Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-27
Virginia Must Decide

w TUESDAY IL VIII nX the state road
policy for perhaps many years. On that
day it will decide by ballot whether it will
construct modern system of hard-sur-
faced highways within the next half-dozen
years without an increase in the general
State tax, or whether it will continue its
present pccemcal. eItravagant policy, which
under most favorable conditions will re-
Quire eighteen years for completion. To
the latter there is one alternative, a heavy
direct tax if it is desired to pull the State
out of the mud in lesser number OF years.
Il is taken for granted that Virginians do
rot want burdensomc direct tax, nor do
they wish to wait eighteen years before
placing Virginia among the good roads
States. That they should desire continu
alton OF the present eXorbitant mud tax is
unthinkabe. If the voters understand that
n system OF roads such other progressive
States are building can be built quickly
through the medium OF bond issue with
ont addition TO their tax burden, they
Will hardly hesitate III voting for the
amendment TO the State Constitution, which
would give the General Assembly power
to issue the required bonds.
Some opposition to the proposed amend
nicnt has cropped up in several sections of
the state. 1t arises, it is believed, from
misunderstanding of the questions at issue.
Such clouds as may befog it are ably cleared
AWAY 10y MI itODlHSOn III Il taItlNlIy com
piled article in another column on this page.
1t is worthy OF careful study by every per-
son interested in good roads. particularly
by those who do not understand the exact
purpOrt Of the amendment.
rs Mr.. Robinson makes plain, next Tues
days vote Is not bond issue. 1t car
rcs no mandate for the issuance OF bonds.
II merely proposes to give the State au-
thority TO issue bonds for road building
brings the figures TO his support, is there
any question Of increased taxation. Tho
whole issue. should it he as much as
$iU,o0e,tOO. could be retired without Il
+ ptnny's increase III the general tax rate.
II is also desirable that the citizens OF the
suburban.. sections understand that no OK
rcnse OF road building will he assessed
Eainst their property. That misapprchcn
/ sion has caused no little unnecessary CON
/ Germ
other states have gone far ahead OF Vir-
ginia in the matter of roads They have
| don" so by the same method that is now
, proposed for Virginia. Bond issues in other
States have run as high as $73,000,00O and
they are proving money savers to the tax
! payers. Virginia now has approximately
$5,000,O00 IL year. including Federal aid.
To spend on It's Highways. On that basis
it cannot 70 forward with a comprehensive
work system, with upwards OF a score of
years TO wait before the State will cease
10 be mud bound. The remedy lies in the
proposed amendment or a burdcnsome tax.
Tie voters viii hardly choose the latter.
Pity poor Senator Reed, He can't vote
for Cox because he fears the Wilson in
| flucncc, nor for Harding because he doesn' I
want Penrose to he the President nor for
| fcrc with White House affairs In brief
tho only choice Reed has failed to receive
the nomination.
Ganaiicl has used up all the fourteen
changes which he claimed as right b,
virtue OF Wlsonan precedent. and he still
has six days left in which To 20 through
them again.
Difficult TO understand why Ohio is n
hct up over being selected as the stage fo,
the campaigns final and biggest hattie
| It's going to win regardless Of the outcome
; Harding promises 10 lead the country ouI
4 OF the jungle. but ncglccs TO say where
G Even the jungle is preferable TO the Sloupl
$ OF Despond.
a the Republican candidate promises IN,
q country new deal. lie should make goo,
y on that. for he has proved himself read,
b shuilcr.
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