The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-12
without Words. Impossible.
STATE PRESS
The Assemblr and EanalI,atlon.


That the next Legislature will have its
hands full when 1t comes to consider the
question OF equalization of taxes Is evidenc-
cd by tho f%loundering the Senate Finance
Committee Is now doing upon this subject.
That II should even consider for q moment
the settlement of this question from the
Auditors office gives somo idea OF how in
effective most propositions upon the subject
are. There is but one way to determine the
value of any piece of property. and that is
by physical inspection, with due regard to
its location and earning capacity. The man.
or set of men, who can devise a scheme OF
really uniform assessment viii, therefore.
deserve a laurel crown. as no two men think
alike upon the question OF values. The Leg
islature should not seek to attain the impos-
slble. but should try to remove gIaring in
equalities. Greater injustice is done the
taxpayer by far on account OF the nom
assessment OF millions of dollars worth OF
property upon which the tax assessor can
not lay his hands, and of which tho oWncrs
fail TO render an account, than has ever
been done him or the State by inequality
property. ftthc Legislature can devise some
means of reaching this convenient and van
ishing form of wealth. 1t viii moro than
meet the demands OF the public.-Frcd-
cricksburg Star.
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute
The public pays heavily to support tho
institute and has the right TO demand the
results its expects. The public is tired OF
hearing of trouble at the v. p. II and OF
being puzzled by charges and counter
charges and long debates and more or less
secret consultations and then more or less
conflicting accounts OF what occurred. 1t
will insist on knowing the whole story and
on being allowed to determine for Itself
whether the fault is with the board of visi-
tors. the president. the faculty or all three.
When the public knows. 1t can and will act.
IT will make It's opinion known to the Leg
~islature and enforce obedience to that opin-
ion. Let the whole thing come out-thc last
bit OF 1t. The people of Virginia support
the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. and
when occasion comes should be informed
Clearly Of every detail of its management
and OF the real reasons why things nav.
gone wrong. An investigation has Ibeen ar
ranged for, to be held in Richn,ond. 1t
ought to be-, VIC think 1t VIII DO, conducted
openly, 80 that all may sec and hear. NO
body should be muzzled. Everybody should
be invited and required TO present any ac-
cusations or facts that promise to be in
forming. Let us keep out all political coii-
sidcrations and all personal preferences and
rrc1udices. and come down to the real truth.
Evidently something or somebody is wrong.
Let us get at what or who 1t is. Then ius-
tice will he done and the evils removed, and
the weak places Observation-Disclosures
Tines.
The Result OF the Municipal Conferences.
The Legislature hardly can refuse to take
some action this winter upon the request
that the cities OF the state be allowed to
change their form OF government. A con-
ference in which all OF tho cities were rep-
resented has adopted a resolution scttlnE
forth the necessity for n change and appeai-
ing to the Assembly for immediate action
and as this matter concerns the cities and
the cities only, there can be no reason for
failure TO heed the appeal. The pro-
posed change will be welcomed In Newport
News. We now have the city's business con-
Quoted by twonty-four men, chosen in most
instancea without view to their special ft-
ness for the duties required, and giving only
incidental attention to the citys affairs.
Under these circumstances it is impossible
for the city's business to be carried on in
anything like the manner that would be
considered essential for the SUCCESS OF q
private enterprise. Newport News hap a
Council which, as Il whole, probably will
compare favorably with that Of any city al
tho size in the country, but the Councilmen
probably could not make the administra-
tion business-liko under present conditions
even If each member were an cxpert on
municipal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS News
Press.