The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-16

sATURDA I0RNING,
ito) Ct MI. steger. The serYice performed
by the custodian Of ifs records is without
compensation, this officer being a clerk In
the Second Auditors Office. Such service
can continue TO be performed by the same
officer utter the absorption, II made, OF the
Second Auditors office into that Of the Au-
ditor Of Public Accounts. sf..
o. ds to the Board of Public Works.
The service performed in connection with
the record Of the operations OF this office Is
done by clerk in the Office OF the Trea-
surer, for which lie receives, as special COM
pensation, the sum Of S480 per annum. AS
german to the business OF his Office, this
service should he required to be performed
by the Railroad Commissioner, without ad-
ditionaI compensation, and regarded as part
of the regular duties OF bis office.
AddeRdum.- DRIFT OF the foregoing
/ will indicate our Recommendations in con-
inection with the several offices considered.
We desire tosTlbmit few general recon-
mendations:
j. The opinions OF the Attorney General,
furnished to the executive offices on points
arising In the conduct OF the public busi-
ness. should always be asked for and re-
ceiyed in writing, and made matter Of re-
cord in the Office receiving 1t.
2. Inasmuch as the rate OF salaries paid
to executive officers and employees consti.
tutes the subject mattero OF particular COM
mittee, and the inquiry is being diligently
prosecuted by that committee, it is not
deemed advisable for this commission to
venture any recommendation in the prem
ises. s..s. 81:
3. There is one matter we feel compelled
to refer to in the most unreserred manner
namely, the location OF the executive Offices
in the basement OF the Capitol. The Capt.
tol building was manifestly not constructed
with view to accommodate anything but
the General Assembly and its officers. 10
place any other officers there is to either
prevent the meeting Of the committees OF
| the two houses, or compel them to occupy
quarters devoted to another department OF
| the public service. This is the case, as
things now stand, and, as result, the COM
mittees are deprived OF the privacy their
deliberations should enjoy, and the officers
| occupying the rooms are prevented from
properly attending to their duties. These
basement offices are filled, at every available
point, with a vast accumulation Of records,
| for the safekeeping of which no provision
at all is made. Part Of the papers OF the
| Auditor OF Public Accounts have been put
In the old Dollhouse on the Square. Every
thing in the offices mentioned Is exposed !;
and while the incumbents Of these offices
are compelled to give bonds they are at the
same time utterly without the means OF de-
fence. No hank would for an instant re-
uuire or expect responsibility from any OF
its officers without ample provision Of the
means to justify such requirement. We
accordingly recommend that the General
Assembly authorize the erection OF a sub
stantial building for the lodgment OF all the
executive offices except the Secretary OF the
Commonwealth, and that the same be pro-
vided with every mechanical security ne
cessary to the proper custody and preserva-
ton of the public records. This building
could be located on that PORTION OF the
Capitol Square once occupied by the
State Courthouse. Its location there Wouid
not mar the beauty OF the: Square, and 1t
would be entirely convenient for business.
II it should be desirable to so arrange the
executive offices as to concentrate them
even more than is suggested in the fore
going, such a building as we propose would
enable this to be done. The employees so
well in hand, the work of the Offices could
be accomplished with less force, and the
mechanical security for the records OF espe-
ciaI value recommended would render a
fewer number OF guards necessary. The
employees, being free from the constant in
terruption to which they are now subjected,
could work to such advantage rs to relieve
the heads Of offices Of much Of the discom-
fort they now suffer. Regarded in any
view, indeed, looking to economy and ef-
fciency, this building should be provided.
In the extremely short time allotted to the
commission to perform the work required
of them under the resolution, they could
not do much more than take compara-
lively surface-view Of the matters to be con-
sidered by them. The foregoing is, there,
fore, yentured with great difidence, and
with the observation, which is obvious, that
with longer time at their command they
could have gone more into details, and per-
haps increased their recommendations.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
HENRY w. THOMAS,
/. DAVENPORT, JR.,
| JAMES NELSON,
Commissioners.
| ,J0hn OFT, Secretary.