The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-12-14
RETRENCHMENT AND RELIEF.

The friends Of retrcnchment in thu expcn-
SEES ofthe State government and relief for the
people, have gone actively to work in the
Legislature, and seem not disposed to mince
matters. They have not only indicated q
purpose to lay the knife to the departments
officers and their own salaries, ETC., but Mr.
Riddlcbarger, of Shenandoah, has taken .
dive at the Executive Department. These
movements come almost exclusively from
Valley members Richmond correspond
ent of the Baltimore Sua, under date of De,
cember 9th, gives the following resume o.
what had been done up to that time, looking
to rctrenchment and reform. We repubishi
for the information of our readers at glance
without reading through the tedious legisla.
tive proceedings:
Senate bill to continue the timo for the
collection Of taxes and the returns of the cox
lectors aud treasurers to the first day o.
March, 1872, thus granting three months
longer for the payment of taxes. Bills were
introduced in both the Senate and House re.
ducing the pay and mileage of the members
Of tho General Assembly referred to APP
propriate committees There seems to be q
general disposition on the part of the mem
bers to favor the bills for retrenchment.-
Senator Fitzpataick, Of Nelson, offered a
resolution, which was adopted, instructing
the finance committee to make inquiry as to
what retrenchment can be made III the exec
utive as well as tho legislative and other
branches of the State government. Joint
resolutions offered in both houses instructing
tho treasurer to discontinue the funding of
the public debt until further orders The
| resolution in the House of Delegates was In
troduced by Mr.. O'Ferrall. Of Rockingham
To-day, in the Senate, Mr.. Lakeland. of
Botctourt, offered a joint resolution providing
| for the raising ola joint committee to inquire
into and report whether any, and if any, what
relief consistent with justice and sound poll
against the collection of ante belluns debts
! lies over under the rule
| By Mr.. Roller, a joint resolution proposing
! an amendment to the constitution in relation
| to usury, and providing for the submission Of
| the proposition tothe qualified voters.
In the House. to-day, Mr. Riddleberger Of
fared resolution calling for committee to
inquire into the expenses Of the executive
department. aud there is some talk of reach
ing the Governors salary by constitutional
| amendment. Coming fresh from the people
and knowing the necessity of immediate f.
! nancial relief, the members are interested in
but little else. One thing is certain, the
taxes viii rot be made higher, even if the
interest on the public debt must 60 unpaid
| VALLEY REPRESENTATIVES,.
Maj. Marshall Hanger, Speaker of the
House, has appointed on the committee OF
Privileges and Elections from the Valley
Messrs. Riddleberger, Of Shenandoah, and
Hardesty. of Clark on Courts of Justice
Robertson. of Allegheny. and O'Ferrall, Of
Rockingham Schools and Col egcs, Messrs
Poaguc, Of Rockbridge, and Roller. of Au
gusta; Agriculture and Mining, A. B. Light
ner, Of Augusta; immigration, G. S. Roller
of Augusta; Chesapeake and its Tributaries
Messrs. Wall Of Frederick and Keyser Of
Page; Proposition and Grievances, Robert
son, of Allegheny and Lightner, Of High
laud Roads, &c, Wall, of Frederick and
Deneae, of Rockingham Claims, Smoot
of Shenandoah Military and Police, O'Fer-
rail-. of Rockingham; Asylums and Prisons
Lightner, Of Augusta and Keyser, of Page
Resolutions, Hardesty, Of Clarke; Enrolled
Bills. Roller, Of Augusta; Executive Expeu
ses, Lightner, Of Highland; aetrenchmen
and Reform, Riddlebe.gcr and Tidball
Rules, the Speaker (es c6scio) and Denealc
Rockingham Library, Poage and Riddle
berger. 81.
! We will publish the standing COMMITTEES
in full. in our next issue, as a matter Of ref
erence. , gf .jst.f s5.,e~
/ f4 Az A RING LEGISLATURE.
i We have not been able this week to Civ,
proper attention to legislative proceedings
Hereafter, instead of copying the unsatis
factory reports Of the Richmond press, VI
will make editorial notes. This promises t,
be very interesting body, printing ring
I an emigration ring End railroad ring hav