Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-23
TAo' Co,lns.on Ro.a-so.ra Of Public we.l.

Inc Costugton hoad-Board OF Public Ncrka
This road is to be constructed by means not employed
In other public improvements The State treasury alone
to be resored to- Individuals along the line no, to
be called upon for assistance. This is departure from
the system which has always prevailed in the State. Ev
eywhere else the people required to contribute and
when they pay their money they will be very apt to keep
vigiant eye tho manner in which Il Is discussed
But not so here The State pays ALL
IL Is important that the people Of the whole State
should consider the effects Of this change This scheme
In the phase it presents ITSELF may involve the Com
mon~ealth in ineIrcable bankruptcy In tho first place.
no limit Is fixed to the amount for the completion of
the road Ind.fnite millions ia the only we have
heard named. The idea Is that the Legislature is to
vote from year to year, every two years. as many
millions as the Board of Public Works spend Their
capacity to consume is to be the OF the public
bounty. A million granted last year-of which, as
the road Is not yet commenccd only sS4 900 has been
used for surveys and in salaries for Superintendent and
other officers; tho what necessity there for SUPER.
ntendents in advance of the work, we do not know
This session the Board asked for five millions hut
upon being Intercepted replied that they could easily
digest three millions besides the voted last year
We are obliged TO them for their moderation; but
nevertheless, this entirely mode of
making improvements, and voting the public money.
When the four millions voted the State will be fairly
in for it, and will be called upon four millions
session more, long Board Of Public Works
lind the ways and means for using it. IL our treas
ury was oveowing-ifthe people free from
ard If other section Of the State needed help,
might think Of entering upon this endless expenditure
Tho even then we should prudent men, like have
some guarantee that this immense and indefinite
of money should be honestly and judcously employed for
the prosecution of this Public Work.
This brings to the second objection-that which
ates to the Board of Public Works This Board consists
OF three individuals elected for ar years They claim d.
recy absolute and unlimited authority all works
sructed on State account-and indirectly by appointing
and controlling State proxies and directors in joint stock
companies the absolute power all the other
provemens in tho State. In all State works such as this
Covngton road, they claim the right appoint n, many
officers Us they choose. They may, if they WILL appro-
pirate the whole four millions to superintendent and 9TH
officers. Their discretion is the only law. The money
passes into their hands, and they may use it as to them
may seem proper The Oily redress the public have ia
non-cecon at the end of six years, or impeachment
The last expedent is mockery-snd the first will be
little better in six years. twenty-iour millions may be
wasted 1t may be alleged that it presumable they
would lavish the public money upon vortes their kins.
menor divide it among themselves, speculate in land.
upon the various Railroad routes become members OF
iron companies and manufacturing establishments to
furnish the Railroads with rails and cars This NAV lie
the presumption OF charity, and it might prove just
But still they have the power-the temptation will be
therea powerful temptation, from which admon-
shed to pray to Le delivered They may with ilnpunty
bankrupt the State. No discreet private individual in the
management of his aar would thus expose himself
to ruin-:s il prudent in the State to do it:
But may be said iat this argument against the
existence of Board with such capacities for mis-
chief 1t is equally argument against any avoidable
increase OF that power by authorizing any public
works aud voting any money into their hands. With
four millions at the disposal Of three men, in addition
patronage Of nil the other improvements in the State
could scarcely venture TO qua the independence
the Legislature two years hence As tile corruption that
may DC epgendered it would be difficult to form any ideu
of it.
Wepray the representatives of the people-a peopl,
already heavily taIedto pause before they upoI
this ruinous An Indecent has been exhibited
to force this Covngton bill through the Report of III,
Engineer to the practcaby and the cost Of the notl
has not been submitted to the Legislature Is the repo
iiditleir Oscer dr5adedy Aud is the object to es
shoa Legislature to do III the iak what would not d.
Se 5.esqaGsaylghtS