Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-03

laNOE. virginia is not concerned ABOUT inc
method. but it will be glad to have the old,
troublesome score settled 1t only regrets
that the bondholders, and not the State, will
be the bcneticiares.
The Proposed Municipal Tax Increase
MAYOR GEORGE AlNSLlE'S proposed
lP1 recommendation that the City Council
increase the tax rate on real estate and per-
sonal property will not strike responsive
chord in the breasts of those citizens who
have il TO pay. Doubtless Mayor Ainslic be-
hcveS an increased rate is necessary to pull
Richmond out Of debt and keep it financially
aloat; perhaps it is but the taxpayers will
demand that the necessity be proved to them
before they will consent voluntarily to take
up the greater burden. First, they will want
to know in minutest detail why Richmond
has been running behind approximately $3.50
900 each year, and if, by introduction of
more rigid economy and efficiency, prom
ised under the new system of government,
the possible waste and extravaganza cannot
be cut down to point where the necessity
of increased taxes will be obviated.
Richmond citizens to-day pay S1.65 the
500 on their real estate holdings and sim
liar amount on their personal property. This
rate already is unenyiably, not to say
reasonably, high in comparison with the rates
levied by other cities in the same class. Add
to this the State and Federal taxes, the latter
apparently to be raised with only the blue sky
as the limit. and the tax burden becomes
crushing weight under which many may sue
cumb The high tax rate has proved bar
TO thousands who but for it would have come
To Richmond and invested their funds, add
ing immeasuraby TO it's growth and business
prosperity. and another rail laid atop
the taxation fence will be all but insurmount-
able. Under these conditions, an increase
such as The Mayor suggests should be think
able only when every other means to keep
the city within its income has failed
II is matter of open knowledge that in
the past Richmond has been wasteful, and
in the lack of a centralized, responsible sys-
tenn funds have been dissipated without a
dollarfor dollar return in value. There have
been leaks that now must be made good
Take, for instance the Administrative Board
and certain examples OF it's proved careless
ness i'll its expenditure Of the city's money
Multiply these instances attributable TO the
ola unsupervised system OF purchasing, and
much OF the present deficiency may be ex-
planned That, of course, will not bring back
the funds. but it should point a guiding finger
into the future 1t is true that the city has
suffered heavily through its loss of liquor
revenue, while loss of the rolling-stock tax
and items segregated to the State account
io' iHi SC poillou Oh the present distressing
financial situation. 1t is further matter
of open knowledge that in trimming j !; esti-
mates to make them come within the rev
enucs during past years the city has tried to
deceive itself, and has camoulaged the AK
payers by pruning deeply into apDropria-
uohs which 1t knew 10 be absolutely neces-
S'i!, such as money for supplies essential
to the operation Of the Gas Works. and di-
vcrtins the funds apparently thus saved to
other purposes where real saving might
have been made. Thus the law was observed
IN the letter ii not in the spirit but before
each year was over it meant that the city
had to go to the banks and borrow money
TO meet It's running expenses. AT the best
IL has been faulty method of conductinp
me cltys business, and perhaps is responsible
iof the present state of its treasury Ham
hiy those methods may be considered past
"h"eT lhe new system OF government, but still
the fiddler must be paid for almost forgotton
dances
The taxpayers will not be unreasonable
bnt the law OF sef-preservation is strong and
'heir protest may be expected to be loud and
lohS unlcss they can be shown in manner
most convincing that there is no way ont
except by higher taxes. In this attitude they
are amply justified, for, in spite of tho
Mayors statement that the cxpcnditUres have
peen reduced TO minimum, it is believed
mat considerable savings in many directions
can DC ctccted, and without Inconvenience
hichmohd may have to do for Il while longer
"ithout some or its hoDed-for and sorely
needed improvements, but that will he
preferable to piling up the tax load which
already is both painful and embarrassing
The why's and wherefores Of the proposed
increase should be forthcoming from the
Mayor and presumably they will be when
he submits his budget to the Council Then
the citizens in forccful fashion may I've ex-
pcctcd 10 present their side OF the case
Poland
L HiENDS Of liberty throughout the world
must view with profound satisfaction the
action of the United States in recognizing