Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-09-24
KENT'S EXTRAvAGENT CHARGES
Norfolk virginian- Pilot.


The platform adopted by the Repub-
lican party of Virginia at Newport
News this summer invited public sup
port on the plea, among others, that a
Republican administration of State af.
fairs would redeem Democratic neglect
of the schools and extend more generous
aid to the Confederate Veterans. YET
Mr.. Kent. the Republican nominee for
Governor, arraigns the Democrats for
having increased the public expendi-
lures to reckless degree within the
last ten years,
We have already pointed out that
within that period the revenues of tn.
State have hoen augmented nearly
seventy per cent under Democratic leg
islation, while at the same time the rate
OF taxation on real and personal prop
erty. under the general levy, has been
reduced ons-third.
How does Mr.. Kent square his accu-
sations with his platform when the
auditors report shows that the greater
part Of the extra expenditures COM
planned of has gone to the very objects
for which his party processes such So
licitude. and promises. if trusted with
power, to devote more money to?
In 1899 the State paid for public
schools $500. 500. In 1908 she paid TO,
public schools 81, 500, 635.
In 1899 the State paid $lOS, 2S5 for
pensions. in 1909 for the same pur.
pose she spent s48l. 0a4. more than fou,
times as much,
That is, just so fast as Democratic
good management supplied additional
funds to the treasury without adding
to the taxes Of the body of the people,
the possession Of adequate means was
improved to make enlarged appropria.
tons for education and to extend NOR.
liberia! aid to the old soldiers of tn.
Commonwealth. The record SO far
seems one to be proud of rather than
one to be condemned.
Looking little further into the bal.
ance sheets of the auditor, the News.
Leader finds that in 1899 the asylums
cost 1927, 81. In 1908 they cost s46S,
ia, an Increase made necessary no.
only by the increasing number of the
insane but the rising prices of food and
clothing, largely dye to the inordinate
tarif pat upon the country by Re-
publican Congress.
For institutions of learning the State
IN 1899 gave STAT. $50. In 1908 she gave
$3.50, 266,
In 1879 the interest paid on the
State debt was s706. aai, In 1908, I'M
der the agreement with the States
creditors, the interest rate was raised
TO three per cent and the interest paid
was $SAO, 600. In 1899 the State bought
and cancelled 100000 of her bonds.
In 1903 she bought and cancelled SIPS
GOO of bonds. This actually cut down
the State debt to $25. 900 more than it
was reduced in 1899. but Mr.. Kent's
hgures make it appear an increase of
$25. 900 in expenses"
AS to the increased salaries to offic-
ials. on which Mr.. Kent lays much
stress, his statements are misleading.
New departments haye been created,
the Corporation Commission and its
various bureaus amang them, and the
functions OF the Departments of Labor,
Agriculture, Health, Fisheries and
Roads have been extended with in
creased cost. Which of them would
Mr.. kenr aboi!sh or restrict to smaller
fields of activity
The fact Ia that the worthy candidate
has Matched out of the Republican
mares nest q batch of eggs that will
not bear even casual inspection. Our
Richmond contemporary sums I'D the
case succinctly and cogently, as follows:
when the Republicans base their
claim for control of the government on
Democratic extravaganza they must
show where it is. When they ask votes
on promises of reform. they must be
made to show definitely and Clearly
where AND how they intend to begin re-
form, what items of expense they
would ept off. what salaries they would
reduce, what Offices or departments they
wQpld abolish. Let them come down
to bard pan and put up or shut up" ~