The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-19
to be lax In prosecution of crime and neglected.


of their schools.
SO far as concerns criminal expenses. of which
much is said It should be kept in mind that
criminals are prosecuted not for offenses against
the counties but for offenses against the State
The Commonwealth Of Virginia appears always
as prosecutor. The prosecution and punishment
of crime Is supposed to be for the protection
OF the people OF the entire State. not of those
of any county 1t Is a matter to be considered
whether public sentiment in a burdened county
would not favor allowing criminals to escape
unpublished If they would go somewhere away
rather than subject the county to the expense
of trying them. Another consideration would
be whether the authorities OF such county
would not be tempted to neglect what prisoners
they had and their local prisons in the desire
to avoid the expense of maintaining them pro-
perly.
In brief have we any counties which would
be unable to administer the laws and provide
for themselves properly II left to support them
selves with what 1t Ia proposed to allow them
to tax? II there are such counties. is 1t right
Ior safe to cast them on their own resources,
knowing that they must be doomed TO failure
and retrogression!
Last year, Auditor Moore shows, II Of the
100 counties OF the State failed to meet ex-
lpenses from their own incomes. Many of these
would be self sustaining If their property was
assessed properly and would prosper comfortably
with the tax rate to which 1t is proposed to
limit the counties, towns and cities. But could
all Of them live at that rate and support them.
selves without excessive and destructive assess.
ments?
1t may be noted, incidentally. that the shortage
OF many Of the socalled "pauper counties" re.
suited really from the payment Of pensions to
Confederate veterans within their borders be-
ing charged to them AS understand, Mr.
Moore's plan proposes to relieve them of this
the pensions to be paid from the States own
revenues
The county showing the heaviest deficiency in
last years reports except, Of course Carroll with
the Allen cases, was Franklin which was s32 600
short of meeting expenses. Deducting from this
amount $4,000 paid her veterans. she was yet
$4,000 behind II Franklin was relieved of
the pension charge and at the same time de-
prived of the taxes on railway, telephone and
other public utilities. could she make ends meet
with tax Of rs cents on the 500 on her real
estate and personal property? She paid last
year on real estate $4,000. returning total
valuation Of $1.797 .0oo including buildings, town
lots and $4,000 acres Of land The land, not
including improvements mineral lands is
assessed at an average OF 1901 per acre. What
we need to study out Is whether this county.
for instance, could do It's part by its people
its own criminal expenses. He presents a table
OF figures, showing losses and gains and In this
makes Franklin lose $4,000 net by being de.
prived of the railway taxes and having her tax
rate reduced to rs cents. Can or will the assess
ments be put up sufficiently to meet the 81, 900
loss in revenue. overcome deficit and pay the
criminal expenses?
To meet her needs at rs cents on the 500
would require, at rough and hasty calculation.
an assessment of three million of dollars aside
from railway property. Franklin's present total
real estate assessment is $1.7s7ooo. The total
personal property tax paid in Franklin last year
was $4,000. Can the total assessment be put I'D
to 100000!
This county was selected almost at random
because 1t happened to be the largest delin-
quent~ 1t is populous county of $4,000 people,
prosperous, but not rich and with no large town
or city. 1t gives a basis on which to figure
practical results Roanoke city Is to lose, by
the auditors plan. $4,000 and Richmond city
$4,000. Norfolk. where assessments are very
high gains $4,000. 1t is question for Roa-
noke and Richmond whether they can shove up
assessments to meet the deficit They have
been carrying the burden of many counties.
The suggestion is basis for thought and
calculation. AS Auditor Moore says VIC should
do nothing until after very earnest study Of all
sides and interests, but with broad purposes
Some of Mr.. Bryan's critics would do well
to keep silence regarding the amount and
sources OF his income. One Joe Cannon once
became a little too inquisitive along these lines
and was completely silenced by the counter re-
tort of where did you get yours?" Up to date
Mr. Cannon has not answered, but he has evinced
no further interest In Mr., Bryan's financial