The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-28

40 g US g g, 1914: y
lrutting on the revenue from THE
SALOON. On tho contrary, taxes
will within . short timc show . de-
cificd decrease.
And in this view am supportef
by men who are thoroughly ac-
quainted with the finances Of Vir-
ginia.
Hon. VIM. Hodges Mann. for
whom you acted as secretary until
February !. 1914, when he retired
from the Governors chair. In a re-
cent address in Petersburg discussed
this question. and has since written
the following letter:
"a short time ago I stated in a
public address in Petersburg that
was familiar with the financial con-
dltion of the State and did not think
It would be necessary to increase
taxation II Prohibition is carried In
Virginia. Since making that state
ment, have had conference with
the Auditor of Public Accounts and
very carefully gone over the States
finances, and have no hesitation In
stating that, In my Judgment. Pro-
hibition will not make an increase
Of taxation necessary, but I think II
much more probable that there will
be a reduction in taxation
Does Mr.. Owen, the Secretary OF
the Local Self-Government League,
mean to say that Governor Mann,
for whom he acted as Secretary for
four years, does mot truthfully de-
ny that your taxes will be increased
IL this scheme is adopted"
t2)
Hon. Richard f. Byrd, for many
years Speaker OF the House Of Dele
gates. and man thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with the financial condition OF
the State. declared In recent
speech at Gate City.
at is perfectly apparent that by
1915 the State will have ample reve.
nue. without this liquor tax and with.
out increase OF taxation. Indeed,
venture the prediction that the State
will go dry, and that the General
Assembly of Virginia will lower the
tax rate"
Does Mr.. Owen mean to declare
that Mr.. Byrd, with his intimate
knowledge of the affairs OF the
State, cannot truthfully deny that
your taxes will be increased" ii
Statewide Prohibition is adopted
(3)
Hon. s. r.. Donahue. former Aud
itor of Virginia. and one of the best
posted men In the State. In a recent
letter states that Hon r. Walter
Moore, distinguished citizen OF
Fairfax. els entirely correct In as.
Stunning that our normal increase In
property holdings will insure against
the possibility of the tax rate being
raised in consequence OF the loss o;
the liquor license tax. / have ye,
to hear from any one who possesses
any familiarity with our financial
condition express the belief that our
tax rate would have to be increased
No one need fear that the State will
find II necessary to increase the pres
ent rate in the slightest degree te
meet all reasonable demands upor
the public treasury"
Does Mr.. Owen mean to say thai
Mr.. Donahue cannot truthfully
deny that your taxes will be raised
IL Statewide Prohibition is adopted
Hon. George B. KezeIl, for many
years Chairman Of the Senate Fl.
nance Committee and a recognized
authority In all matters pertaining
to the State, In recent speech de
livered In Staunton declared
"Take my word for 1t. there viii
not be one penny Of increased taxa
ton because of Statewide Prohibit
ton. and all the State expenses will
be regularly met"
Mr.. Ben P. Owen. Jr., Secretary Of
the Virginia Loce, Self Government
League. declares that the advocates
Of Statewide Prohibition cannot
truthfully deny that your taxes will
be increased II their scheme fl
adopted"
Hon. VIM. Hodges Mann. the Gov
ernor for whom Mr.. Owen was form
erly Private Secretary for foul
years. Hon. Richard E. Byrd. tn.
former Speaker OF the House o.
Delegates. Hon s. r. Donahoe. thu
former Auditor OF Virginia: Hon
Geo. B. Kezell, the former Chairman
OF the Senate Finance Committee
all OF these gentlemen, public mer
with whom MFR. Owen was welt &C
quainted as former Private Secretar,
to the Governor. declare positfvel!
that the adoption Of Statewide Pro
Ihibitfon will not result in any In
crease In taxation. Which shall
believe-Mr. Ben p. Owen. Jr.. tn,
former Private Secretary to the Gov
ernor. when he says they 'canno
truthfuIly deny" the increase II
taxation" or shall believe thes,
men when they declare that there
will be no increase in taxation
must say to you very frankly that
believe the gentlemen quoted above
have told the truth. Notwithstanding
your positive assertion to the con
trary.
Kansas and Missouri.
A decrease In taxation will b.
brought about by great increase
In property values. due to better
labor. from the field hand III
through the highest grades OF thu
business world. Kansas has beer
under prohibition for thfrty-tw,
years: Missouri, its next-door neigh