Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-11

surh' Offices. boards and commissions.
an,h the abolition of others, witch nre
of doubtful, II ut any, value to the
people.
| Federal EncrVRchmrnt.
The committee finds that In n
great many cases the Federal gov
eminent has appropriated money fo-
various activities. and has held out
To the state and its political sub
DIVISIONS the siren promise of its
AID and operation III these enter
priscs upon the condition OF the APP
preparation by the state and such
localities OF large sums OF money
FOR these purposes. 1t seems to be
me tendency OF the times for the
Federal government and the state
aud local governments To perform, a
multitude OF duties iur the iniivid-
uaI which,, under n democratic form
OF government, the individual ought
I" perform Tor hinscif-a tendency
IeStructtN" both oi Individual char
actrr aud responsibility. and .: con-
suiut,onai government. The com
rit,co ia "t the opiuir- -. .h's cx.
tension of the pow, 49,. n
pi IN" Federal government. I.....
under both Democratic and Rcpu.
the rights az the state and tends to
patcrnalism and socialism. IL IS II
plausible and insidious method q.
amending the Federal Constitution.
tends to the Capitalization OF power
Al Washington. aud Is vicious both
In theory and practice. The commit
tee percc!ves here q grave danger u
free government and deems e It's
da'y to call those matters to the Mt
tenuon OF the Genera, Assembly.
Such course. if persisted In and
carried to Its logical conclusion. with
the ncQu!cscence OF the state. will
inevitably lead to an abandonment
OF the rights O. the State.
Prcncnt State Constitution.
Our Constitution Is a code OF laws
II inhibits and prohibits the people O.
the state and their duly elected rep
resen;a,ives Il; every turn. l, Is no,
responsive TO the Will OF the people.
Its provisions cannot lie changed eS-
cep; through the costly and cumoer-
some process o. amendments. 1t was
conceived and framed apparently in
d!strust OF the people. II provides
FOR various State, municipal. county
and district offices, with the resul:
that the General Assembly can
neither change nor abolish them.
The committee believes that there
should be u drastic change, not only
in the organization OF the various
state departments, but an entire re-
grouping Of such departments. Other
drastic changes should be made in the
organization of county and city gov
ernments. This would result in fewer
Office holders and greater efficiency.
Justice to Taxpayers.
The people OF Virginia are bur-
doncd with excessive taxation This
Is due in large measure 10 The null
t!pl!cauoa OF offices. boards and COM
missions. ana also 70 th- increase OF
salaries OF officers and their assist
ants. When the present Constitution
was proclaimed. the entire cost Of
operating the state government was
approx i.nate!y $3>CuO00 annually.
Today IL has reached The enormous
sum 81 s25,0oo.oc0. which IS out Of ali
proportion TO The growth Of popula-
tlou 81 the state and is Industrial
development. The cost %: operating
SUr local government l. now apDroNi-
maiely s75.0Q0.0o0. Thus the total
COS, y operating tho State and local
governments - approximately $780,
TIL, report was signed b. Senators
William = Cooke. John J Miller and
John -. Parsons. and by delegates
Marvin Su!thsy, \. {. Sea;ie and L.
Lindsay Gordon. Jr.
4 minority report was fied b"
Senator Rote-t = L-"ty. VINO differed
win The recommendation 81 the com
m!;;+e relative 70 N. needs FOX
Crns;!;ctlcuai Convention and on
several minor features 0: ,ha report
Cler,; Williams announced that the
-t-r--Z.tt+s -spo-: would b. printed
. Hos iocucr=n: No. -