Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-09-19
For the Spectator.

Judge cochran very aOle and manly address
to the people of Augusta 1t was prepared in
response to call from a large and respectable
portion of his felow-citizens, who desire that
he shall represent their interests upon the floor
of the next Virginia Senate. Whether as
writer or speaker Judge Cochran has evinced
talent of a high order, and his legislative ca
reer thus far has been marked by diligence and
abilities singularly striking, giving promise of
high degree of usefulness in his future Ca
reer, Judge Cochran's position upon the all
absorbing question Of taxation deserves the
particular attention of the public He is the
incorporating opponent to any Increase of
the people burden, and in order to secure
reduction of the present high rate of taxes, he
pledges himself if it becomes necessary in or
der to enable the State to meet her obligations
to advocate the reduction Of the salaries of all
State officials and employees to mere living
rate and per diem of members of the Legisla-
ture in like proportion. He further pledges
himself to favor a reduction of expenses at
tending the punishment of crime which has
been an enormous drain upon the public Treas
ury, and an evil of long standing which should
have been, as we all know, corrected years ago.
At the same time, says the Judge, it shall be
my purpose and endeavor to enhance the State
revenue by causing repeal OF the chartered
exemptions from taxation, now held by four
ffths of the railroads and other wealthy cor
porations of the State-among the number the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, which exemp-
tions have in other States been held to be lille
gal and unconstitutional in this, that State
cannot divest herself perpetually of the inhe
rent right Of taxation, and should this position
be true, there will result from this source a
revenue of many thousands of dollars which
the people are now compelled to make up from
their hard earnings, while the corporations
reve in wealth and defy the tax collector with
their chartered immunity from taxation.
Judge Cochran vindication of his own
course as member of the last Legislature, is
complete and full and in calling attention to
certain services which he rendered he only
states facts, and such fucts as the people should
and will gratefully remember. He states that
he succeeded after long and obstinate strug-
gle with the Bankers and Brokers of Rich
mond in getting the Finance Committee to re-
port two bills, which became laws and greatly
enhanced the resources of the Commonwealth.
One was a bill imposing taxes upon the Ma
tlonal Banks that has hitherto ped all State
and Corporation taxation which bill has al
ready brought into the State Treasury twelve
thousand dollars and into the Treasury of the
Town of Staunton fourteen hundred dollars. =
The other was bill requiring the Richmond
Banks to pay interest on the public deposits ;
this bill has already brought into the Treasury
Of the State ten or twelve thousand dollars and
will before the lst of April next, the close of
the first year of its passage, yield thirtyfve
or forty thousand dollars revenue to the State
La regard to the II per cent interest clause of
the Constitution Judge C's views are sound
practical sensible. He opposed it as an I'M
just, odious law hateful in its policy because it
keeps back immigration and prevents the in
vestment of Capital in real estate, thereby i'm
pairing the value Of Virginia lands, and feed
ing the vultures of usurlous interest with an
unholy food. He opposed it in the Legisla-
ture, opposes it now and will continue to OPP
pose it to the bitter end. He also struck an
important blow 10 favor OF reasonable COM
pensation being given to jurors, who would
have been in sad fix, dragged from plows,
workshops and home, without decent main
tainance for their services. His opposition to
a bill in the House of Delegates, authorizing
a vote upon subscription of $500, 900 by the
people of Augusta to the Valley r. r. is well
understood, The people were opposed to it,
as subsequent events proved, and acting in his
representative character be desired not to run
counter to their wishes. In regard to the ques-
ton of consolidation, Judge G. gives clear
and distinct statement OF lis position which
will be read and appreciated by his constituents.
In reference to the re-assessment on Lands,
Judge Cochran's position is popular and strong
and altho' his views upon the subject are sue
cinctly stated they indicate q familiar knowl-
edge of the subject and watchful care OF the
interests of the people. He takes the posi-
ton, which is constitutional, that no one spe
cies of property, from which tax may be col
lected, shall be taxed higher than any other
species Of property of equal value, and his OBJ
Ject will be to obtain uniform assessment IN
regard to actual value. Upon this subject the
Judge explains himself as follows: Il the as
sessment be uniform it matters not to the State
or owners whether it be high or low, for a Civ
en- amount of revenue must at all events be
produced-but in case of inequality, those
whose lands are assessed at high figures are re-
CURED to pay more than their fair proportion
and this rule holds good with regard to COM
munities the same as individuals. For eX
ample the lands of the county of Augusta are
assessed one million four hundred and thirty
seven thousand nine hundred and six dollars,
% cents above the assessment of the same
lands 10 1856, while the lands Of the county Of
Rockingham six hundred and twenty four thou
sand one hundred and sXty-one dollars, and
81 cents less than the same lands In 1856, ma
king difference against Augusta, taking the
assessment of 1856 as a standard of over two
millions and sixty thousand dollars. The clear
ness and force of this statement cannot be mis-
understood and the people cannot fail to appre-
ciate it's value, when its defence is committed
to the charge of bold and fearless advocate
of popular rights. Let the people then deter
mine for themselves. Judge Cochran as
young legislator has discharged his duty, faith
fully, fairly, brilliantly, and We trust that Au-
gusta county particularly, where he was born
and reared, will bestir herself to advance the
fortunes of her young and rising son, who if
properly encouraged will not fail to prove him
self useful public servant.
TAX PAYER.