Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-10-08

reduce their passenger rates from thre,
cents to two and one-half cents per mile
and to place on sale at two cents mil,
mileage books, for the convenience o.
the travelling public.
These are but few of the progres
sive policies inaugurated in this State
by the Democratic party, which have
given new life aud vigor to Virginia il
every direction, and put her on the
pathway of progress and material de-
velopment.
All of this has been accomplished anc
the rate of taxes on personal and rea
property in this State reduced from
forty cents to thirty-five cents on the
hundred dollars.
Answers Repu biican Charges
| Governor Swanson next proceeded
to answer the Republican charges ir
connection with the increased expend
itures of the Democratic party. Or
this matter he said:
"Sirs, the record of the Democratic
party in this State is so replete with
splendid achievements, with good re.
suits accomplished, that the Republi-
can party dare not assail it directly
and specifically, and only attempts to
do vaguely, by saying that it's admin
istration has resulted in increased ex-
penditures of public money.
Complaint is made of the expen-
diture from 1903 to 1908.
Il This i- f,-,,A l.,,N
viously stated, the government of
Virginia has been able to make in
creased expenditures for beneficial
purposes, with reduced rate of tax
alton upon property on account of the
great prosperity which has occurred.
"A part of it was incurred for the
new departments created and their
proper administration. Which of these
new departments would the Republican
party abolish? Which of them would
they lessen in work and usefulness?
They have afforded great benefits TO
the State and should be continued:
1891, 5lS.09 of this increased expendi-
ture was incurred for the purpose of
education. Does the Republican party
oppose this? Would they DESTROY, if
given an opportunity. the great educa-
tional revival which has possessed this
State. and is now bringing untold bles-
sings? As the present candidates OF
the Republican party complain Of the
expenditure, they must antagonize the
purpose for which it was made.
''The sum of SIG, ,326.I7 of this in
crease expenditure consists of appro-
priations made to the asylums of the
State TO properly take care of the poor.
unfortunate insane, whose numbers
have increased, and the expense of
providing for them has also greatly
increased on account of the cost Of
living. occasioned by the high Re-
publican tariff. Does the Republican
party begrudge the increased COM
forts and attention given these poor
insane persons? Will it lessen the
aid to these poor unfortunates If DOW
er is given them? | cannot believe
any party could deal parsomoniously and
niggardly with these afflicted ones.
''Of the increased expenditures
complained of. $50, ,5lS.S1 was given in
aid and pensions to Confederate soldi-
ers. Does the Republican party dis
approve of this generosity to those
heroic veterans and their wives? AS
this amount is included in the increased
expenditures complained of. we must
conclude that If power should be given
them, the aid to Confederate soldiers
would be proportionately lessened.
'Of the increased expenditures COM
planned of, 1929, SEQ was for the i'm
provement of the public highways.
Does the Republican party approve
this? Does it favor State aid for road
Improvement? If so, why does it COM
plain of this appropriation?
Voted for by Republicans.
These constitute most of the appro-
priations that have been increased, and
the Republican party fails to name a
single explicit appropriation which they
antagonize. But, those expenditures
complained of, when they passed the
House of Delegates on February 2S.
1908, as seen on page 500 of the House
Journal, were passed without dissent
ing vote being recorded against them.
The appropriation bill for that and the
succeeding year, which carries these
expenditures, had the vote of every
Republican member present. On March
8, 1908, House bill, as amended by the
Senate, carrying these appropriations
and increased expenditures, was passed
In the Senate, as seen on page 375 of
the Senate Journal, without a dissent
ing vote, all the Republicans present
voting for the passage of the bill, in
cluding Senator Lincoln, the Republi-
can nominee for Lieutenant Governor.
1T should also be noted that these
bills, supported unanimously hy the
Republicans In the House and Senate.
present, carried with them nearly ali
the increased salaries complained of bv
our opponents. The Republican men,
bers of the House and Senate concurred
with the Democrats in believing that
the best interest of the State would be
promoted by these expenditures. The
! results achieved have justified those
Republicans in following Democratic
leadership and supporting Democratic
policies.
"We will leave the Republican candi-
date for Lieutenant Governor, who
voted for these expenditures. and the
Republican candidate for Governor. who
complains of these increased expendi-
lures, to dispute as to who is correct. The
debate between these two will be both
interesting and instructive. 1t must be
a little embarrassing to the candidate
for Lieutenant Governor, under the Re-
publican party, to be placed on a plat.
form IN this respect, contrary to his
vote and convictions.
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