Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-01-23

hC SCSOHN duulICI ICpOItS. Tic tttaI ~
the debt assumed by US at $3.50, 478,741.
40 on the lst of July, 1871 Deduct
from this sum the total amount of as
sets as above given, viz, Sc, 8o9, POO. ane
the maximum of our debt is reduced to
the sum of $23, ,541.49; the annua
interest upon which would be $1,4lo,
SIP. 48.
l do not propose, however, to base
my calculations or estimates upon this
suggestion, but, but shall assume, until
further action is had,, that the policy
already adopted will be pursued, il
future, and that all our assets will be
applied in reduction of the old debt
As already stated, if this be done the
debt may be reduced to $25,932, 6nS-14
the annual interest upon which viii be
81, 555,956,48. But it may be advis
able to use small portion of the. more
valuable Of these assets, say the bonds
Of the Washington and Ohio and the
Richmond and Danville railroads, as
well as the stock in the. Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Company, amounting to $712,700 te
relieve our present necessities, and to
use the armory public warehouse prop
critics, the Selden, Withers & Co. claims
and the turnpike stocks in the reduction
ofthe principal ofthe debt, in which
case the two-thirds of the debt we have
assumed would not amount to a SUM
exceeding $26,oo0,000, the annual in
terest upon which would be 81, $50 coo
Of the propriety and necessity Of dis
posing of these assets for the purpose
of liquidating the State debt and to q
corresponding extent tightening the
burthen of the people, there can be no
question. Not $500, 900 of them are
producing any income to the State, nor
is there any probability ofthsir doing so
for years to come, ifowned by her; and
yet the amount Of the public debt which
they represent, and for which it was
constantly accommodating interest against
the State. There is neither reason nor
Justice for longer deferring action in
this behalf. III a~.
Assuming that this action has been
had, and 81, $4,000 consequently being
the amount of the interest upon the
pubic debt necessary to be annually
raised the next question is, how much
more will be required to defray ''the ex-
penses of the State?'' And this brings
us to the consideration of the second
proposition, viz: The reduction Of the
current expenses Of the State govern
nlent- to the lowest degree nsilstent
with it's proper and efficient admins
traticn. have always been an earnest
advocate of the most rigid economy in
every department of the State admins
tration. have long been satisfied
that reforms could be made which
would not only promote efficiency OF
administration but also would reduce
the annual expenses of the govern
ment nearly one falf. =. -
Our peniteniary could, and should,
be placed upon a self sustaining basis.
This could be accomplished by leasing
the institution for term of years tc
responsible parties, or by changing tbs
mode of its administration, as suggest
ed in my annual message of Deem
Der 9th 1871, with a odifcation Of
the law so as to authorize the hiring
out of convicts to labor upon public
works whose terms of service are more
than ten years. By the adoption o.
either Of these plans, though, perhaps
the former would be preferable, the
penitentiary would cease to be any taa
whatever upon the State. treasury. :
Criminal charges, including the trans
portation of convicts to the penitentiary
should be borlie by the counties anf
corporations respectively. These char
ges, during the last fiscal year accord
ing to the Auditors report, amounted
to the enormous sum Of $150,737.l9
which, it is more than probable, is fully
twice the sum they wonld have beel
had they been betrayed by the count
les and corporations. Our judicial sys
tenn should be recognized, and, as fal
as practicable, made self sustaining
Suitors should be made to detray the
expenses they occasion. l have already
in my last annual message, suggested
a plan to the General Assembly by
which our county courts may cease tc
be any considerable burthen upon The
State treasury. A further examination
of the constitution satisfies me that il
is within the power of the Legislature
to free the State treasury from any tai
whatever upon it on any account O
these courts, and / cordially recon-
mend the exercise of that power a
system Of fees should be adopted
which will defray all the expenses Of al
he courts, except, perhaps, the salaries
tof the judges of the Circuit and Su
preme Court of Appeals and twent.
one circuit judges, the entire expenses
Of our judicial system would not ex
coed $4,000; and even this sun
might, by a judicious system Of fees, b
materially reduced. hs 'ls 3s
| would also recommend an entire
change in our system for the collection
of taxes. Instead Of the cumbersome
aud expensive machinery we now EN-
ploy, let all taxes be levied and collect
ed by the counties and.. Corporations.
The assessments or valuation OF pro
perty in all cases should be made b,
the State, but why not make use of thu
county and municipal authorities fo
| the collection Of the taxes? Requir,
the auditor to submit to the Genera
Assembly at the beginning Of each ses
sion, an estimate of the amounts ne
cessary to be raised by taxation fol
State purposes, and when these amounts
shall have been determined by legis
lative action, require the Auditor to ap
portionsthe same among the severa
counties and municipalities. Of the State
on the basis of the assessed valuation