The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-06
|BEIHtl'S PLATFORM
COVERS MANY THINGS

J. r. Bethel candidate for the
house OF delegates At the August
primary. comes out with = statement
defining his platform. Among other
things. and one which has received
much attention recently. particularly
In. Richmond. MIR. Bethel declares
that he favors an amendment to the
constitution fixing tax on property
owners for improvements TO their
premises as far a. the middle OF the
Adjacent street. He would. also,
favor the election Of public officers.
such N the city comptroller and mem
bers OF the advisory board, by the
people. Mr.. Bethei's platform, az
presented by himself, follows:
For the better protection OF our
people. favor q law requiring the
corporation commission to supervise
the meter readings of all public utili-
ties in the state, Recent gas and
water bills sufficiently demonstrate
that injustice may be done the con-
sumer, though unitentional.
FL favor q change in our Con-
federate pension law that win give
to those who need the most and aban-
don the policy of small sums to those
whom they do not help and which
simply depriyes others who wore the
grey" of money which II an impera
tive and absolute need FOX them.
81 favor striking from Our school
fund every item of expense that may
be safely eliminated to the end that
the very best teachers may be secured.
more especially for the primary
grades in which thousands OF our peo-
pie receive their only schooling.
Al am opposed to punishment by
stripes In the State penitentiary. There
is no more necessity for this treatment
OF prisoners In the state prison than
in county and city jails
81 favor an amendment to the
charter Of the city of Richmond 80
that the comptroller and the members
of the advisory board may be elected
by the people.
6-I shall oppose. II elected, any in
crease of taxes by the state. The
revenue Ia practically ten million dol
lars and IL properly handled by the
general assembly. will provide for
every real need, with sufficient left for
the elimination of some of the
present Objectionable tax features.
Our people. should. have a breathing
spell after the wonderful response
they made to the national govern
IiiSIlt call AOT .dSSIStdnCc III luc way
of income taxes and war loans.
I'll am unalterabfy opposed to the
creation of Anymore public institu-
tons to weight down the appropria-
ton bill. favor the passage of this
sion of the general assembly and am
against the policy of passing 1t in
the dying hours of that body.
~
the people of the state the proposition
to amend the constitution SO that the
property owners of the cities may be
charged to the middle of the streets
for read-bed improvements. The
street railway companies are con-
tinually asking the city councils to
relieve them Of this burden OF paving
between their tracks. II these COM
panies find the burden heavy. why
shift 1t to the home owners? I am
unwilling to believe that only those
who have paving In front of their
homes are advancing the proposition.
certainly those who haven't paving
are not. Why then the Issue? The
matter was considered long and ear
nestly by the constitution convention
and the result was that only sidewalk
and alley charges should be assessed
against the abutting property owners.
Why, now submit it to the whole state
when only the city voters are in
terested and when they. alone. could
not entirely determine the result of
the referendum. The proposition is
inequable and unjust and l oppose 1t.
81 favor an amendment to our
workman's compensation act so that
there may be a speedier adjudication
of contested claims for damages by
employees: and that the members of
the Industrial commission may be
elected by the people.
10 think that as far as II can
be done the tax on bank deposits
should he eliminated. 1t yields the
state but a small revenue and keeps
from the uses Of the banking and
business world perhaps many mil
lions The trouble with this tax is
that 1t is not oppressive but that 1t
reveals too much of private business
to competitors II the law Is properly
amended the money now In private
places would be deposited in banks
and become available for home build
Ing and industrial activities which
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