The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-10

loss in connection with the late ue1alcalOn, lno
it discovers insul1iciency in the manner III
| which some OF the accounts of the government
have been kept. There is no reason to doubt
the integrity OF any officer now charged with
| the accounts referred to. But every branch oil
the receiving and disbursng business OF the
government should be provided with such
checks and precautions as will carry it safely
through the contingencies OF all coming time
The object of well arranged checks and balan-
ces in the accounting system OF the government
is to guard against the infrmitics OF human
nature, and to make it impossible that mistake
or defalcaton should ever occur without being
followed, or rather attended, by quick detcc-
ton. The present system for receiving and
disbursing the general revenues is believed tc
be as nearly perfect as practicable; but the re-
port points out defects, relating to the public
debt and to special funds, which call for reform.
In view OF the diversity of the public funds,
and the liability to error and arrangement in
the several management of such numerous and,
to some extent, disconnected operations, some
officer of the government ought to be charged
with the dntfes of general comptroller with
power to utilize all our financial operations.
It would be true economy to attach such sal
ary to the Office as would command the best
order Of ability.
PLAN FOR PROVIDING A STATE CURRENCY.
The plan for providing q constitutional State
currency, prepared by the treasurer at my re-
quest, is submitted for your consideration. 1t
is believed it's carefully guarded enactment
would relieve one of the most gricyous Wonts
OF our people.
1t is in vain we are told that supply OF ma
tional currency can be obtained by first com
plying with the requirements OF the national
banking law Such counsel is as Intellectual rs
the advice of starving and destitute man to
buy bread for cash. 1t is impossible for PEG
pie. stripped of their means and loaded with
debt. to procure national bonds, to be eXchang
ed for national currency. Among the people
of the interior, in many portions Of the State,
the business Of society is transact>d on the
most primitive principles of barter.
If the State currency should hive less tend
ency than national bank notes to flow OF and
be swallowed up By commercial centres, cut
side the Commonwealth, it is supposed that i'll
| convenience might be successfully endured.
1t may be safely asserted that the proposed
scheme infringes no law or constitution, Eeder-
al or State. Less skilfuly matrred plans have
been adopted by other States within the past
few years, and are said to have worked beneti-
cially.
pARDoNISa POWER
| Experience shows that in cases OF application
for pardon, representations Of facts which are
often incorrect, and sometimes fraudulent and
well calculated to mislead, are addressed to the
executive. Even papers and forged signatures
have been resorted to in such cases. More GER
tain means of obtaining both sides OF the mef-
its of each case ought to be provided by law.
1t is sllg yested that notice of every such appli
cation, OF the grounds Of it, and of the time OF
presenting it., should be we'll advertised for Il
prescribed time in the county or corporation
from which it emanates. and that the written
opinion OF the Judge and attorney for the COM
monwealthconnected with the tlal should BE-
= | Oht hnfnrf tl, n.lS is lSiGprpU by fH.
executive.
| BUREAU OF STATISTICS.
No government can be carried on with Intel
liycnt a.ld equal justice to all classes, sections
and interests, without the means Of collecting
stated and accurate reports OF the more inpol-
tant ope: ations of society. ~ bureau OF sta
tstcs should be organized and charged with
the business Of collecting, classifying and pre-
serving such particulars relating to production,
transportation manufactures, trade and other
interests, rs would essentially aid the legsll-
ture in regulating assessments and taxes and
other matters OF general Importance.
\ circular was addressed from this Office to
the clerks Of the crcuitand county courts, call
ing tor Information in regard to judicial sales
OF lands and the Indebtedness which OCCASION
ed such sales. Full answers would have gone
far towards testing the correctness OF the pres
ent assessments of lands i'll all parts of the
State, rs we'll as the condition OF the people
and their ability to bear taxation. \ nulnuer
of clerks returned full answers for which they
are entitled to public thanks, it not more sub
stantial recognition. An,aiority failed to make
any response, while some refused to answer Le-
cause no pay was provided for the services.
Ii it be deemed ineXpedient to create eIl-
reau of statistics at this time, authority ought
to be given to require answers in such cases,
and. il need be, to compensate the labor they
involve.
| In, T NV prppn. TO-
commentator in behalf OF the State board OF
health.
PENIrENTIARY.
1t will be seen from the report Of the super
intendent of the pcliitentiary that this instltlt
ton still creates charge on the treasury; but
in fairnes, allowance should be made for the
late financial panic throughout the country
which has measurably curtailed its business
and earnings.
One OF the two contracts heretofore entered
into by the state, and by each OF which it was
agreed to hire three hundred conyicts to con-
tractors, only one WAS revocable. Thi- last
revoked, and the convicts re-let to the same
contractors, at prices about double those pre-
viously obtained.
Il 1t is desirable that the law be so amended a:
to admit Of the hiring out of convicts sentenc-
cd to over ten years. imprisonment.
| also recommend that the board of directors
of the penitentiary be abolished, and that q
board to be composed OF officers OF the govern
ment be required to supervise and direct its
management. Besides the economy of this
change, it is demanded BY other consideration
too obvious to need recital.
Due advel tisement has been made according
to law for proposals for the removal Of the pen
itentiary. But, while the al ertising has borne
inconvcniently on the ciyilIcontingent fund, nc
proposal has been received in response to it.
Your favorable attention to the great ca,lst
Of
commended.
IMMIGRATION.
Other states, once weaker than Virginia is
have grown to be more powerful tl,au Virgini,
ever was, in consequence Of having attracted
immigration.
/ l renew the Recommendations Of my frs
message on this subject. The same should b,
its own immigration agency, through !. boar(
of its own officials, collecting and tiissemina
: ting, to actual and prospective immigrants, al
desired information in all authentic form at
tracing by effective siib-a,encies midu.e-clas
Immigration from abroad guiding such immi
grants to settlements in contiguous sual farm
with perfect titles /; guarding them against al
imposition and welcoming to our state, Will
. warm reception and continued good offices
, all honest immigrants OF whatever nationality
and of whatever religious or political faith
RAILROAD AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION
COMPANIES.
Frequent and general complaints alleoe cros
Inequalities In the charges on some OF the rail
roads 1t would be unjust to comnnl ,a;1.o,,,