessor up or down proper.
tionatcy.. Whether the basis taken he
the actual selling price. or 90. rs or so
per cent of 1t would make no differ.
once. SO 1t Is made uniform through
out the State. and all personal proper
ty Is put on the same basis.
It WOULD probably be. fairer, how.
basis for. tracts and parts OF tracts
that are In woods and steep hillsides;
as = IS, sueh lands are unproductive and less
Is farmed. This would also encourage
the growth of forests, which Is much
needed.
I, J, Would y, . II not ais: be well for the
poard arrange grades OF cattle. sheep.
hogs, etc. with valuation OF same. FOR
the guidance Of the commissioners OF
revenue--just as wheat Is graded at
the elevators? Then require oil com.
missioners Of revenue to see the stock
on each farm and fix the assessments
themselves accordingly.
\ surely with the great Inequalities
that have been brought to light tho
present Legislature Will take some ac-
tlon In the matter. = = J.
heartily indorse your position on
double taxation Either the land.
owner should be allowed to deduct
from the land assessment the amount
only, on the balance; or the Holder
OF the mortgage should not be taxed
on the loan. JOHN ". a. DAVIS
Hague. Va. January 80, 1908.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
Plcu for Artillery.

Editor Of The Times Dispatch:
Dear Sir,--1 wish to call your atten-
ton to the military bill offered by
Senator Sale. to which Senator Folkes
made an amendment providing that
$4,000 should be paid each battery Of
artillery in the State. The Richmond
Howitzers. OF this city. and the Nor
folk Blues have In their possession
each battery OF the most improved
artillery. which cost the government
$500 per battery. This ma teral was
given the State OF Virginia, and was
not Charged Bile to any appropriation
due the State by the government. The
HoWitzers, of this city, Were main
tained at a cost of $1,000 last year, and
they received from the State 1851. The
balance they had to raise among their
friends. Does It not seem fair tllnt
these batteries should have the support
OF the State in some more substantial
way? In all States in the Union the
one against amounts allowed the In
fantry. New York, Massa Oh usetts and
other States are liberal; why not vir-
glnia? Please remember that bat
terry commander has to care and ac-
count for about some 1900 OF val
liable material. while a company q
infantry only accounts for about SO, 000
This being the case. what the artillery
asks for is not unreasonable.
RICHMOND,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
1rELp TIVE sTArp TROOPS.

Tonight the Joint Committee on
Finance Will determine whether or not
the military OF the State will receive
the recognition to which It is entitled.
Up to this year the 2S0o men who
compose the State troops have been
compelled to pay. IN large measure,
their own expenses, although tho State
has called upon them to perform mill.
tary duty whenever OCCASION demand.
ed.
The military is now asking for an
appropriation which will barely per-
init 1t to continue in force. and tho
majority Of the members OF the Legis-
lature as we'll us the Governor arc
heartily favorlnE the move.
There is no body OF mon which has
served Virginia more faithfully or efTl-
ciently than the state troops and none
which has received SO little at the
hands OF the State.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
HELP COOP ROADS.

The Tmes-Dispatch Is In hearty
sympathy with every reasonable effort
to improve tho public roads OF tho
State. The proposition to extend State
aid to those counties which may agree
to bear an equitable proportion OF the
expense Is one that appeals with es-
pecial force to those who have had
opportunities to learn how many coun-
ties OF the State are in need OF such
assistance.
Senator Lassiter and Delegate With
crs, ct the last session Of the Lesisla-
ture, secured tho passage OF bills crcat-
Ing State Highway Commission and
a convict road force. While the actual
number OF miles built under the new
system Is not great the impetus which
has been given to road building has
been worth many times the amount
expended.
These gentlemen are asking for
amendments to their former bills, to
Increase the number Of convicts and
lail-birds who may be liable to SER
vice OH the road force. and the High
way Commission is urging the need Of
moro men for the force. Without un-
dertaklng to decide upon details, we
feel that this demand should be met
as far as practicable. and we have full
confidence that the Highway Commits
sion can BIO trusted to employ the men
at Its disposal in a manner to accom-
plish the best results without undue
expense to the State or to the coun-
ties.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
Increase ar,oul1 be made and wlfo't

