The Russellville Democrat., 1878-09-05

CFedtlhS a uSH DODUEQ lHQeD tedues at any time.
 We already have as large bonds, debt as we can pay interest on. W. have the Loughborough bonds, $49s GOO, at $ per cent, and the Bav,a. ten. year bonds, $2So,000, at 10 nv. cent. Total bonded debt, 705oFF09 annual interest, $53,50 currene, This interest is paid promptly.
 The legislature of 1875 contract,d a debt of $lo0,O00, to be paid in cn, rency, for extending the walls aroma the Penitentiary and building tba cell buildings. The Legislature oi 1877, at the close of the session found uton the completion of M, work, which would be in a sho,, time, that the State would owe $cg S66.G6; and there being no moDcy in the treasury, they finally got Coi Zeb. Ward, the contractor, to arroe to fuud the debt in Loughborcuot bonds, at eighty gve cents on tbe dollar, making a bonded indebtI ness of $9S,GG6.67. in excess of tbp amount due If paid in currency If $14, 4,S00. This was the hest ths could be done under the circnmstap. ces. The work was done and wei and badly needed by the State. mt too heavy debt to be contracted ii that time.
 So long as it is necessary to bor. TOW money to run the State Govem. ment, jet the Finance Board hypob. ecate say from $3C0,000 to SJC0BfO of Loughborough bonds; use thuk only as collateral, aNd SO soon as tae money borrowed is paid back, take up the bonds used. In this way the bonds draw no interest.
 RLTRENcHMENT AND REFORM.
 Run the State Government on less money. l ana not i'll favor of reduc ing the salaries of State officers be. low what is q fair compensation, neither am l in ia or of reducing the per diem pay of members of the Legislature. Pay enough to com pensate good men to fill those offices. The salaries paid officers never broke any State or Nation. Other leak. ages should be stopped. Run tue State Government with fewer officers and pay them, and elect State officers for four years. Let the Legislatuie meet eve.Y four years, to be called together by the Governor if neees. sary. Reduce the number one hail, and have 60 day sessions. Have less legisiating. Fewer men to legislate will make just as good laws, and will cost much less money. l will ven. turc the assertion if this question IS submitted to the people to vote upon, that it carries by larger majority than Gov. Miller was elected by in 1876.
 Change the law in regard to petit larceny. Raise to twenty-five dol. lars in place of sending parties to the ponitentiary for petit ofienses; try them before a justice of the peace immediately after the oilenss is committed; fine them if proved guilty; work them on roads, farms, streets--ln any -way that is most profitable, and as long as is necessa- ". A system of law can be adopted and work out much better results than under the present law.
 The administration of justice costs too much money. A party was sent from Hampstead county to the peni- tentiontiary few weeks ago for ten days, at cost to the county and State, l suppose, of not much short of one thousand dollars. Virginia has erected the whipping post, and the first party whipped in the State was a white girl for some petit oilense; and it is reported that the people who witnessed the whipping were very indignant, and all in favor of the repeal of the law. l had rather see the transgressors worked than whipped.
 Public printing costs the State too much. Let counties furnish their own tax books, and they can furnish them for less money than the State can get them up for, under the printing act. Do away with Asses sors' blanks entirely. Let the As, sessor take his present tax-books with him in making his assessment and put all names directly on the tax books. The time of assessing and collecting taxes should be changed. Commence say the lst Of November and close by the lst oI February, and make final settlement by the lst of March.
 FoFEITED LANDS.
 Do not certify to the Land Com missioner, but sell in the county, and let proceeds go to the school fund, say on one, two or more years, Il thought brst; do this all in the coun ty with much less expense. Wind up the landed interest within the next two years, and if any lands arc not disposed of, certify them back to the counties to be disposed of, and do away with the Land Office.
 SCHOOLS.
 Upon the subject of schools much can and ought to be said and dcne Send your children at all hazards Build up schools at home. l do mol want to see anything done or any