The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-16
From the Wythevilie Enterprise,
The Legislature and the Ssafo's
Finances.

We fear the present Legislature VIII iio'
fulfill the expectations of usefulness which
some people have been so sangllne as TO en-
terrain. So far its action would lead us to
Judge that it is but little Improvement upon
its Predecessor, The body has been In ses-
sion about month, and nothing has been
done as vet which would lead Us to believe
that 1t Is statesmanlike or calculated to adj
vance the welfare Of the State.
The Legislature now in session Is essen
TALLY reform Legislature. Nearly every
member went before the people upon the
"taking" platform Of low wages, reduction
of taxes, short sessions, and general retrench-
ment Elected upon this captivating basis,
they have gone down to Richmond with great
big words of reform in their mouths. Every
fellow has his project. One sees serious evils
IN the judiciary system, and nurses in his
bosom some grand scheme of improvement,
which in due course of time he will bring
forth to astonish the State aud entitle him.
self to everlasting gratitude. Another
imagines himself great financier, DIES
tined to eclipse Gallatin or Hamilton, and to
devise O scheme by which the public debt
can be extinguished without the payment OF
taxes, He forthwith sets to work to teal
down the funding bill of the last session pre-
paratory to erecting in Its stead some of his
crude suggestions. The chap that has charge
of the reduction of pay of members has not
made his appearance yet. He is incubatine
a plan to reduce the pay Of all other State
officials except his own. 1t Is true he swort
TO the people to vote for "four dollars 9
day.n but that was merely for buncombe
he intends to keep the word Of promise to
the ear but break 1t to the hope.
But the almost exclusive topic of discus
sion SO far has been the question of the pub
lie debt. The Legislature had scarcely got
ten In its seat before some enterprising re.
former popped up and proposed to suspend
the funding of the debt, as provided for by
the last Legislature, and postpone the pay.
ment Of the January interest. The cry was
caught up instanter, and the resolution hur
ried through at break-neck speed. This
resolution was vetoed by the Governor, and
its pernicious tendencies pointed out in O
message Of much ability. 1t was, however
passed over his veto by q large majority OF
the two Houses. After this hot, hasty, and
Incorporate action there seems to be q lull in
the excitement.
A rather cumbersome joint committee has
been appointed to take the whole subject Of
our finances into consideration, and it Is eX.
pected that compromise Of some sort will
be effected. 1t Is to be hoped that no uncer.
tain sound shall come from this committee
The credit and reputation of the State have
already been sufficiently injured by the hot
tempered PERFORMERS" Let them not dodge
the issue. If they mean reputation, let them
say so. Otherwise let them comply to the
letter with the solemn contract made with
our creditors. Credit is sensitive plant, and
should not be tempered with. Like the
honor Of woman, to doubt is to destroy 1t
The Legislature has shown itself powerful tc
pull down the work Of others. Let US see il
they have any skill in architecture. Can they
substitute anything for the funding bill thai
will better our condition. 1t is manifest
that the crisis demands prompt action. Il
will not answer to relieve the financial dis
tress for some rural member TO arise in his
place and solernnly "resolve" that the fund
Ing shall be stayed. They may resolve and
resresolve that they intend to pay the pub
lie debt, but it will all avail naught tc
restore our credit unless the resolu
tons are backed up by action. The mai
who says no will pay and never does
Is little better than the one who declares he
Is both unable and unwilling. Let the joint
committee, therefore, give US something be
sides high-sounding phrases and glitterine
generalities upon the subject of Chow not to
do It," For our own part we are convinced
that to refuse now to pay the January int
rest with the S1,600,000 i'll the treasury
would be an outrage upon the creditors OF
the State, and On indellible disgrace to the
Commonwealth,