The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-22
State Tax Conference

| All thoughtful virginians should be interested
in the State conference to he held at Richmond
in July, with view Of agreeing upon a gen.
eral tax reform policy. and submitting 1t to the
rext general assembly. The meeting will aid
considerably in focusing public attention upon
the many and glazing defects of the existing
tax system, and the need for it's readjustment
upon lines consistent with sane. just, progress
sive public policy There Is, of course, the
possible danger that the conference will sit and
deliberate to fruitless purpose-and hence not
only nulllfy its hopee-for persuasive value, but
actually provide added difficulties to Interfere
with the sensible solution of the problem In
short, IL the members Il the conference can
not unite with substantial unanimity upon the
plan TO be proposed by the legislative commit
tee of the Richmond Chamber Of Commerce. or
upon some other plan the fact will tend. we
fear, to compiicate an already rather confused
situation and embarrass the forces now warning
for the destruction of the present ndefensible
and inquitous tax policy. This is not said In
spirit of pessirnism, but rather by way OF help
full warning. and OF earnest suggestion, too that
every member of the conference shall go to
Richmond with flexible frame of mind, and
/ bT DAD. generous purpose, to go just as 1ar as
conscience and good sense will permit In yield
ing preconceived opinions as to details. in order
to promote what may rightly be regarded as a
generally desired result
| The News would submit another suggestion
We it stated that the tax reform conven-
ton is to be madu up merely of representa-
ives of the commercial orga 1izations CT the
cities and towns n Virginia. II this be true
farmers of Virginia quite much interested
| in the revision OF the States tax policy as are
the business OF the cities. They are quite
as much entitled to be represented in the pro-
posed conference aA the commercial in
terests of the State. Their absence from such
a gathering will prove distinct minus quantity
with respect to the weight and influence OF what
that gathering does--just their presence there
will prove a powerful plus force in the general
equation. Therefore, the promptings OF ex-
pediency unite with those of justice, to support
fr,tr V0ura
sentative Virginian farmers from each OF the ten
congressional DISTRICTS of the State be invited
and urged to attend the tax reform convention
either this or that the farmers organizations
throughout the State be requested to send dele
gates 1t may be that steps to this end nave
already been taken or that they are IN con-
temptation. We hope that this Is the case, put
If not, the News invites the attention OF the
promoters of the movement to the suggestion
here presented.-Lynchhurg News
Health in Cities
We all talk a great deal about the pure air
of the country, the healthfulness of work on
the soil, and the splendid opportunity which
is afforded the farmer to build up the body and
make it strong, but here comes DR.. Hutchinson.
writing in the, American Magazine with some
figures which look good to the man who dweiis
in the city. He says
For a number of years past the death rates
of our great cities, Ike London, Berlin and New
York have been equal to and In some months
below that of the average for the entire coun-
try The record figures were reached at the close
of 1912 which showed New York and Chicago
wing for the proud honor OF the heathiest large
city in the world. with death rates of only a
little over IA per 900 living while the average
rate for the whole United States Is 16
Nor Is that all. for the simultaneous and In
dependent reports of the physical instructors in
two of Middle Western universities are
Quoted as proving that the city and town boys
who come as students TO the universities tby
that meaning those who hail from towns of more
than, 5000 population are taller, stronger and
~ y1,n 1,1u frnVvN thn
villages and the open country; that the country
BOYS also show higher percentage of physical
defects, such as stoop shoulders. narrow chests,
tfiatfoot and curvatures Of the spine.-Roches.
ter Democrat