Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-02-17
A TAX INQUlSITION.

1t had been thought that the DAVIS of
Inquisitions had many years ago been
numbered with the past. In Virginia.
however, where the fathers framed the
mstchless Bill of Rights, that thought or
belief has been overthrown. A few
years ago, after the making of a new
State constitution, our people were
subjected to Registration Inquisition.
which first tortured and then robbed
uneducated citizens of their right 10
vote. Now We are threatened with
Tax Inquisition, which will be as arbi-
trary in its treatment of the personal
and property rights of the citizens of
the Commonwealth as the Spanish In
QUESTION was cruel and arbitrary in its
treatment of the religious rights and
freedom of the people of Spain.
A few weeks ago we called the atten-
ton of our readers to a bill which had
been reported to the State Senate bv
the Finance Committee Of that BODY. It
is known as the Fletcher Bill" and
was framed for the purpose of advanc-
ing the assessments on lands and other
real estate in Virginia. 1t is intended
to enormously enlarge the revenues that
have proved totally inadequate to the
demands on the treasury that have re-
suited from Machine rule.
1t will be recalled that the most mr.
gent reason given for the making of 8
new constitution was that the State
government was too expensive and that
there were too many office-holders. The
sincerity of that reason or excuse has
been destroyed by the doubling of the
expenses of the government and a great
increase in the number of office-bolders
And while the revenue have been near.
ly doubled they have been found insult
ficient to meet the increa ied expendi-
lures made by a reckless political Ma
chine. The State treasury has been
emptied, and it has been shown that if
the appropriations of the previous Leg
lsiature are adopted and made by the
present General Assembly that the pres
ent revenues will be annually a half
million dollars, or more, short of the
amount necessary to meet such appro-
priations. Then. there is a an anna
rent, eager desire of the Machine 70
create new offices and new departments
for the satisfaction of hungry members
causing increased government expenses
and demanding great increase in the
revenues.
We have heard the story of man who
spent had mis- entire life in seeking and
boarding money. When he was about
to die. he called his sons to his bedside
to give them his blessing and a parting
admonition. His last words to the bows
were; my SONS get money, get money;
get money, honestly if you can, but get
money" The chiefs of 1.-THE tribe" IN
Virginia are acting upon the advice of
the grasping old misery sinner, and
have given their orders to those who
look after the finances of the State, and .
these orders are: "Get revenue. get I
revenue; get revenue, honestly, if YOU t
can, but get revenue" That is wbv
the Fletcher Bill'' has been evolved. a
A few days ago it was passed in the
State Senate, every Democratic men, L
Der OF that body, who was present, vot-
ing for it; and the five Republican Sem 1
ators present, Noel, Lincoln, Parsons. e
and Chase voting against e
the outrageous measure. 1t has now
been sent to the House of Delegates. X
where, we suppose, it will be 1t IL
through by the Machine and become q W
law. pl
This FLETCHER Bill creates an inoui. p'
sition with the Auditor of Public Ac. ~
counts as the chief inquisitor. If car IN
ned out to the letter and in conformity
With the purpose of its originators. it
will more than double the taxes on real ID
'state and supply an enormous fund for ~
eoters. Briefly, the itq1isito, ial feat II
lr' of the bill are as follows:
The assessors in the coua,ies and
tiles of tie State will be required to %
ssess lands and lots at what the clerk TT
{ the circuit courts and the clerks of III