Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-12-14
TIC WHOM SHALL WE LooK?
(Communicated)

Mr.. Editor:
The property holders, the regis
tered voters, the taxpayers, deemed ii
necessary to change the constitution
of our State On account Of the :nor-
nous burden of taxation that was
weighing heavily upon them. They
decided to call convention in order
to carry their ideas into effect and
relieve them of a burden which was
sapping the life blood from their very
existence. Virginia has always be-
ieved that majority of her sons
should control her destinies and the
mandate of that majority was final.
According to the ruling of this con-
vertion a commission was reco1na? end-
ed TO be known as the State Cor2ora-
ton Commission and on their rec
omrendation the Governor named the
men, whose duty it is to protect
the interests of those of us WHO ara
the bone and sinew Of the Common
wealth. According to Section i67,
Article IL, this commission is direct
ed to have, before issuing stocks Or
bonds, a statement VERIFIED by the
president OF secretary Of the corpo-
ration) setting forth fully and &ccI-
rately the basis or financial plan upon
which such stock or bonds are 10 be
issued. Such statement shall &C
curately specify and describe the ser
vices and property, together with the
valuation at which the same are rea-
ceived or to be received.
I would like to make personal ap-
peal to the Corporation Commission
who are the representatives or medi-
ators between the people and corpo
rations, who are supposed to arbi-
trate differences between the Gnan-
cial interests and the ordinary way
farer; against individuals whc reap
where they have never sowcd. No
blade of grass grows so sweet as in
Virginia. No sheaf of wheat grows
sweeter and purar than in Virginia.
The fragrance of the rose is nowhere
half so sweet as in Virginia. These
men would rob the grass of the G%cet-
ness, the sheaf OF wheat of It's sub
stance and the rose of its beauty and
fragrance TO enhance their interests,
Now, Mr.. Commissioners, !. as q
representative Of the people Of Al
exandria, and the oldest in point OF
service in the City Council, @lder-
standing conditions thoroughly, appeal
TO You to Investigate and ascertain
as to whether there is basis upon
which $4,000. coo worth Of stock ana
bonds are to be issued. So faT as we
are individually concerned this matter
is entirely Indifferent to US, bat when
our financial institutions are involv-
ed, it is time TO call halt. You have
granted to those who contemplate fore
ing this merger upon the people OF,
Northern Virginia the right to squeeze
from people money, security 70" which
does not exist. A short time ago in
che Bitter case before the Interstate
Commerce Commission in regard to
rates and regulations before that
Commission, decision was handed
down that the overcapitalizati2n ives
more than 100000, none OF which
had been spent for equipment o. the
6ettsrn1ent Of conditions on said road.
Now the only basis or foundation up
On which this merger is to be secured
is the Virginia ra!!road-
which is at the present time overcapi-
talized to the iaXtent Of millions Of
dollars.
con what meat does this, our Gaze
sar feed, that he has grown so great?
On tie meat of manhood, and it Is
drawing from the pockets OF working
men today to pay a heavy III
terest on stocks and bonds--wate-ed-
money that could be used by them tc
great advantages.
f. C. sPINKS.