The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-12-21

}
hesc rich and powerful corporations, which
IAN be made effective in compelling them to
pay the same taxes upon their property which
Is paid by private citizens, who, OF course, are
iess powerful and less able, and less unwil-
ing, TO meet the just demands Of the Govern
ment which shields and protects them But
[ prefer at present TO adopt the course indi-
Gated and only to take the other as dcrnier
resort. II the taxes are rigidly collected
rom the corporations Of the State, and the
suggestions which the Auditor makes, and
which | most heartily approve, to increase
the taxes upon oysters and upon the manu-
taeture and sale Of ardent spirits and for
stamp tax, and ap equalization Of the assess
neuts Of real estate be made, and the adop
tion of the economical reforms suggested,
an confident that VIC shall be able to meet
the current expenses of the Government and
pay the interest on our public debt promptly
as it falls due, as we'll as to afford reasona
bic amount Of aid to our school system. The
Treasurer reports balance in hand the lst
jnsant to the credit Of the Commonwealth Ut
81 52lG34. H. aud this sum will probably be
increased TO 81 300, 900 and if the past
due taxes from corporations should be PAID
in, this viii be increased to S2,0O0,000 on
the LIST Of January, 1872. On that day
there will probably. as before stated, be inter.
est due on about $40 600 GOO of funded debt,
requiring 5000, 600 to meet it. After this
payment there will still be balance in the
treasury Of from $l,G00,000 to l,2u0, eco,
with which to meet current expenses, as well
as the January interest on bonds yet to be
! funded and the interest due July 1, 1872
| While believe that our affairs can be so
managed as to avoid the necessity Of any tenn
pnrary loans, nevertheless | deem the Audi
.or's suggestion prudent and wise TO author
ze the proper officers to make temporary
loans, if any should be required. pledsing, II
need be, the bonds held by the commissioners
of the sinking fund In the estimates and
calculations have made have allowed six
per cent. interest CD the whole sum, whereas
a considerable amount (the sterling bouds)
draws but FIVE per cent; and while | have
not sought to be strictly correct, 1t will be
found on investigation that my estimates and
calculations vary but little if at all troi,
strict accuracy am much gratifed at be-
ing able to lay before you SO favorable an ex-
position Of our financial condition and with
bein able to congratulate you upon our i'm
proved and improving prospects think 1t
worthy oil serious consideration whether it is
not advisable, after the lst of July next, to
discontinue the office of second auditor by con-
solidating it with that Of first auditor. BY
that time all, or nearly all, Of the public debt
will have been funded and the other duties
now devolved by law upon that officer will be
,olx lifrt bo ,i.,o
Iactorily performed by the first clerk OF the
first auditor with the aid of one clerk. A
saving OF very considerable sum will then
be effected, aud the public service receive no
detrimcnt.
l desire also to suggest for your considera-
ton the subject OF an entire change in our
system for the levy and collecting of taxes.
The assessments or valuations of properly in
all cases should be made by the State, but
why not make use of the county and NUM-
cipal authorities FIR the collection of the
taxes Require the Auditor to submit to the
General Assembly at the beginning of each
session an estimate CT the amounts necessary
to be raised by taxation for State purposes,
and when those amounts shall have been de-
termned by legislative action, require the
Auditor to apportion the same among the
several counties and municipalities of tho
State on The basis of the assessed valuations
of each, ard transmit, to the proper authori-
ties OF each county and municipality, on OF
before the lst of February in each year, the
several amounts and total OF all the taxes re-
quired to be levied and collected tiuerefrom.
Authorize the counties and municipalities to
levy and collect along with their local levy,
ard by their local officers, the amount OF
State taxes thus required, and hold each re-
sponsble for the amount thereof to be paid
into the State treasury at such time CIR times
as may be required by law. By the adoption
of this system you would avoid all delin-
quents--would dispense with considerable
machinery and many officers, and save very
large item Of expense to the State. This plan
is in operation in some of the other States,
and if it can be adopted under our Constitu
ton | should certainly be its earnest advo
cate.
Upon the subject of the assumption and
payment by West Virginia of her just pro-
portion Of the public debt contracted prior
to her organization | respectfully refer you
to my last annual message for statement Of
the facts as to lis then condition, and my
cwn views and recommendations as to the
proper course to be pursued. What has
TRANSFERRED since that lime has but served to
confirm my impressions and views then en-
tertaiued.
lie recommends an amendment to the con-
stitution in order that all State elections may
be held on the same day every two years
and on different day fixed for the Federal
election. This he favors because of the in
reference of Congress by the passage of the
enforcement set regulating the elections OF
members of Congress and of the President
aud Vice-President. Speaking Of this, he
says: Under the rretenee Of protecting
the freedom Of the ballot, it strikes down the
freedom Of citizens, and under the guise ofreg-
ulating the election of Congressman is sought
the control of the affairs of the State"
In referring to national matters he recapit
ulates the arbitrary acts of Congress and the
President, and denonnces their encroackment
on the rights Of the people and States in
forcibe terms, and taking the latest act. the
suspension of the habeas corpus at the South,
gives expression to his views in the following
language Such condition of affairs
could never have been apprehended by the
fathers Of the republic, having before them
the experience OF past generations and past