increase Hhould be made and wife't
estate eliminated. +
Arh'lstssHdd camp amp cos nST vetsrans
Hcfh sSfg so4 ela II Safks
ator aid Delegate n the Legislature Il
make an effort 70 Iaccoinrlisll tho above
'nfn rasetIcnlly shs aloid soldiers entitled
to pensions have applied. some rejected
for causes above stated. and the nuns
Der t,ow. on tile pension lists rapidly
Te q yssilaE e agf a q bs s
calculated to be about sixty.six OF
have always with ,s.''
It Is evident that tho applicant has
world OF trouble IN complying with
time ana labor for a educated man
to prepare the application, for which
nothing Is charged. II nanifestly APP
pears that there IS useless repetition
shorter and simpler form OF appllcn-
ton could be prepared.
Many deserving old soldiers find It
difficult to get tho witnesses necessary,
in company from county different
from the one OF their present residence.
I have had long experience in filling
these blanks for old soldiers. and know
something OF their mental and physl.
cal condition and Inability to recall
names and locate their former com.
rudes.
II there are any undeserving now
on the pension list from this county, i
am not aware OF X. But there are
some who should be. on the list and
others who should have an increase OF
pension.
THos. D. JEFFREss,
Past Commander Of L. A. Armistead
Camp, G. ", No. &c. OF Virginia.
Chase City, Va, February. 1905
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

to be poor economy to throw obsta-
cles In the way OF the members obtains
Ing the fullest knowledge OF proposed
Legislation. Certainly the expense of
printing the House bills OF general
nature would not be greatly In excess
Iof that Of printing the Senate bills OF
every kind. especially as all reported
House bills are printed anyway. Tho
desirable thing Is to have them printed
before the committees act upon them.
se that all persons interested may ex-
anime them and make any desired OBJ
jections before the committees.
II is further true that many House
bills are never reported from the COM.
mittees, aud SO are never heard oe
after their Introduction, but It IS con-
ceivablc that some Ol these inny be
Just as merltorious as some that are
reported. and It may be desirable that
they should be preserved In printed
form. Indeed, 1t may BIO extremely
important for the public to know what
bad bills are being introduced. and by
whom. Until House bills have been
1t is Impossible for members
or others to obtain copies except at
private expense.
This is an era when publicity in all
matters is being loudly
and It would seem eminently
vise that the Legislature should throw
he fullest possible light upon every
MEASURE that Is being proposed. and |
hat at the earliest possible moment.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
5 JOBS.

E a question was raised in the Legis-
lature the other day ns to whether a
certain bill contained Job or not IN
fact, at every session there Is more or
less talk that this or that bill was
gotten UP to make a job for this or
that politician. OF course, such a
charge. like many another. Is more
easily made than proven. We would
deeply regret to learn that there was
proof, or even reasonable cause to sus-
pect, that such faint attached to any
measure. In order for 1t to be SO there
must be- completely between the patron
OF the BILL. the beneficiary and the ap-
pointing or clectng power. We should
hope the cases were rare, say ono In
a hundred years, when such q combi-
nation could be worked.
Naturally enough, whenever bill is
introduced which creates new and
lucrative Office some enterprising gem
stleman endeavors to put himself in the
exact position where the plum will
fall. II he has had experience In such
matters he will proceed to work tho
wires which carry the strongest cur
rents, not always brazenly, nor even
openly, but yet defty and perhaps ef-
fectively. AS long as human nature re-
mains as 1t Is, and 1t has remained
about SO for good many centuries.
not to say millenniums, this method Of
procedure will be in vogue. II the Of
flee is a necessary one and the person
who lands 1t Is competent the result
ant evil, perhaps, Is not serious.
When. however. the office Is unncces-
sary, or the salary Is excessive. or the
person selected to ill it is incompetent.
the evil is very serious. Should the
patron and the advocates Of the meas
ure renlize Its truo character and OBJ
ject. and persist In seeking Its enact
ment. thus burdening the public reve-
nues for private ends. the offensc be-
comes too heinous to be condemned in
polite terms.
The Legislature cannot be too care
full in the creation OF new Offices ana
the fixing Of their emoluments to see
thnt undue temptation and opportunity
are not presented for benefltins ind!-
yiduals at the expense OF the State.
and the appointing or electing power
should promptly refuse to lend itself to
any scheme which bears the earmarks
Of sinister design.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
a TIMELY ORDER.

In his review yesterday OF legislative
proceedings for Tho Times-D Dispatch
Mr.. Lewis II. Machen made the follow
ing observation:
Exactly how far such solicitations
are in good taste Is difficult question
to decide. a rumber OF those repre-
senting private interests around the
Capitol are former members OF the
Legislature, and as such are entitled
to the floors Of both houses. and II :.
natural that they should avail them
selves Of their privileges to argue with
members at their desks and in the cloak
rooms during the sessions OF tha
houses, This gives them a decided nd
vantage over those representatives who
have never netn members. In addition
to the other advantage OF friendships
formed with colleagues during their
period OF service together"
The timely order entered yesterday
Ivy Speaker Byrd. of tho House. will
prevent further abuses of this char
acter in that body. and the Senate
would do well to follow. Ex-members
of the Legislature are entitled to Ger.
tain courtesies and privileges. which,
lis well enough but they must not
take unfair advantage or them.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
A WISE RULING.

