Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-15

government owning the trunk lines and tho
| States the distributing railroads within, their
respective borders. 1t may be doubted il
I such dual ownership would result in fewer
| inharmonies than exist under the old system
| or regulation by Federal and State commits
sions. The country lacks much OF being
ready Cor any kind OF government ownership
kichmond's Needs and How to Supply Them
DlCHMOND'S needs. outlined by President
Easley, Of the Chamber OF Commerce,
stand out in sharp relief against the dark
background OF Mayor Ainslie's statement that
It's present running expenses cannot be met
without an increase of the tax rates on per-
sonal property and real estate. Some of the
needs are urgent; others can wait a while
longer. but all are legitimate. and should
be supplied just as funds will per-
NIT. Iney must be met III largo measure il
Richmond is to lift itself out OF the slough
or stagnation into which 1t has dropped dur
ing the past five years.
But the funds! Where are they to come
from? The people must pay. OF course but
the method OF payment is vital. The present
system cannot by any stretch OF the magma
ton be considered just or wise Too many
people perhaps large majority of them.
are paying taxes from which thcy derive
little or no benefit. The remainder are de-
irving vast benefits for which they pay moth
ing. How to equalze the burden and put
the city on business basis with sufficient
revenue to meet its expenses without recourse
to the role of borrower, and get it back in
the path Of progress, is something the people
themselves must solve. 1t is certain that
they will have to choose between the relin-
Quishmcnt of their municipal luxuries and a
permanent increase in the tax rates They
can't expect to spend their money and still
keep it in their pockets If they decide to let
q
get, then it is time they began TO prepare
their plans for ordinances will have to be
rewritten, and at least change will have
TO be made in the Constitution.
Let it be granted that Mayor Ainsie is
justified in his plea for higher tax rates He
is cutting and slashing the department esti-
mates in an effort to bring them within the
citys revenues. Apparently it is a hope
less task. More money must be provided
and if not by taxation, then it must be Dor
rowed from the banks, thereby only post
ponng the day OF reckoning. Under these
conditions there seems nothing for the tax
payers to do but to submit graciously to
higher rates. However. they should make II
understood that it is TO be temporary in
crease to pull the city out of it's financial
hole, and that they are determined on the
necessary legislative reforms that will bring
it back to or beneath its present level
The Constitution must be amended before
street improvements can be assessed against
AUDITING property owners. and no other sys-
TEN is fair. The city treasury has reached
It's deplorabe condition OF to-day largely be-
cause much of its contents has gone TO
serve the interests Of special groups OF cit
izens in special localities. Remember the
thousands OF dollars spent to pave Cary Street
Road. the other thousands that Wen to the
Improvement Of private property adjacent TO
William Byrd Park, and still other thousands
or which the city virtually made present
to Richmond College in the improvement of
It's old Broad Street site. AS q result OF
these municipal gifts values leaped skyward
the improvements cost property owners moth
ing and the citizens of Richmond ONLY
handful or whom received any benefit paid
the Dill. These are but few OF almost
countless instances. So under the present
system would it be with the Riverside Drive
winch president Easley, In common with all
the rest of Richmond. hopes to see built
Desirable as 1t is it would hardly be fair
to cause the opening up OF valuable home
and factory sites, to the enrichment of their
private owners, at the expense of the general
public
IL the citizens are willing to continue under
these burdens, very we'll; if not, let them
press for change in the Constitution at the
next General Assembly so that the cost of
improvements may be paid at least in part
by those who benefited Further. let
private interests desiring police protection
pay for 1t; let the theaters and motion picture
houses settle the bills for special policemen
and firemcn detailed to guard the safety of
their patrons; let the mercantile houses and
public buildings shoulder the expense OF their
own garbage removal; in short let private
service be paid for instead of being exact ed
from the public. If these things are done
hundreds may complain for time. but tens
or thousands will profit, and the annual
struggle to make ends meet will cease
In theory, it is a beautiful system which
permits Richmond TO do everything for its
cltlzens Tree OF cost, but in practice il has
proved ruinous. Other cities discovered tho
same thing many years ago The quicker
hichmond abandons its Utopian plan and
lnaugurates c. o. d. municipal system the
quicker its distressing money troubles will he
over. Then. and perhaps not until then.
Will it be again in position to progress.
The President at the Helm