Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-09-11
How the Peoples Money is Wasted by
UnWise Legislature.

The Charlottesville JeGersonian says
that "prior to the war when the State
was rich the members ofthe Legislature
received only 81 per day and mileage
Since the war, when we are in destitute
poverty they have appropriated to them
selves Sc per day out of our impoverish-
ed treasury. This has added about $685.
600 per year to the increase of our tag es.
1t is true that under a recent amend
ment they are hereafter to receive a
salary, instead of per diem and that
this salary has been fixed at $40. But
this is fixed at the rate of SIS per day for
session of ninety days, (Which is long
er than is necessary to do the business. J
So that at last they get Sc per Gay, and
if they do the business in less time than
ninety days as they ought to do, they
will get more than Sc per day. But at
Sc per day, it amounts to an average in
crease of about $25, 900, as the Legisla-
ture has been constituted. The salaries
and allowances of officers of the civil
government in 1860, was $4,000, now
it is $4,000 or 81, 900 more than in 1860.
The expenses of the General Assembly
in 1860, were $150,OOO, and as no appro-
priation seems to have been made that
year for public printing we presume this
included the public printing connected
with legislation. In 1876, the expenses
II the General Assembly were $l65, 900
and there is in addition $4,000 appro-
priated for public printing. If this ap-
preparation for printing be left out, still
the expenses of the General Assembly
for the poor, two thirds of State, are
SIS, 600 more than for the ricb entire
State. But if it is proper to add on the
$26, 900 for printing, it makes the enor-
nous increase of S41 900. What possible
excuse can be given for such a state of
things. The cost for criminal charges
in the entire State in 1860, was $50, 900
In 1876, in the multilated State it was
$155, 600, or SIS, 900 more than in 1861
1t will be said that the criminal prosecu-
tons of the colored people account for
this large Increase. But these are far
from doing so. For let it be remember
ed that in 1860, colored people were liza
BILE to criminal prosecutions as now, and
though it is true that in many cases
where they are now prosecuted, they
were punished with the lash without
any prosecution. Yet in 1860, the crimi-
nal jurisdiction of the State covered one
third more territory than it now does.-
And, then, why are these prosecutions
allowed to be so expensive? Instead of
boarding set of thieving gentry in the
Jail and converting the public jail into a
public hotel for perpetrators of petty
crimes and misdemeanors, why not give
them summary trial before justice
and infiict the punishment of the whip
ping-post? This great waste of money
is the result of careless, unwise, reckless
legislation. Many members go there
more to promote thelrown selfish
ends, than to advance the true interests
of the State. Having more faith in the
corruption of the people than their Writ
ue, their thoughts are chiefly turned to
consideration of the question, how to
get rid of paying the honest debts of the
State, rather than how to curtail ex-
penses and save the peoples money so
that the State may be able to pay her
debts. 1t is high time for the people to
wake up to the Importance of this great
question, and to send men to the Leeis-
lature, who will be more intent to ad :
vance the peoples interests than their
own little selfish schemes of ambition.