Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-01-16
WORK OF THE
LEGISLATURES.

The General Assembly of Virgins
has been in session three days, bul
il seems the wheels were not pro
perly oiled from the first, and the
extraordinary session bids fair to bt
characterized by contentious. The
extra session was called for Il spe-
cifc purpose, and it was under,
stood that the important work Of
properly adjusting the tax system
OF the state would be proceeded with
at once, in order that the machinery
Of the state might be allowed to pro,
gress in equitable grooves. But it
seems there is lack of accord, and
from present indications the iabors
of the state bodies will be long and
tedious.
1t appears to the rank and tie
that the veyatious tax question has
Teen thoroughly threshed out since
the adjournment Of the last Legis-
lature. The people know about as
much about it now as they will ever
Know should the General Assembly
remain in session six months, and
whntever is to be done should be
done at once.
While motions. countermotlons,
test votes, etc, are consuming time
Rome is burning. 1t is recognized
fact that capital is being forced out
Of the state all the time by adverse
state legislation, and that old Vr-
einia is not regarded as the land OF
certainty as in the. days Of our
erandfatiiers
It is impossible TO say at this time
which plan of taxation will be adopt
cd by the Virginia Solons, but 1t
has been shown by those who have
made the matter Il study that the
citics will emerge from the little end
of the horn no matter which course
i pursued.
Nearly half century has elapsed
since the ante bellum state
contribution was in force. The people
OF the Old Dominion at the close OF
the civil war found themselves in u
position whereby they were COM
1,ellcd to act upon the rules formulat-
cd by Tobias Hobson, the English
l;vcryman. We had no pick of horses.
Hence an instrument known as the
Underwood constitution was practi-
caiy foisted upon the state. There
were Objectionable features III 1t, but
the law abiding people carried it out
ND to q few years ago when conTen-
ton was called for the purpose OF
framing another constitution. III
stead of experiencing relief from
certain burdens we had been carrying
when the instrument was proclaimed
(the people had no say in the mat
teri we found our last state worse
than the first. Subsequent acts
OF the Legislature have augmented
the weight upon the body polite by
The creation of many previously
unhcard Of officers. gradua! increase
everything tangible and intangible
for assessment.
While all these things have been
IN evidence. certain sections OF the
state have realized that they are pay
i,,g the bulk Of the taxes, while other
portions are reaping from the trea-
sarv more than they SOW. The LeglS'
la;ure has been called for the pur-
pose of eoualizine the payment OF
taxes.
Governor Stuart, wise man III MS
day and generation, has placed Ger
tain delinquent sections upon 'he
pauper list, and suggests that the
rtate at large should pay the costs OF
education even as poorhouses alld
ether institutions are maintained
Everybody. however, is not looking
through his spectacleS. Education Is
:, luxury, in one sense, and each com
nunity should be made to pay It's
snare toward il.
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DRIVING CAPITAL.