Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-02-06
Letter from Richmond.


have watched our interests in the mat
ter of re-districting the State for circuit
judges makes interference with the 18th
circuit among the most improbable
things Of the session. From the COM
mittees having the work in charge,
three reports will emanate, and all of
them let US severely alone. Very little
talk with the members around quite
satisfied me, that if all these reports
shall fail nothing will be done this
winter. l found here quite formida-
bic array of plans, prepared by out
siders, some of which will be pushed by
the lobby, and also a few under-current
schemes looking to the qualification of
personal ambitions but neither the
committees, nor the General Assembly,
as such, have any intention Of doing
more or less than 10 thoroughly analize
the reports, and make such changes as
the public veal may require upon the
basis OF pending business in the circuits.
l have found here but two men from
the Valley who appear really hostile to
MS. and one Of these assures me he will
not contest beyond the reports OF the
committees. The chairman OF the
committee for Courts of Justice, Mr..
Coghill, has mature convictions, so Tar
rs we are concerned, as also have
Major Daniel, Judge Lacy, and other
lawyers who have looked specially into
the subject. just in this connection l
would express the wish that the people
of Virginia could all see and know the
gentlemen composing this General As
sembly, to disabuse their minds OF the
false impression created by an untriend-
" and reckless country press. We be-
leiye either body will compare iavoTably
with Virginia legislatures in every es-
sential. Their work so far attests their
worth. and. unless we are greatly mis-
taken. the end will show them equal to
the public debt situation. To their
credit, he il said, they have done very
little in the way Of general legislation.
Too much legislation and too little care
has been the bane of our State. This
Assembly seem to be intent upon solving
the debt problem and are bestowlng
very little thought upon other concerns
This leads me very naturally to the
notice Of
THE PUBLIC DEBT SITUATION.
The determination to readjust the
debt is now almost unanimous. There
are certainly not dozen in direct OPP
positions thereto, despite the many ap-
pliances of the coupon spectators who
curse our State as. Wall Street does the
Nation. The committee bill, known
as the Barbour bill, will be taken up in
the House to-day. During its consider
alton both of our delegates will make
specches, which, We hope, they will
send Won at least abstracts Of for publ
cation. This is the bill which distribu-
tes the revenue and is relied on to de-
priye the Funding Bill Of its sting. In
competition with this, Mr.. Brooke OF
FauQuier has bill to settle the debt on
a four per cent basis, wherein lies the
only danger to readjustment this ses'
sion. 1t is conceded by the able corps
Of LAWYERS who understand the subject
that Mr. Brooke's bill cannot stand the
court cruclble, while Its author, with a
small following, insists that it will.
Because of this distinction the opposi-
ton to reimbursement will support this
TO defeat that which they know will
survive judicial construction. II the
committee bill shall pass, then the work
Of reimbursement is accomplished. After
that will come the consideration Of the
rate Of interest.
There is lamentable, not to say
disgraceful. condition Of affairs here.
Coupons have entirely absorbed the
revenues and the treasury is bankrupt
Members of the legislature get their pay
in small instruments and government
Is being run on credit, with the debt
accumulated for the last year over a
million and a half of dollars, the whole
increase being q. 296. 4O9. % upon which
the capitalized interest amounts to
s3l7.784.55. The two Auditors this
week report the whole debt at s4l.22O.-
1926 with annual interest upon it Of
s2.553.7l6.3l. What lie this gives Ia
those newspapers and stump orator;
who continue to report the debt at &c
millions with only small yearly deficit
to BE- easily provided dior! God knows
I wish they were right and we mistaken
When REIMBURSEMENT shall have stricken
out the equivalent Of war and recon
struction interest, then their figures vii
not be far from wrong.
On Monday l presented claim iron
q Shenandoah county officer for s2ll.9.
and was told there was not money OF
hand to pay it. On Wednesday morn
ing there was just two dollars anC
seventy-ene cents in the treasury, ant
on Wednesday the curb-stOne shaveri
were at work heavily discounting thC
poor countrymen with claims agains
the Commonwealth for services.
THE PULPIT.
Would you believe it? Notwithstand
ing this exhibit of the week, the batteries
of the pulpit have been whirled INTO thu
fight against an honorable adjustmen