The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-27

by force. because In yet little while
the opportunity and the right to sell
bonds and create debt will cease by
limitation. When this period arrives
those who constitute the Council will
find themselves limited to the current
revenues Of the city, less s550.000
tabout) necessary to carry the debt.
Foolish Proposition.
What exigencies will emerge from
the future, demanding and insisting
and compelling large expenditures no.
man can foretell. To continue to spend
every dollar Of current revenue and
then push the issue of bonds to the
limit of the law 10 not only unwise and
even reckless, but Ia gross injustice
to the rising generation and premature
cruelty towards the children who play
now In the streets and parks. Retri-
button waits in the near future. but
will fall on the innocent and helpless.
ITO spend all we have and then push
further and spend all that can be
raised by the creation OF debt to the
limit OF the law is foolish enough and
mean enough, but as II this was not
sufficient, some Of those who now con-
troll the destinies of the city have their
minds bent on going further still. and
regardless alike Of the limitations or
law and reason and covenanted faith.
propose to stretch the bond limit by
technical and theoretical. but unsound,
means to the breaking point--a pro-
ceeding not as bloody. but as cruel. as
the massacre of helpless childhood. In
these days when crime In many forms
receives its due reward Of punishment.
! wonder H. the day will ever come
when men who deceive the public for
their own advancement or pyoft and
use the public revenues for reputation
and glory. thus hetraying solemn
trust, Will find themselves appropriately
stamped as felons and behind the bars.
THE army and the navy, however,
expensive useless they may be at
times, teach always the lesson that
the deserter and tie spy must promptly
perish. and why not the men who IN
cold blood betray the people by the
suspension or judgment and the prac-
tice of unwise and reckless extrava-
ganee with public funds at the demand
of selfish but misguided interests?
Conditions Will improve. and the
reckless expenditure of money and the
criminal increase of debt by represen-
tstives in Legislative bodies will cease
when the peopl. learn the simple. in
controvertible fact that 1t Is the con-
sumers of things. and not the owners.
who pay the taxes and carry and pay
the debts.
Railroads. insurance compa MES and
5ali other big corporations and enter
prises seem to ray taxes because they
present their checks to the county. city
State or Federal collector Of taxes, but
these all have and intelligertly use
facilities for collecting taxes from
their patrons. either before or imme-
diately after they make the payment
1t Is the passenger on the road. the
freight in the box car. the man who
insures his life or his house, and the
consumer Of the articles manufactured
who paws tn bill.
"Eyery man who eats, wears clothes
lives in house or oiherwise consumes
or abuses or uses the products of the
farm or the factory Is the fellow who
pays all the taxes The common term.
our largest taxpayers" liz an essen
tfal fa1sehood
Largest Tax-Payers.
The largest Taxpayers are those
who consume the largest amount OF
material. and they are not those who
own the most, unless while they own
they also consume. and every man In
! taxed. not In proportion to what he
owns, but in proportion to the cost of
his living: and 80 every man decides
for himself what amount of taxes he
will pay
| Now reverse the picture and learn
instantly how reasonable and proper
il is that the great masses Of the peo-
pie should property receive benefits
from the government II II be true
! thataii the people pay the taxes-aHd
not a few. then why should not the
parks. recreation grounds. schools
water light. health and comfort be
the outcome OF government and taxa
ton?
While every fundamental law and
recognized statement OF principle de-
clares that In this country the MA
iority shall rule the fact remains that
/ wealth, education. culture and refine
, ment all rebel against this principle.
resist II consistently and grieve when
they find the funda mental law of the
/ country is prevailing and that the
masses OF the people begin to speak
and act and control The prime fact
! in monarchial government is that
! The King caa do no wrong" In this
country the people are the king. and
| their will is right. or the funda mental
principles of the government are
wrong. 1t would be we'll for the peo-
pie to remember always that We are
not subjects OF the government, but
citizens of free country, and that it
is far more important that the gov
ernment-that is to say. those who
be faithful and loyal to the people
, than that the people should be loyal
| to them or to it.
Need Radical Change.
There will be no Improvement in
municipal government until the form
OF city government now fastened on
the cities of this Commonwealth by
the Constitution Is radically changed
At the earliest practical day the cum
bersome and unsatisfa Glory arrange
ment. beginning with bicameral
City Council, and continuing with
committee management Of depart
ments. ought to be abolished. The
next important step would be to wipe
out meddling In city affairs by the
party political committee Of the city
so that no question OF State or ma
tional politics might In the slightest
degree hinder. cripple or menace the
practical. business-like administra-
ton of the city government, and the
election OF intelligent, competent and
faithful officers and representatives
Until the necessary legislation can be
had and the City Council abolished
the Council should voluntarily aban-
don committee management OF de-
partments. giving the heads OF de-
partments absolute authority, UNI
limited discretion and full RESPONSE
Fov -