The Washington herald., 1915-09-09
virginia Revenue.

Senators Martin and Swanson, of Virginia, have
issued statement that they will in the next Con-
gress vote for prohibition in the District of Co.
lumbia and also for a prohibition amendment to
the Federal Constitution Senator Martin says
that they could not have acted otherwise in def
erence to the large majority of the voters in Vr-
gnia who last year adopted Statewide prohibi-
ton 1t appears that the Senators met in Rich
mond not for the especial purpose of making this
declaration, but to consider with the citizens a
postofice dispute and the improvement of the
James River.
The last river and harbor bill, killed by Sena-
tor Burton's fbustcr, carried an appropriation
of 100000 for the James River and several mil
lions for other Improvements in Virginia, includ-
ing the Mosquito Creek and the Dismal Swamp.
The Ohio Senator made caustic comment on some
of these appropriations and they were dropped
from the amended bill which was passed.
Senators Martin and Swanson, in Difference to
public sentiment at Richmond and in other parts
of Virginia, will, no doubt, make strenuous effort
to secure appropriations for these river improve
ments in the next Congress- and as chairman of the
Committee Appropriations, Senator Martin will
have great influence in the Senate. 1t is true that
the James River is not much of interstate water
way 1t runs its navigabe course entirely in Nir-
ginia and the improvement of the river is largely
for the benefit of Richmond But public sent-
ment in that city demands the appropriation and
the Senators must, in Difference to that sentiment,
vote for the appropriation whether the revenues
of the government sufficient to permit the
passage of river and harbor bill or not.
In view of the fact that S224ooo,ooo of the in
terna revenues last year from the liquor tax,
and national prohibition would wipe out more than
one-thrd of the present revenues of the govern
ment, some of Senator Martins colleagues in the
Senate may inquire where he expects to find the
100000 for the James River and several millions
for other improvements in Virginia. including the
Dismal Swamp and the Mosquito Creek; but Sem
ator Martin is ready and frank dcbater and he
reply that he expects to get all his Virginia
improvements made before national prohibition
becomes effective. But whatever the cmbarrass
ments he must represent public sentiment in Rich
mond and throughout the State.
Virginia did not contribute very heavily to the
individual income tax which, in some minds, is to
take the place OF the liquor taxes as a revenue
producer. The total amount paid by Virginia was
SI9S,57930, less than I cent per capita for the
100000 population. 1t was d little more than
half the amount paid in the District OF Columbia
which was $378,o7572. 1t wouldn't pay for the
river improvements the Senator will ask Congress
10 appropriate Tor IN lrSil1a; but WhCn the people
insist upon eating their cake and having it too,
who is United States Senator to refuse to vote
in Difference to public sentiment at home? So
Senators Martin and Swanson will vote for a river
and harbor bill appropriating millions to have tho
James River, the Dismal Swamp and Mosquito
Creek improved. Thc1. they will vote to make the
District OF Columbia dry, and lastly they will vote
for national prohibition, praying and besceching
their colleagues to not allow their last vote to be-
come effective and cut off 224oooooo in national
revenues until the Improvement OF the James
River, the Dismal Swamp and Mosquito Crccl;
have been completed.