Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-17
Wartime Municipal Economy Necessary

Wartime Municipal Economy Necessary
THERE is no doubt as to where the citizens
i OF Richmond stand on the proposed in-
crease OF municipal taxes. They do not want
it, Most Of them do not believe 1t Is heccs-
sary AS TO that. there may he room lor
honest difference OF opinion. put thoSe "ho
oppose the increase must he faced WIFI III
disputable facts before they Will consent 20
further raid upon their private purses inc
fact remains that private citizens arc COM
pelled to live within their incomes. and theF
demand that q vigorous effort be made d!
the City 10 do likewise before there Is more
talk OF increase in taxation. EHectFe use
OF the pruning hook and trimming ShcarS
should bring the saving Of so many thousands
of dollars that even if higher rate becomes
necessary il will not he so burdcnsome as
1ha, proposed by the Council Finance Com
mittcC.
There is solid reason for the wave OF indis-
nant protest that has gone up from people
already staggering under the daily cost OF
liie's necessities. There is no end i'll sight TO
the soa ring tendencies OF the simplest essen
tials of existence. Food clothing practically
everything that one must have 10 live. has
doubled or ,reblcd. or quadruplcd in value.
Wages have not advanced proportionately. so
that now the average householders problem
has become complex that the specter OF
ruination is never far from his vision. Rich-
mond to-day has tax rate that ranks above
that OF most other cities of its size and i'm
portance. To add on, still more will prove
burden so irksome that il must cause real
suffering and drive many citizens TO the
necessity ,of making their homes in other COM
muniies where they are not taxed 10 the
point Of impoverishment.
Rents already are high. They are too high
to permit the cty's proper growth. Increase
the tax real estate and the renter must
pay ii. Under present conditions driving
rents TO higher figures would DC real
calamity. Il calamity that thousands OF rent
could i'll afford to meet Increased prices
OF commodities will be the natural result of
higher rents. and the people thus will suffer
under what really is the imposition OF
double tax This is but one phase, but a very
serious one. of what the proposed tax in
means.
Let Richmond economic. even as the
householder and head Of family is com
PEELED to economiZe. There is the only solu-
ton. Those in charge of the cty's affairs may
as we'll realize now as later that the public
temper is not such that il will calmly submit
TO the expenditure of single dollar that is
not absolutely necessary. Richmond now is
working on the pcace-time basis OF year
ago 1t must go. and that quickly, on a war
time basis. Let il strip itself OF all nou-
essentials. Let it purge the pay rolls Of all
dead ood, let il eliminate special privileges
and let it postpone all contemplated improve
ments until their execution will not work
real hardship upon those who must pay the
bills. When this has been done. il will he
seen whether or not the city can maintain
itself on its present income If il is proved
sufficiently that il cannot. then will be time
TO consider what financial steps must be
taken.