The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1915-03-03
SEGREGATION A Failure

The following editorial from
the Richmond News Lender will
be of interest to Virginia tax
payers because advocates of Sc
grafton at the special term of
the Virginia Legislature in Jan
unry claimed that their plan,
Segregation, had worked ith
great success in New York and
California;
Governor Whitman has sent to the
legislature of New York the special mes
>aigc on state finances TO which we re.
ferred on Monday 1t was. if ANYTHING.
stronger than the newspaper forecasts.
and IL WAS the conyicting count in The
long indictment uf the fiscal system of
the Empire State IL likewise disposed
OF the claim, advanced during the dis
cnssion OF taxation in onr own general
assembly. that the levy of new dircc,
taxes in New York WAS mado necessary
lay great public works undertaken in
recent years
The governors statement shows that
III. state But he argues this So half
its standing expenses and that of this
amount, only So, sSi 22i can b. supplied
10y Icesent taxes y total of SIO. Sl8, aO9
must come from new dir,rt lcvics on
property In addition to this the state
must now put aside an additional
5000 90 interest and sinking fund
obligations
In true Republican fashion. Governor
Whitman attempts to place tho blame
for this dcfci, ON the preceding admin
istrution He holds that at least
$5,0o0,Ooo Of the preseu, budget Is due
70 the failure OF the Democratic lcgis
lature TO make adequate appropriation
for the institutions and public works oi
the state But he argue, tins 50 half
heartedly that he practically admits the
real facts hat the Democrats attempt
III the hopeless task of deriving from
the Republican system of segregation
revenue sufficient for the actual needs
of the state The democrats has as an
inheritance the tax system the Repuh
licans had devised in a futile effort 10
deceive tile people into believing their
taxes We're Icing reduced
The Democrats accepted that inheri-
tance honestly, hut they had an impos-
sihlo task in financing tho government
Segregation in New York. like segrega
tion in every American state, failed To
produce enough revenue AMI did not
expand with growing needs 1t was
hopclessly inelastic. Sclignnn. Purdy.
pieydeil and their fellow-adyocatcs Of
segregation did their hest to improve
it They devised an excellent inheri
tance t,N, they made all possible ap
peals for the listing .; the property and
they established supervisory body
But none OF those cNpelicnts snfiiccd
The normal aud inevitable increase in
the expenses OF the state Tar outstrippel
the slow growth in revenue. The Demo
Gratis made the best of y hopeless ,i,na-
,,on cut expenses 20 the hone and tried
to live within the states income.
The condition Of the sinking fund is
iikewisc directly attributable TO the tan
system New York has no arrangement
like that of Virginia. 10y which She is
pledged To make definite provision for
her sinking fund She las added 70 il
a. she could, and has devoted to 1t tho
annual surplus But with an inelastic
revenue. never adequate for actual
needs. she has been forced TO ouriail
direct appropriations 90 the sinking fnnd
and has had no surplus TO utilize. DE
p,ands have piled up until they mus,
i'e met, eithor by Az increase in the pub
lie debt or by the imposition Of new
taxes
4 bad situation, ~ we suggested some
time ago. has been rendered worse by
:, system that makes the state levy new
taxes al a time when citizens are leas,
able TO pay thcn Hand times. which
reduce tho incomes uf citizens. reduc,
the revenue Of the state from It's indh
rect taxes ami force it 10 impose OF
property al unexpected and burienson'
tax
Governor Whitman realizes this and
he has been competed 20 couple Will
his appeal for the levy Of an unrrccc
dented tax cali for drastic economy,
No appropriation bills. he urges the ieg
stature, should be passed exccp; Il