Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-08-19

While the Conservative party, true tC
the past glorious history of Virginia ant
proud of her good name and fam,
amongst the nations of the earth, would
scorn to repudiate her just obligations
ana are resolved to preserve inviolat,
the publsc faith and credit, vet we can.
not butview with concern and anxiety the
accumulation of our financial Difficult.
ties and the increasing weight of oul
public debt, we therefore earnestly urge
upon the Legislature and executive
branches of the Government the i'm
portance of using all just and honorable
means of bringing about IN adjustment
Of the obligations of the Commonwealth
which will bring the payment of inter-
est upon our entire Indebtedness within
the resources of the State derived from
the present rate of taxation and do equal
ustice to all classes of our Creditors.
2. That every effort should be used
by the legislative department of the
State to reduce the expenditures of the
Government and return to the methods
of frugality, economy, and moderation
practlced by our forefathers and approx
ed by former generations of Virginians,
even i'll the palmiest days of our pros
perity.
3. That in the approaching election
of members ofthe Legislature it is earn
estly recommended by the Convention
that the people shall elect their repre-
sentatives with view to their wisdom
and integrity and their ability to deal
with the difficulties presented by the fl
nancial situation Of the Commonwealth.
4. That our past experience demon
strates the great benefit resulting to the
people of Virginia from an active, thor
ough, and efficient Conservative organi-
zation representing and expressing the
views and wishes of all classes and con-
ditions; that in order TO continue to en-
joy such cenefts all good citizens should
strive to strengthen and preserve that
organization, and by mutual concessions
to settle all differences of opinion, justly
and fairly, inside Of the party.
We proceed now to show from the
public records with what fidelity and
success this promise Of our party has
been redeemed.
Upon the threshold of the labors of
the Assembly the first question was,
What amount of income could fairly be
anticipatcdas
THE ANNUAL REVENUE?
For the five years preceding this as
aembing of the Legislature the total
public receipts, exclusive of loans, had
been $12 1888, 400, Dian average for each
year of 81, ,5GG, ,GsO,l0. (Sce Senate doe
umcnt No. II, session ls7S-'0.)
The next inquiry related to
THE ANNUAL ENPENDlTCBE.
This consisted of three items:
|. The annual interest on the debt,
which Ut the existing rate was..Sl s2O,77S ~
500 Second Auditors report year.
ending S5lh September, lsU ...
9. Tho current expenses Of govern
mont, ordinary aud eXtraordi-
nary, which Tor tho year prcecd.
Ing Senate Document "a, Session.
1850, pago 2 werc.".,.,,..,. l,06o,6l5 pl
3. The annual amount due tho
schools sec report Of House Com
mitteo Oh Finance, January ~,
1878 S.......,".......,,..,' s.'..'' 4OiTeS 20
-------
Total expenditure tS,SS, 9O2 20
Deduct average revcnue..,,,.,.,.. =. 2,00e'OID 90
-
And there appeared an annual donclt
of..... .,..,.,,..,..,".',,. eSl7623,gO
TO annihilate this deficit, and bring The
expenses of the Government within the
scope of u revenue which was not to be
increased by additional taxation, de-
manded of course reduction of oxpen-
disure. This could not be effected IN
the matter of the schools, and the Legis-
latiye was compelled to seek II In the
currcnt-expcnso account, the interest
account, or IN both; and the first effort
of needed reform was made In the nc
count of current expenses.
The ordinary expenses Of the Govern
mcnt for the year ls70-'7 were $O078OJ-
l2. A jealous and exhaustive scrutiny
of ovcry item oipubllc expenditure was
made, and, with unsparng hand,
every Niperiluous outlay was pruned,
every dlspcnsabc office abolished, and
many salaries were diminished, and the
approp ;iation bill for the current year
tscc Acts 1880, page 2ll) discloscs the
result In an aggregNte-expense account
of only $500, ,533, from which, IN estima.
ting current expense proper, must be
deducted $50, 900 appropriated to the en-
largement of the Eastern Lunatlc Asy-
lum, S3l 900 for enlargement Of The
Western Asylum, aud the half Of the
$50, 900 appropriated for Legislative cx-
penses.--for, the sessions being hence
forth biennial, this expenditure will be
encountered only one IN two years. with
these deductions, hconnual ordinary OK
pendlturo Of the government amounts to
s0so,bJ3.
That the ordinary expenses of the
State government need not exceed this
sum In the future IA demonstrated by
the recent communication Of the Audi
tor of Public Accounts, dated August |,
1870, In reply to Senate resolution, by
which he estimates the Ordinary expen-
ses of the government for the year 1870
,an nt tago bgs In which IL will be seen