Speaker Byrd took occasion yester.
day to make q ruling which gave prac.
tical effect to a suggestion Of The
Times-Dispatch that ex-members OF
tho House be prevented from lobbying
on the floor during debate.
The Senate would do we'll to adopt
the ruling of Senator Byrd. and there
by insure its members freedom from
interference or persuasion during I'll.
discussion Of questions before tina,
body.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
Timcs-Di.patc1 Is Right.
Lor Of .The Times Dlspatch

sir,-1 beg to state that Of the very
much that has been written and scid
about. what IS best for our public
schools In Virginia, the editorial OF
The Tlmes-Dispatch Sunday. February
I'd, Is the pure cream. For years
have advocated teaching profession
expert supervision, employing men who
know the school work, who can do It.
and who aWill do It, and pay them for
the service. No matter how much
money the State spends on It's schools,
unless this sensible business principle
Is applied, as suggested by your edl-
torial, the results for school better.
sired. ~
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
PRINT ALL BILLS.

we can see no good reason why the
bills presented to the House Of Dele
gates should not be printed as soon as
introduced. as is the case with Senate
bills. It cannot be assumed that the
House bills are less important than
the Senate bills, or that it is less i'm
portant that the members of the two
houses and other persons interested
should have an equal opportunity to
examine the bills of the House. The
Constitution requires that all bills
must be printed before they are passed
but in the House this requirement is
not met until the bills are reported
from the committees. BY that time
( the, printing Is often too late to be OF
value. TOR they may be reached on the
calendar. or taken UP out OF their or
\ der. and acted upon before the NOM
bers have an opportunity to examine
them.
The committees of the House are
4 continually considering measures OF the
utmost Importance, of whose provisions
the members of the Senate. and those
members of the House who do not
& happen 70 belong to those particular
committees. have no knowledge what
Dvsr.
It is true that it would entail some
additional work upon the clerk to at
tend to the printing OF all bills, but
At would seem that the clerical force
sofsthe House ought to be sufficient to
attend to this matter. n not, an addi-
85tional clerk might be appointed for ,he
piirpose.
y Is also true that some expense
would be incurred. but II would seen
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
Voice Of the People.

The Tines Dispatch will print
signed letters on Ill questions which,
relate to the public welfare. Such
articles should not exceed In lenEth
100 words. except under exceptional
circumstances, should be signed
with the full name OF the writer,
md should bear his or her addrcss.
The name Of the writer will lie
withheld II desired.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

AS tho baseball season slowly draws
near, the dread fear Increasingly az.
sails US that Richmond may not be
able to land and hold the tail-end po-
sition in that new League. In common
fairness AMI decency, we beg tho
Brooklyn team to resign before tho
schedule opens.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY c. 1905.
Man was born to live with inno-
ccnce and simplicity, Int he Inns de-
waited from nnture.-Gbldsmith.
WE MUST HAVE RETTER SUPER.
INTENDENTa

Tho greatest need of the public
school system In Virginia ia better
supervision, and that means better
pay for school superintendents. Some
time ago bright young man, who
had graduated from college with
honors. was induced to take the po-
sition OF superintendent In his own
county. He; has been doing fine work,
but, as the pay Is only $500 year,
no Is grumbllng. and he will not con-
tinne unless the pay is materially in
creased. How can the State expect a
well educated young man to devote
his life to such work for 500 a
4 year? This Is only one case, but there
are many more like this, and as {,
consequence. supervision in Virginia
is at low mark. In fact. Virginia
seems to be behind all other South
ern States in this respect SO far as
we have been able to gather. Tho
average salary OF division superin-
tendents in Virginia is only $500 par
annum. There are eleven superintend.
ents who receive only $500 each. The
five highest salaries are:
Norfolk. s1.?15.
Pittsylvania, Sl,155.
Halifax. slO05.
Accomac. ss46.
Rockingham, $3.50
Only eighteen superintendents give
tlieir entire time to the work.
In Louisiana the average salary OF
superintendent is $1,000: tho lowest
salary Is 5000; the five highest from
$4,000 to $4,000. Two-thirds of the
superintendent give their entire time
to their school duties.
Georgia pays har superntendents So
per day for actual services In counties
containing less than 10000 inhabitants
and each superlntendent is required to
visit every school at least once a
year. In the larger counties salaries
are paid. the five highest ranging from
I $500 to $500 per annum.
The average salary in Mississippi Is
s1,12s.eo; the lowest $500 and the high.
est from'ss1,aoo.:to $500. Eighty five
per cent. of the superintendent give
their entire time to- the schools.
In Alabama the average salary is
s1,oo7.7a: in South Carolina. ss7s.
Virginia makes a poor exhibit. and
she must do better EIer schools can.
not prosper as they should until she
+ has competent supervisor in each
county. who will give his entire time
4 and energy to tho cause of education
\ In general and the Improvement Of the
schools. We might as we'll try to run
our factories and railroads under the
direction OF jackless as attempt to
conduct public school system with
& half.pald. Inefficient superlntendents
The public school system Is a business
institution and must be conducted by
the rules Of business. or 1t will fail.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
The Simple Method.

