The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-01
Caucus Retrenchment and Reform.

at the last session OF the Legislature GOV.
Kemper in a special message directed the
attention of that body to some reforms, look
ing to the retrenchment in the expenses OF
government, which if adopted, would have
saved to the State about $4,000 annually in
salaries. OF course this was comparatively
small item, but it was step in the right
direction. How was it met? The recon-
mendations were rejected, and several other
offices created, increasing the salaried offices
of the State to about $4,000. At the session
previous,iwhen the Auditors report showed
a diversion of the public school fund to
the amount of s3s2,732.2G. annuities to
the University of Virginia and the Mill
tary Institute were increased $4,000,
and we think the annuity of $4,000 to
Blacksburg College. This was done, when
the Public Schools, where the poor children
of the State must be educated, if educated at
all, were being robbed OF the taxes paid by
the people for their support.
These are wrongs which will have to be
righted by the next. LEGISLATURE, as far
as possible, and men who feel an interest
with the people must be elected to accom-
plish the reforms.
There is another oppression which the
people have to endure through the operation
of machine politics, and that is the road
law. The poor man who never owned a
horse or wagon, and rarely ever has use for
road, has to bear the burden Of keeping up
the roads, taking from his family three or
four and some times six or eight days in the
year to work them, while his rich neighbor
does no more, although his wagons and car
riages may run over them daily. This is
the results OF the amendments to the Con-
stitution, which were thrust upon the people
through machine politics. 1t will have to
be corrected, and it is essential that the
right kind of men should be sent to the Leg
islature TO correct it.
A Mania for Drink.
The Kansas City (Mo.) Times of Wednes-
day has this curious story: GA singular in
stance of the power of alcoholic drink was
brought publicly to notice yesterday. A
young gentleman a journalist, q capitalist,
and a Christian, is the victim OF a suddenly
acquired mania which is quite remarkable.
He went to visit his former home last SUM-
mer in Cincinnati. On his way home to Kan
sas City he became sick, and, in the absence
| of the doctor, went to the steamboat bar and
asked for and was given drink OF whis-
| ky. The drink coming upon system uEac-
customed to it created an iEtoXication, which
| has been perpetual ever since. 1t gave the
young man such a mania for strong drink
| that nothing could restrain him in his ex-
cesses. There was nothing about his intoX-
ication offensive to those who visited him.
On the contrary, his brilliant mind and mex
haustible fund Of conversation seemed to be
| renewed. He knew that he was surrendering
| himself to drink and its fascinating effects,
/ but paid no attention to the circumstances
of his friends. There was nothing violent
| In his excuses. He was calm, mild and
genial but he insisted on drinking when he
desired to drink, and he kept on drinking.
] He had wife to whom he was devoted; he
idolized her and made every provision for
her comfort. He was member Of church
| and in good standing; good lawyer and
| the chosen leader of the Young Mems Re
publican Club. He ownes large amount
of real estate, and was on the highway to
wealth and prosperity. He had never taken
drop of Intoxicating liquor in his life be-
fore this drink taken on the Ohio steam
boat. Yesterday he was taken East by his
father and brother, where restraint will be
placed upon his actions, in the hope that
the brilliant and cultivated mind may be
1 saved from its strange and fatal infatua-
| Con"