The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-10

their work. There is a certain amount
of waste md inefiioiency which In
varianly attends any sudden increase
tere. Is of Virginia now demand
period of adjustment OF taking stock,
OF Improvement of methods. rather
than the creation of now agencies.
q concrete illustration OF what mean
la the fact that we have built ex-
pensive highways without adequate
provision for their upkeep. The rapid
bunt roads has not only worked tho
practical loss OF the investment, but
a encouragement of highway enthu-
siasm. road which Ia beyond tho
resources OF tho locality to MAINTAIN,
should not be built, and the upkeep
OF any road should DO as carefully
considered and safely provided for hB
walton is that there has been much
misdirected zeal and much unnecessary
waste In the matter of road build
ing.
The Educational System.
The educational system of the state
for while at least may find a use
full field for Its energies in considering
how the present great appropriations
may be most fruitIuliy expended. and
Taxpayers until the whole system set-
ties more firmly upon It's founda lions
and 1tn tho tremendous expansion
which 1t has achieved In the last Six
g. moro accurate adjustment TO the
public needs.
In 1911 the total expenditures for
10y purposes. exclusive OF
expenses incident to the care of Con-
federate veteranB. Was $4.S01.277.26;
lis amount more than half, or ST.
626.ss4.s7 was paid by the State Tor
public education. The counties and
ciu,s by taxation and by borrowing
from the literary fund and to some
extent from other sources contributed
tho additional amount OF s3,36s.240.s9.
Thus the amount of public moneys ex-
pend Tor educational purposes in
1Sil amounted TO the great sum of S.
system and compel the Embarrassment
counties to pay fair portion OF tax,
the state can hardly greatly increase
this huge expenditure.
School Books.
In this State there is school book
adoption every two years. One adop-
ton is for high schools and the other
is for the grammar and primary
grades. There is no sense In this. 1t
keeps the book agent on tho JOB, all
adopted By tho state Board of Educa-
ton 1t the Same time. i would favor
a law recurring the State Board OF
ton until 1916. and In making any
new adoptions TO forbid any change of
books unless the reasons for each
change are reported TO tho General
Assembly. II is my opinion a just
complaint that there are too many
unnecessary books required to be
bought and studied by our children.
and that some of these now on the
list could be advantageously dropped.
This criticism Is made with q full
realization of the splendid progress
which has been made in educational
work in Virginia since 1905.
Tax Reform.
Tho greatest work which this AS
sembly will be called upon to per-
form is a reform OF the vicious taz
laws which have for years oppressed
this State and hindered its normal de-
vel pment- Under existing law. as
easements are made by local oftlpialo
responsible TO no central or oo-ordi-
mating authority. They reflect local
sentinlent and their assessments which
are the measure of tile local contribu-
tions to the State Treasury for State
purposes, are too often unconscten-
fiously lowered to escape the just bur-
den OF an equal tax.
IA many counties lands and personal
property are under-aosessed to such
an extent that these counties. instead
OF contributing to the common purse.
actully draw from tho State Treas
ury annually large Sums of money to
maintain theiS purel9 laeal goyssa-