Bank president,-you say you be.
long to the Y, M. q, "a, the b., =, F,
W, the 9. o., the s.. G., a., ana other
sections OF the alphabet?
9s Ihe New Bookeee per.---Ye s, air.
mead e a few thousands, lust Dome
frankly to me. ! don't care to have
the books all tangle up Puck.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

Even the broken radiators OF Royal
Richmond shoot out eleven times as
much heat energy as the flimsy ana
feeble minded radiating contraptions
that do for Miserable Manhattan,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

The New York Mall alone can tell
the Union whether Euphernia Hempns
Simpsons parody on ."rhe BELLS" Is
dedicated to the Lady on the Houston
Widow Calendar,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

The fact that Leap Year is just like all
other years here does not deter the
lntruders bit. Incoming trains are
still packed to the steps without out.
here to try to marry the little star
eyed blondes OF Royal Richmond.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

In the competitive search for novel
and striking texts, Mr. Roosevelt viii
no doubt bitterly deploro the fact tina,
Mr.. Bryan beat him to the Eighth
Commandment.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06
Rhymes for To-Day

w IHEN to our whltefouso first liz
w came
And gravely started to prestd'
Ing,
We found his purposes the same
Which one had hoped to make abid.
Ing.
No man could say that he had swerve d.
4. From I,,s Northern Gould to Southern
We watched him long, and then OBJ.
served:
Hes Just exactly like Mckinley"
The years rolled BY us one by one.
Change ,,es,.. swept tho Temporal and
Tie news reports from Washington
Brought many strange and fearsome
stories.
He swapped his likeness to the dead
E And turned Democratic scion
We WATCHED him long and then we said
IT'S hard TO tell tho matt from
Bryan"
More years rolod by. as years will do,
And still he changed and kept on
changing
Until some mon advanced the view
Els cerebellum was deranglns
He raved anu ranted, ripnod and
roarcd,
He struttod like some rara avis
While we oil sighed with accents
bored:
This fellow has out-Davised iDavis!"
n & TT
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

In the special message Mr.. Roose.
velt promises "as soon as may be il
submit some further Recommendations :
etc. 1t Is going to be a hard winter fos
the proofreaders.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

Favor Houdon Replica" says q
Washington Post headline. That do
scribes local sentiment perfectly. It Il
the modified copy" idea that brings
tho cold perspiration to the public
brow.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

s Tho Hartford courant, which refers
to the President as IAN easy mark
would do3a real favor by explaining Its
system to Mr.. Foraker.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

Candidates for office In Georgia must
soon realize that the full dlnner-pai1
is no longer live Issue The full
quart.flask is the only platform that
can yank the snlvos down there now.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

In perusing "The Ancient Mariner
with a view to deduclng personal les.
sons, Mr. Taft may possibly identity
my policies" as his albatross for 1905
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

Those who would like to know what
KIND OF messages J. Davis would writa
IL he Wore President, now do,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

HE Richmond Times. Dispatch says
cortelyou has been Saying stimulate
= ing things" Is he also against tho
temperance wave in Observation-Disclosures
The Richmond Times-D Dispatch has lost
naGh Q, It's arrogance since the Virginia
legislature assemeied;--H Post.
Celery helps to ward off rheumatism. :.
notes rot. the H,isburs Dispatch So does sal
pateh.-Jewett City Comm Press.
Why should Mr.. Bryan quit the presi-
Dispatch, why shouldn't Mr.. Bryan quit
neoosa Times. 4 good debater should ba
Montgomery Advertiser. 800
. The wing on the Atlantic Coast attained
night and the Richmond Times Dspat ch
warts the. weather man called to settlement
TO 70, exceeding the speed limit-KnoxviIle
Down IN the Dismal Swamp they have
aiscovered mad girl who has forgotten
mond Times Dispatch. since shs s. is az woman
a an. VIII In not talk. they say She Is mad
''Ve's city Comp Press.
The. Richmond Times Dispatch makes
this objection to popular proposition.
ne obvious drawback Is that II they
viii be nobody et c.aee a
Democratic party"
FROM My ,.s What would proven. Mr. watterson
the senate, either In the form OF speeches
or or, signed letters to his newspaper7 Con-
yflp ',d TO- to the Congressional Record they
as the Courier.IournaI when Mr.. Watterson
az home-WashtnEton Stai.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-06

1t must be evident to the younges,
of our readers now that the author OF
THE Beautiful Snow" had the immense
advantage OF an Old Virginia up.
bringing IL.4