Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-12-08

Shesa'e = - wiz ~ PNNPOSSo thO HAOl'
ton of a bill already drawn, which
is very stringent in its provisions
imposes severe penalties, fHrnishe
redress for non-fulfillment in fede
raj courts and is in our opinion dis
honorable TO the people of Virgin
in.
The Gov. favors the plan saying
1t substitutes new obligations which
we can perform for existing obligG.
tions, which we cannot now perform
We cannot longer postpone the task
of graphing with this debt problem.
A successful settlement of It will be.
stow greater positive good than any
single legislative service of the present
century.
The plan OF taxation reported by the
Auditor and the Treasurer, is recon-
mended. 1t changes the mode OF as
sessing personal property, and changes
the proportion between the rates on it
aud on real estate, but as we have not
seen the plan we cannot state its ma
ture further.
New and additional taxes on wines
and liquors is proposed.
Legislation is asked for TO enforce
obedience on the part of local collect
officers 10 instructions of the Auditor
The power limited at is for the
Auditor to be able to suspend or
remove and it looks to us that the
Auditor could then drive the finan-
ces of Virginia to suit himself. 1t
would constitute a central power
about as strong as that welded
by the Secretary Of the Treasury
at Washington, and we say NO!
+ The Governor recommends that
each county shall bear is own crimi-
nal expenses.
If Che East will build another
Penitcntiary in the Southwest and
then send IFS prisoners to the OPP
positc end Of the State as we would
have to do ours, we would consent
to the recommendation. Other
wise We again say NO!
The examination of the basement
offices las disclosed an additional item
of. loss i'm the late dedication (of Ma
ye) Reformatory legislation is re-
commended. .-.-..
The Maryland Boundary Line is
treated at length and final settle
ment urged.
Tho applications for Executive par
don should be advertised i'm focal pa
pers in advance and the consent of the
Judgesnd Jury should be required
A Bureau of Statistics and State
Board of Health are recommended.s
The Penitentiary still imposes a tax
oil the Treasury. Proposals to remove
it have been advertised but not re-
spOnded TO. Convicts sentenced for
over ten years should be hired out and
the boa d Of directors abolished and
its duties imposed on State officers.
A State Immigration Agency is
urged, and legislation suggested to
remedy and prevent unjust Giscrimi-
nations by railroads Especially
should they be prevented from charg-
iLg greater sum for transportation
over portion of any line than is
charged for the whole of il.
The appointments of State Inspectors
of Tobacco is insisted upon, and the
protection of Fish and of Sheep is
strongly urged. An acre of water is
found TO be more productive than az
acre OF land. Virginia has a greater
amount of inland water suitable for
fish than any other State and the
yield of fish from them can be made
greater than the yield of pork in the
State. To protect sheep there should
be a tax on dogs and out of that fund
the destruction OF sheep ydogs should
be paid for, unless it can be made out
of the owners of the aggressive dogs.
This recommendation of the
Governor is good, excepting tie
last provision. There is no good
reason why one nan should pay
wholly for the depreciation of his
dogs as long as those of others are
paid ont of the common fund.
The completion Of the Canal 10y the
Federal Government is powerfully
and eloquently urged. Special legis-
lation is strongly inveighed against
and charters ofincorporation are liken-
ed unto orders of nobility, the rights
OF primo geniture and the entallment
of estates.
In this bit of poetry we do not
propose 70 agree with the Cover
nor. But we do agree with him
in obiecting TO divers and different
and all sorts CT incorporated gov"
for towns and Cities
They ought all to be classified UNI
der uniform laws of incorporation.
The amendments proposed by the
Orkney Springs committee are APP
proved and commended to the favora.
BILE consideration Of the Legislature.
The message closes with an elo-
quent pcroration inspired by the
recent elections, which give hope |
that the government is TO be
brought back to the constitution
Virginia is blessed with an able