The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-09
PEOPLES FORUM


Editor virginian,
Sis~-There has beeu areal deal said about
segregation and taxation by the wise statesmen
Of the Legislature a. tho heavy expense of the
taxpayers in Virginia II seems that the wise
politicians in the Legislature have made big
mistake in their plan for segregation, and for
equality OF taxation. There is something wrong
in their plan for segregation. AS their plan
fails to reduce the taxes in the large counties
but increases the taxes IL the small counties.
win it he right and tust for Virginia. by seq
reSatiou. increase the taxes Of the small
counties. where the large counties have two
representatives and tho ma iorty of all the State
ufticers. Judges and tho board OF all the insti-
tut.ons of the state
take Fluvnnna aud Cioochland. both small
counties. FOR example to prove what say.
fiuyaHua and Goochand have only repre-
sentative liz tho Legislature, not a Senator. state
officer. n member Of any of the boards; not
Il state clerk,
The plan % segregation and taxation pro-
posed by some Of the wise statesmen from the
large counties will bankrupt some Of the small
counties that have issued bond, to improve
roads and other enterprises. 1t will leave
Fiuvanna and Goochland with large population
.of negroes that will increase the school tax
In the county and each district to educate the
negroes. | will call the attention of the poll
tician, white they segregnte that their plan OF
segregation viii create political prejudice be-
tween the small and large counties that viii de-
feat the Democratic party the small
ties will hold the balance Of power in election.
The Constitution or the United States pro-
vides that the small States shall have two sen
ators, the the large State Of Now
York. Making appropriation for the Govern
ment tho small States Of Delaware and Vermont
have much power as, the large State New
York. that pays five lines tho tax to the Gov
crnrnent that the small States of Delaware and
Vermont do The constitution Of Virginia pro-
vides for 90 members az the House of Delegates.
There are 90 counties in the State. Let the
politician in the Legislature redstrict the State
and give each county delegate. each
county will have vote for or AGAINST scgrega-
ton.
| am going to prove that the members of he
Legislature have no authority direct from the
people to sesregate. the people had
to vote for or against the Constitution that
gives the Legislature the authority to segre-
gate in 1913. Let the Legislature stop their
plan Of segregation. let the people have a voice
by letting them vote ~ the fall election for
against segregation. This would give the small
counties their equal. rights and the large
ties no special favors. The politician said the
Constitution was to reduce burden Of taxes. This
they failed TO do, as the peoples taxes III Nir-
ginia, under the new Constitution. have been
increased $500, 900.
What the people want is a general retrench-
ment in officers and expenses-one commits
+ sioner of the revenue In each county to have
few do the work. In my coun-
", FiuVanna 81 small county with the md as
SCISSOR has five assessors and four tax collectors
The auditor has to furnish FIVE sets of books
ono to each district. with postage and other ex-
ptnses. With one commissioner one set OF books
would save the auditor a great deal OF trouble
and thousands of dollars to the State. and the
property would be more equally assessed In the
| county by one assessor
Then pass bill giving the auditor and the
state commissioners the power to take the
| books of the TO equalize the property
/ in each county, and II they find any assesso or
has failed TO his duty. let the auditor send
to the county and have the property assessed
over, Give the auditor two extra clerks then
take the assessors out of politics. put them un-
| dor the influence Of the auditor and the com
mission Let each member draw his $4,000
salary and mileage for the extra session so
the people Of Virginia can say Amen"
A. J. TAYLOR