Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-12-15
GcV, Walters Message

Iuc hlOSC dditlt"DiC hIaO~ P"E'S' ~
hive seen since the war, The Gov
ernor advocates the establishment of
regular bureau Of migration and
portrays very forcibly the beneftsyto
be derived from such a system, If
successful.
The feasibility of the measure is
wholly dependent upon the question
whether there can be some general
means of placing within the reach Of
migrants a large quantity of the
lands of Virginia. The Message sug
Cests: 1. The establishment Of Il
Board Of migration. to consist OF
nine directors, enc from each Con-
grcssional district, and one from the
State at large. the last to be presi-
dent of the board and Commissioner
e immigration. Tbs is to be
salaried officer with large powers, to
act under the general advice of the
board. ,. The establishment of one
or more agencies in Europe, at a rea.
sonable compensation, for the pur-
pose Of organizing and aiding immi-
grafton by the dissemination of N
ormation, &c. 3. The establish
ment at Norfolk of q depot to receive
immigrants, and to attend to their
trans-shipment to their various -des-
tinatians in the State, 4. The i'm
mediate preparation of a pamphlet Tor
distribution at the North and in Eu
rope, giving all the necessary facts
and statistics on the advantages of
Virginia settlers. 5, Authority YES
ted in the Commissioner to act as
attorney for the owners Of lands in
the State. This involves the survey
and mapping of lands by an official
surveyor.
Another suggestion of the Cox
ernor is that with reference to the In
crease Of the poll tax to 81, the pro
ceeds to be devoted to the purposes
of education. In connection with
this the suggestion. is made that no
one shall have the right to vote un.
less he has paid this tax. The effect
would probably be that the bulk of
the poll-tax would be collected,
whereas now only about one-half Of
it is collected. There are about
275, 900 voters in the State, and this
tax, if iigidly collected, would yield
the handsome sum of $j50,000
The Governor is of the opinion
that 5000, 600 ought to be sufficient
to meet the current expenses Of the
State government, including legisla
tive expenses. lie estimates the in
tcrest which we shall have to pay on
the public debt at 81 ,G2O, 600, which
added to 5000, 600, gives s., 800. 0O0
as the sum to be realized annually
from taxation. We may mention
that in this competition he urges the
rigid collection Of taxes from rail
road and other corporations. He re-
marks that 1.-TWO years" taxes are
now due from all the most important
railroads in TIE State; some few of
which shield themselves under some
Pretcnce of exemption by virtue of
their charters, while others have no
cXcnse at all. He recommends the
repeal of the clause in any railroad
charter which exempts such work
from taxation. He estimates that
there WILDE $4,000, 900 in the Treas,
ury on the lst of January. On that
day there will be 5000, GOO of inter
est to pay, leaving balance Of from
$1,000, 600 to 81, 200, 0C0 to meet cur
rent expenses, as well as the January
interest on bonds yet to be funded,
and the interest due July LIST 1872.
The Governor lays undue stress, we
fear. upon the Importance of keeping
the financial character of the State to
the highest possible point, aud falls
into the error which has entrapped
Gov. Brown, of Tenn: that of ma,
king the demands Of the bond hold
crs, the guage of taxation without
reference to that still higher right
which the people lave to live. We
do not believe that one cent of la
teres. ought to be paid by the State
for the time which was consumed by
the late war. We have. no doubt
that under the decision Of the Su-
prcme Court the State can't be made
10 pay dollar of war interest to any
foreign bond-holier.
We tell Gov. Walker plainly that
the people are tortured by taxation.
They cannot long bear the present
rate. They are now icing literally
consumed by il. Another turn Of
the thumb screw will be equivalent