Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-01-21
rhe Auditor Ctoss.Qucstiomcd,

The Auditor CtOSs.QurStinncd
Mr.. Fowler offered the following:
Whereas the Auditor Of Public Ac
counts IN II recent communication to thi
House has expressed the opinion that til,
revenues of the Commonwealth derived
from the present rate Of taxation are sui,
iicicnt TO provide for the payment o
four per cent, interest on the whole o.
the public debt "prOper,' 50 long rs the
assessed values Of property are undimm
lShed and whereas in his recent annrm
report he states on page . thereof thai
! the net revenue applicable to the pay.
ment of interest is only S072 ,2G2,4O;
! therefore
Rcsoiced, That the said Auditor Of
Public Accounts be requested to inform
the House Of Delegates whether said
sum Of S072 ,2G2.lD is sufficient to pay
four per cent. interest, and ii not, to eX-
plain to the House the apparent discrcp.
ancy between his annual report and his
recent special one.
The resolution was discussed by
Messrs. FAuN1LEROY, FOWLER, W. 4.
TALlAFERRo, and ROBINSON Of Ports
mouth
Mr.. PANTHEON offered the follow.
ing amendment TO the resolution;
"And that the Auditor state in his re-
Spouse to this resolution what Is the
whole comprehensive amount of the IN
terest-bearng debt OF Virginia upon
which interest Is annually to be- paid and
provided tor under the Constitution, aud
upon that basis what per cent the pres
ent rate Of taxation will pay"
Mr.. FOWLER said thar the Auditors
statement had been published in the New
York Her0id, and that 1t had thus gone
to the ulJcnuost corners Of the earth,
carrying with ii u wrong impression /.
though Mr., FOWLER expressly diSclaim-
ed intention TO intimate that the Audi
tor had done anything puposcly to mis-
lead the public.
The subject was further discussed by
Mcssrs. ANDERSON, HENRY, BARBOUR,
WALKlR Of Chesterfield, and HARRISON
of Sussex.
The amendment Of Mr.. FAuNrLERoY
was agreed to.
The resolution so amended was agreed
to.--Rcchmoad Dispatch IF DE nm,
Mr. FOWLER made the following re-
marks on the above resolutions offered
by him In The House Of Delegates on the
18Th inst;
Mn, SPEAKER. The simple inquiry l.,
shall 1t go forth as the judgement of this
House that we owe no "drbt proper"
but the bonded debt IN the hands of pri-
vate individuals. wish the Auditor 10
state how we can pay Sl.2OO, 600 which ~
/ per cent. interest on 80 millions, with
only SO72,OO0, which * the amt he snys
In his annual report lsavallablc for the
payment of Interest on the debt. The 3d
Section of Art. VII the Constitution says;
"'rhc General Assembly shan provide by
law, ~ IT, ilrsl session under the Conai-
tuition uniform system of public lIcr-
schools, and for lts gradual, equal aud
full Introduction into all the counties Of
the State by the year 1876, or ~ much
curliel ~ practicable" | wish the Au-
ditor to state to the House why he con-
sidcrs hdt no pad or parcel Of the debt
proper OF this Commonwealth.
Section provides that the General
Assembly MdU ~, apart as u permanent
and perpetual Literary mud, the present
Literary tlud, the proceeds OF the pub.
lie land donated by Congress for Public
school purposes, Ut all Eschcatrd prop
crly, Of all waste and unlpprupfialrd
land. of all property accrulng TO the
state by forfeiture, and all llues Sc. Sc.
AMI See. Spuyidrs tlNt the General
Assembly ShN provide the annual intc-
rest on HE Literary fund Sc.
| wish the Auditor ~ state why he
considers thoi no part or parcel of the
Dcb proper Of this state.
See. \ of Art. 10 provides for the ~.
tHhIIshmrnt Of sinking fund the unuu-
nj interest On which ShWt be collected
while the Public debt cNisip. wish
him To swc why nat lruo p1it or par
eel OF the Debt proper OF Va.
We are over due interest un the pub
lie debt 10 ihc amount NJ i've millions.
| desire the Auditor to state why hc
considers Rdi no part Of the debt proper
Of Va. We are over due, by his own
report lDi thousand dollars 10 the Asa
lums. would like him to state why hr
considers thai no part Of lhe debt proper
ut Va. Yet when asked to state what
tate of interest the present rate OF TAXA
item will enable W. 10 pay un our public
debt, hu reptiles lt auyng We eau pay
I per cent. on 20 millions, which lac
Ats les the debt proper, and which rhio-
nilly excludes aud pfopludcs oil aitcn.
iiun ~ these aud their vnsi AMI snrird
items Of the debt. sir saw thla report
OF The Auditor published In the New
York Htwii. which u read Ia every
land on Earth, aud which reaches ov-
rry hulip uf our hohdH lmcdn NO re-
iittiion on the Auditor, for | know Of
mo- moW loflt gentleman IN W. Than
Wm J., Taylor, hut Why take The op.
prlune iimr 10 tell the wotld we can
pay l0ur per ccut Without increasing
jnSntici, Whrn We ate hcic diukcliug
With our creditors to yet them TO agree
TO u lower rate ae 40 absolute necessary
70 the palvsilon VI Our people,