The Washington times., 1929-07-17
ACCUSATION
OF N|APP
DENIED

John Garland Pollard, one
Of the Democratic aspirants
for the Virginia Democratic
nomination, who has made the
statement that the short bal
lot was not an issue in the
campaign, has taken the de-
.fensive and replied to charges
made by one of his opponents,
G. Walter Mapp.
"Mapps statement that the CEN
tralization of government as made
so by the short ballot amendments
was autocratic and despotic was
answered by Pollard when he said
that 1t was cry of Wolff WOLF
when there is no wolf in Virginia.
AS long as George Mason's decla-
ration of rights remains part of
our Virginia constitution and we
have an honest and fearless
judiciary" Pollard declared 1T is
impossible for the government in
VHS1lld 'lO DcCOIlS iSAlhOA oubc7
cratic or despotic."
Six Reasons Submitted
Pollard has made survey and
submitted six reasons in favor OF
the amendments:
ssFirst--COunties, for the first
time, have been given the right
by popular vote to decide on their
form Of gOvernment--a privilege
which the cities have long en-
jOyed.
he. and actually were issued to the
extent Of millions of dollars by
the counties without consulting
the voters. Hereafter this can
not be done.
sThird-FOrmerIy laeal taxes
could be and were frequently in
creased without any notice to the
taxpayers and without consulting
the voter. This is now made
impossible.
LEVY OF STATE TAAES
"FOurth-FormerIy State taxes
were levied by the general as
senybIy on houses, land, farming
: implements, horses and cattle, and
household goods without consult
ing the local authorities. Here
after such taxes can he levied
only by the local governing bodies
Of the counties and cities, all 0I
whom are elected by the people.
aFifth---FOrmerIy the local
superintendent of schools was
elected by the State board OF Edu.
cation sitting in Richmond, and
sometimes against the wishes OF
the local authorities. But now
these officers are selected by the
local board of trustees OF cOun-
ties and cities.
"SixtII-FOrmerly State bonds
could be issued by the general as
sembIy without limit. But now
all bonds in excess OF per cent
of the total assessed value Of real
estate must first have the APP
proval of the people at the polls"
Denies Added Power
Pollard denied that the governor
has more power, but instead has
less appointiVe power than before
and is more directly responsible to
the people. He said that the COVER
nor no longer appoints the three
state corporation commissioners,
the three members of the board OF
censors, and can no longer partici-
nate in the appointment of more
than 100 superintendents of schools.
He asserted that by actual count
the governor would have 81 less
appointments to make.
1t is admitted by Pollard that
the governor has been vested with
additional power in the management
of the fiscal powers of the State
under the amendments, and has
hnf lon off
GERS and employees of the State
perform their duties faithfully, but
he felt that better results could be
had by having these people report
directly to and be responsible to
the governor.
Now Elect 1900 Directly
'"They now elect directly some
1900 officers, State and local, and
they provide otherwise for the selec-
tion Of hundreds of others" Pollard
stated "On June 10 last the people
at the polls voted that the three
officers, commissioner OF agriculture
and immigration, superintendent of
public instruction, and State treas
urer, should be appointed by the
next governor. and thereafter their
representatives in the general as.
sembly should decide the manner
OF the selection.
'It was the people themselves who
made the change and the people
through their Representatives in 1882
can change back to the old method,
if they desire. l have repeatedly
said that, ii elected, l would sign
D bill restoring to the people the
right to elect these officers 1t is
therefore not an issue in this cam
paign.