The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-20

In considering Mr.. Nioore's tentative
plan. together with the supplement Of
sources OF state revenue from the
sources Of local revenue. three obvious
questions arise.
First Does II accord with our prin-
ciplos Of representative democratic
government?
Second VIII /, work
Third, WIN il remedy tic abuses
from which We now suffer-
EUcn Of these questions must be an
swered, l think, with a qualified nNir-
native
StGlyinE tho plan with the nrst cues
non tn mind. We are struck by the alb
soiu,c and complete separation that it
cess I'm this regard ig perhaps It's most
dangerous feature. This is due to the
iacl tlai los TAR the greater part OF the
state r"venu" viii hc paid by a vcry
small minority OF tho States citizens.
l-Nccpt through the capitation tax,
tuition, the overwhelming majority OF
TN" voters under normal conditions.
VIII not directly contribute a dollar to
N" support OF the STATE ana the main
tcnaAcc OF lts activities. Much more
than half OF The amount to be raised
VIII b" derived from various taxes on
corporations and banks and of the
rest ia" Er"nter part Viii come from
slc"ns"s tf TN" remaining sources
some arc relatively uniuportaut. Hike
,5e collateral inheri,ance. taN: tho 9th
"rs nTc oi tho nature of foes. or else
their WELD is practically fixed either by
the Constitution. as IS Tn" case with
like the receipts from tho peniteutiary.
Temptation To Heavy Taxation.
THIS Arrangement is not strictly in
accord with our principles Of govern
ncnt II provides for the raising ana
Spending OF large sums to which the
masses OF the people have not contrib
utcd. Therefore tho average voters
only interest in the States revenue will
be IN seeing IL grow and in getting all
he can for his own section. 1t is true
that 50 ionE as tho rates are preserved
on which the plan Is based. nobody
arc raised by IL. The corporations and
NC firms and individuals that take out
licenses viii pay practically the same
as thcY are raEing now. But viii the
rates be uaintanodg
II should no carefully borne in mind
that segregation Will make IL great
deal easier 10 raise rates thnu it Is
under our present ayatcm. Tho ma
JoTlty of the voters could bc easily per-
suadcd that higher rates are necessary
Whcn thcy "ould have 10 pay no part
OF the Increase. Growth OF the state
revenues would bc very popular thing
among those that arc not burdcned by
II. and We do not sCrutiniZc tie justice
oil collecting money from others with
the same anxious care VIC use when
we have to pay II ourselves. When the
naJoritt can easily take money from
tho minority under the ruise OF neces-
sary taxation. tho temptation viii be
strong to require our representatives
TO take it
in answer TO this 1t may he said. of
course, that we could raise the corpo-
ration taxes even now II we chose,
sc could raise the license taxes. IL we
chose. without hurdcning ourselves.
And II is true that VIC have the power
TO do IL But AT present these taxes
arc part of 4 system That Includes the
general property tax. Tho injustice.
therefore, OF raising them without rails
would be open ana ElarinE. Under this
scheme for scErcgation on the other
hand. except TO meet what Mr. Moore
calls contingencies" we could not
raise our own taxes for the benefit OF
the state even If We would for we
should be paying no taxes to tho state
/ at all. Tie Injustice, therefore, Of
raising the taxes of others would not
he 50 quickly apparent. The plan opens
he way for very strong pressure on
! the Legislature TO increase appropria-
, lions. and to put the burden OF II on
the corpora tons and business.
ropuinrity of Hrayy EHprn,iiiurcs
+ carefully borne in mind il VIII not
| only be easier TO raise rates under the
! proposed plan. il will also probably be
necessary Mr.. Moorc's budget is based
on the suppositioN that the state will
/ not enter on new activities nor increase
/ those ii now conducts. The SuppOsi-
I lion is hardly warranted. In nearly all
/ other states Of the Union expenditures
! for internal development and improve
incnts have been growing by leaps and
/ bounds. and willie some of them have
shown wasteful extravaganza. most of
them have been justified by the results.
! Tho sentiment in this state is already
] htrong AMI il is growing stronger. for
! larger appropriations for roads. for
education, for public health. and for
other things. and this sentiment can
not much longer he resisted. II is
7 very possible that either the develop
mcut Of the State will be greatly handi-
capped. or that we shall have to find
more money than VIII be produced by
! the rates Mr.. Moore suggests. Tho cost
I even Of the states present activities Is
j N q r.4 In
mousy; the prices Of materials arc
constantly going up: the salaries or
/ our public officials arc now, out OF all
proportion 10 their merit: ana these
( higher costs will probably take up
much of the normally growing yield of
| Mr.. Moorc's lat of State sources.
| II ia true that many thoughtful men
arc opposed TO increasing tho States
expenditures at all. They have strong
grounds for their position. and tho
| present writer Is in sympathy with
them. But the forces working against
them are strong, and arc likely TO pre-
vail. Tho universal tendency is to-
ward greater expenditures for informal