The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-22

r '-St1AhE LUZ ch<aH We
RIDIcULE, ETC. -
In response to the House inquiry, Auditor
Taylor responds that he has ten clerks and
one messenger; that they work usually from
8 to O'clock, but much longer whenever oc-
casion requires. He states the duties OF
each, and he confidently afirrns that,
"taking the werk OF the year, however,
from January to January, the amount OF
work performed by the clerks of this office
is as large and rs we'll done as in any COM
mercial or banking establishment in the
State, to say nothing OF the personal re-
sponsibility attaching to the performance OF
the duties which belong to their respective
desks. 49, .. te.
"In concluding this statement, beg TO say
that in my opinion the duties Of no one
clerk could be devolved upon another with
out detriment to the public service /
am not at liberty, under the statute, to em-
ploy temporary clerks, as was formerly the
case; the entire work Of the Office must be
performed by the number of clerks assigned
me under the act approved February 81,
1870. See Session Acts 1STo-'71, p. 149. i
willonly add that / should greatly deprecate
any reduction Of the clerical force In my
office, and hope it will be the pleasure of the
General Assembly to make no change"
For names and salaries Of clerks the Au-
ditor refers to his annual report.
. SECOND AUDITORS OFFICE.
The Second Auditor states the names and
duties Of each Of his clerks, and recapitu-
lates as follows: At present there is First
clerk, at salary of $1,000; second clerk,
$1,000; third clerk, $1,000. Total, s., 100.
1t may not be amiss to compare the pre-
sent salaries and expenses of the clerical
force in the office with those of 1860, which
were First clerk, $1,000; second clerk,
$500; third clerk, $500; fourth clerk, 5000 !;
messenger, who discharged the duties Of a
clerk in Second Auditors office, $500. TO
this add allowance to secretary of the sink
ing fund, now discharged by the first clerk
in this Office without compensation, which
ing $4,000; showing that in point of fact
the charge on the treasury for clerks in this
office is 5000 per annum less now than in
1860, while the work done is greatly more
than at that time.
It follows, therefore, that, in my opinion,
having already dispensed with two Of the
clerks allowed by law to this Office, the
number remaining could not be reduced
"without detriment to the public service"
RESIGNATION OF COLONEL sTRoTuER.
DR.. T. Fl. Barnes, of the House COM
mittee appointed to investigate the condition
OF Colonel G. F. Strother, Superintendent
Of the Penitentiary, on Saturday received q
letter from Mr.. John NJ. Strother, Of Cul-
peper, stating that Colonel Strother's resig-
nation had been written and forwarded to
Mr.. Phil. Strother, member Of the House
from Giles county. Mr.. Strother writes
that they are still advised by the physicians,
men Of high character and cminence in
their profession, that Colonel Strother will
recover, but they are unable to learn at
what time that desirable event will probably
occur. In view, of this Colonel Strother
resigns and gives the State opportunity to
obtain the services Of some one who can give
personal attention to the duties OF the office.
Colonel Strother has been Superintendent
of the Penitentiary since 1870, when he was
elected to succeed Burnham Wardwell. He
has been diligent and Jealous in the per.
fornancc OF his responsible duties, and the
Legislature in accepting his resignation will
probably take occasion to pass resolutions in.
dicative Of the sympathy Of members In the
illness to which he is subjected, and expires.
sive of cordial wish for his early and COM
plete recovery.
The superintendency OF the penitentiary
is one of the most desirable offices within
the gift Of the State, and will be sought by
several gentlemen Of influence and reputa-
ton. Indeed, work in that direction has
been going on for several, MONTHS, and
nearly every member OF the Legislature
has been interviewed" by more than one
candidate. ,-....a..sc.. -t.a..:
'..' THE INDICATOR. .
Senator Motfett's wh:skey "indicator''
continues to be the sensation at the Capitol
It has already been examined by hundreds OF
persons, and approved by many. A large
number OF objections to its practical opera
tion have been advanced, OF all of which
DR.. Moffett has taken note with the view oi
framing a bill that will be as nearly perfect
as possible. DR.. Moffett admits that many
evil-minded bar-keepers will defraud the
revenue by failing to "puncb," but he
believes that the smallness Of the tax, one
cent per drink, and the greatness Of the
penalty, will secure pretty honest enforce
ment of the law il passed. -.
What seems to be the most serious objec-
ton urged is that it will cause great alter.
alton in the retail trade; that consumers
will collude with bar-keepers to defeat its
eNGCuUlOu, Iudb pI1Salt uOLllCS w III bC hCpS
by consumers at groceries, and that other
and the State will not realize as much from
the tax per drink as she now does from
liquor-licenses. It is proposed, it must be
understood, to abandon the latter system II
DR.. Moffett's is adopted, and bar-keepers
will only pay for the "indicator (''whis-
key-punch," some call it,) and the tax Of
one cent on each drink recorded on the dial,
and be subject to no license-tax.
It is difficult to say what will be the fate
OF DR.. Mofett's scheme. It seems to have
many able and influential friends, but it Is
apparent that the shafts Of ridicule will be
hurled at it with all the ardor and force the
unfriendly legislators will be able to COM
mand. Tor instance
Punch brothers, punch with cairo;
Punch in the presence of the consumaire, &c. &C
MURDERER REsPITED.
The Governor on Saturday granted re-
spite till April oath to Miles Riddick, who
was to have been hanged Tuesday the 2Sd
instant for the murder of companion
named Burke on board Of the tug-boat
Grace Meade some months ago. 1t is said
by some that Riddick Is man Of the very
smallest possible amount of intelligence,
and it is, no doubt, to inquire INTO that mat
ter that the Governor respited him.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Both Houses have now passed the bill
relieving the political disabilities OF Messrs
Barbour, Mosby, Royal, Trigg, McCarty
and others.
The Governor has approved bill prohib
itfng the sale OF property delinquent for city
taxes in Petersburg, except in the months
Of June, July, and August; $50
The bill to allow the trustees OF the Thirt