Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-11

ty'T The bill increasing the vote of the State
in joint stock companies was discussed at some
lengthin the Senate on Friday night. The ef-
feet OF this measure, ifadopted, will be to give
the Board of Public Works complete control of
all the Internal improvement Companies of the
Commonwealth The Democratic party have
aready proclaimed that the Board must be a s'po-
litica machine" They have taken preparatory
steps towards organizing as such, by calling par.
ty conventions to nominate Democratic candidates
for the various districts and they are now en-
gaged in the congenial task of concentrating as
much power and patronage rs possible in the
hands of this body. The palpabe object of the
bill which they have dragged through the lower
House and are now pressing on the Senate, is
to give strength and efficiency to the new "po-
litical machine" which will soon be called into
existence. Its object is to put not only the 500
100000 that have been invested by the State in
works ofinernal improvement, but the $4,000
900 that have been subscribed by individuals, ut
the disposal of Democratic partizans, to be WELD
ed by hem for the benefit of the Democratic
party. The Wing people of this Commonwealth
pay their full share of the States contribution to
all works of internal improvement, Moreover,
at the invitation of the State herself the people,
without distinction OF party have stepped forward
and invested their money in these enterprises,
with the understanding that certain scale of vo-
ting was to be allowed. But now it is proposed
that the State shall establish new scale whereby
the individual stockholders will be deprived of
that measure of control over their own property
which was guaranteed to them when they sub
scribed their money. If this be not a violation
of the public faith il it amounts not to obtaining
money under false pretences, we confess our in
ability to understand what the phrases bad faith
and ..fraudulent pretences' imply. Democratic
stockholders. in joint stock companies. may be
willing. Tor aught we know to the contrary, to
see the proposed change made, in consideration
of the benefit that may thereby accrue to their
own party. but Wings may well be excused for
viewing the measure with distrust and indigna-
ton. When they hear it openly proclaimed by
the Democratic party that the Board of Public
Works is TO be made ''political n,achine," are
they not justified in resisting and denouncing a
scheme which places their money at the disposal
of such body, and that too in violation Of the
conditions on which they subscribed it!
Messrs. Sheifey and Witcher denounced the
bill in strong terms in the debate of Friday night.
and foreiby exposed its unjust and injurious ten
denotes. Mr. Witcher expressed the opinion
that the adoption of this coupled, with
the declarations and movements of the Democrat
ic party in reference to the organization Of the
Board of Public Works, would break down the
internal improvement companies of the State.-
Individuals would never consent to place their
capit-l at the discretion Of body organized
upon such principles, and invested with such
powers.
P. S.-Ths bill passed the Senate on Saturday,
and is now Il law of the land.