The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-27

ton. He favors generous pensions
for Confederate soldiers and their de-
pendent widows, and thinks the gem
eral assembly should appropriate q
sum sufficient to erect an equestrian
statue to Stonewall jackson, who. as
one of the greatest soldiers of the
nineteenth century, reflects such
credit upon his native State as to de-
serve that a memorial should be
erected to his memory.
Question of Taxation.
He was a member OF the tax COM
mission which presented the report
to the last general assembly and sug-
gests that during recent years the
financial system of the Commonwealth
has not kept pace with the growing
wealth of the people. Laws which
were reasonably just in their opera
ton a decade ago now work hard
ships and a tax code which met the
needs of the government without loss
to the localities has now become
enormous. On this subject Mr.. Ely
son said last night:
1.-THE Democratic party Is now at
work upon this problem and should
speedily present TO the people a new
tax law which will operate Justly
upon all classes Of property and up
on all citizens. / was a member of
the comm ission which presented a re-
port to the last general assembly. in
which report were stated the cardinal
facts regarding the present laws with
suggestions for their Improvement
Since that time there has been a con-
siderable increase in the revenue Of
the State. and II may now be possible
to adopt some system of segregation,
though this could not be equitably
done two years ago. j am not alto
Eether convinced that such a system
can be introduced at this time with
due regard for the interest of every
part of the State, but l believe that
we should not longer postpone So
luton OF this aggravating problem.
Failure TO revise our tax laws ad-
euuately and justly will mean a con-
tinued and unbearable handicap to
business
What we need Ia information, i
would propose that we call together
a conference consisting of the repre-
sentatives of the cities and counties
Of the State, the mayors Of our cities
and members of the council, members
of the board of supervisors. commls-
sioners OF revenue. treasurers and
any. others who may have anything
TO do with the assessment ana col
lection of the revenues OF the county,
CITY and STATE. EuCft a IhtthihS 'Ae4~'
been held in the State of New York
and the bringing together of men ii-
rectly concerned with the duties above
mentioned, resulted in the making OF
wise suggestions for the improvement
Of the tax laws Of that State. would
suggest therefore. that the governor
call such a conference. either some
time during the coming fall or about
the opening week OF the session or Inc
general assembly, before the mem
hers get busy. so that they could at
tend the meeting. such a ga.nerins
as this would afford an opportunity
for more intimate acquaintance
with the needs and resources or the
counties and cities of the state than
could be obtained IN any other way
From such conference l am sure,
much information would be obtained
that would be helpful In making OF
laws that would improve our present
tax system.
Few things that the Democratic
party has done In recent years Mr.
Ellyson continued. have been more
fruitful OF good than the increased
appropriations for the charity work
of the Commonwealth. We have felt
that the Increasing compiexity OF our
social system has presented new
problems. in the solution OF which me
cordingiy we have inaugurated n new
system Of using our State convicts.
a new reformatory for girls, refor-
ma,ory for colored youths and have
largely increased the appropriations
for our state hospitals and correc-
tional institutions The great problem
Of tuberculosis has likewise received
attention and start has been made
toward adequate aid for the treatment
and cure OF these unfortunates-
believe. that It Is the duty of the state
to enlarge this work as rapidly as the
means at the disposal Of the general
assembly will warrant. In particular
we would provide "a that our con-
yicts and TAIL prisoners be given every
means of reformation through health
full out of door work. not In competi-
ton with free labor; CD that re-
formatory for colored girls should be
established; (3) that the State provide
custodial care for the feeble minded;
and (D that the powers OF the State
board of charities be increased to
supervise this work.
IL could not more clearly define my
position on the right OF the people
to vote on what is known as the
enabling act than by adopting as my