The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-22

the bin and substitute. The bill IS, 10 ou'
opinion, an idle affair. 1t seems to US re-
Election upon the State of Virginia that hei
Legislature Is ever imposing eztra.ohlcaa'
duties upon the Governor and the otncefs III
the capitol, especially the Secretary OF Tue
Commonwealth. They seem to be regarded
as long pegs in stable, on which everything
is hung up-hanes,s, currycombs, buckets,
whips, and all manner Of horse ana Jackass |
trappings. Has Y irginia bccomeso very poor
tina, she c, n'tpsy for services necessary 10 hef
public Interests? Is 1t wise to perplex ner
public Officers with manifold and incompatible
Iabors to divert th cir minds from the pecu-
liar occupations o. their offices proper by
liuH,osing upon .hem duties WITH which
they msys,ot be. acquainted and which they
cannot thoroughly perform, even when
they are W ell acquainted with them, without
7 negeestng the duties Of their own offices /!
Oh, it's .. shame to eemplicaoc the business
of Sete in this duFractical and penurous
way. If il Is to be ctrricd any further,
Wig not at onr,c barn over the Government
to she Governor and Secretary of the COM
ronnwealth aud sdjourn the Legislature IN
definitely? ThSs is the argument.
1t would pe idle to PASS any such DILL Ii
would be degradation to the Executive 70
drive him TO ;hlnting in the pigcou-hoks OF
railroad CO n,ranics ayd turning over the art
heaps whiu often contain the threads lead
ing to dee tts not intended to be uneartoeo
His Office should be relieved frem any sncf
detective ,m,rsuts, and he should be lett u
that calR.l;s nd dignifed reflection and study
necessar Y to ther.aithfu aud ststesmand'Se
perforp sp,ce Of bis responsible duties lc
make % such board could be nothing 'es'
than a degradation of the Executive Depart
ment- while, It would be mere mockery II
pret ntlipg to organize supervisory booy
VIII Oh would te worth absolutely nothing te
the State.
'rhr,albsttl'e for it We are not ready 10 say
We Kuauldvyote for. The supervision OF raf
roa &c may. require more than one man. Ii
is RIO ,tr5hiug matter to take in hand the reln'
of the railroads. 1t is serious work. I(
CO mmsnd the full access to suadry depart
m.enss OF. the railroad prison-house would re-
: uire the, presence of a very solemn demanc
enforced by more than one dignidcd gen
. / lopau. The " contingent fund" is not al
r ways for the eyes of outsiders. There Is
: great deal under the contingent" head thai
never is attended for the public eye.
: Dir. LACY pronounced the one comm's'
J.. sioncr ,ct the substitute an "autocrat.'
D sFel ,ic he were he would hardly be able to
e find out all he should know. But he Is tc
70 have only $1,000 per annum. Suppose be
~ got :Ssaa,0O0, what would Mr.. LACY call
% him then? But it is our opinion that the one
e commissioner would soon be Disguised with
n his situation. His opinions would be assailed
10 and deriGed and being after all but the opin
o lions and statements of one man they woulC
If be,wl,istled down the wind by the partisans
e and have no more weight in the public coun
: oils than one Of the partisans themselves. Il
: is our opinion that the er.oticio board OF the
+ original bill would be entitled to much les:
: weight than the single commissioner. They
e will have neither time nor disposition to sit
r. things to the bottom and no judgment i:
., worth a rush which is not based upon ;
u thorough and searching investigation.
= We should have real board Of public
& works, elected by the people and properly
r paid. And even that at this time might b'
t, unfortunate. Virginia is not herself. Hell
,. constituent body is adulterated BY base
d alloy and she is perplexed with lament
: able bias here and there, and one or more
+ rings that aggrayate her troubles. We almost
z doubt whether she can do anything well a,
6 this time. If it were possible for her to sus'
. -, pend the Government for a period it mai gh
=, be all the better for her. ~
y Therefore we shall not be sorry to ~ the
If subject of supervisors of railroads thrown
T overheard at this session.