Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-07-25


81, 900, 600 for that time). For the follow
ing twenty years at per cent. there is
saving of S660, 900 year and for the re-
naming ten years at S per cent. there is
saving of 1885,, 600 year, making in all
saving of about $2O,0O0,OO0 to Virginia.
Is it strange that men elected to settle the
debt voted for such bill as that? Reject
this bill and we are plunged into an abyss
of disturbance in our finances with the old
six per cent again staring us in the face.
The opponents of the bill object to its
"irrepealable" feature. Very well; now
If this bill is irrepealable then the Fund
ing bill Of ~ WAS irrepealable and we are
most fortunate to escape from it in this
easy way.
SENATOR PAUL's REPLY.
Senator Paul in replying spoke of the
fact that Judge Allen had been one Of the
foremost of the Readjuster party and had
been chosen by them to the highest posi-
tion in their gift, the Speakership of the
House, and said he had now struck his
friends the cruellest blow ever given to his
friends by public man in Virginia. He
complained that Judge A. had voted
against y proposition to submit this bill to
the people which had been done with
similar bill in Tennessee. He Mr.. ~
had hoped to live to see Virginia the
Queen mother OF states as she had been
the Queen mother of Presidents" and to
zee, justice done her, based upon her losses
in the war, but he found no food for that
hope in this bill. He said that the work.
ing of this bill without increased taxes
would be stalled at the start. The State
Auditor says there will be 1912. 900 Of the
revenue left for the payment Of interest.
Now the interest under the new bill is
1897 600, and there is $85, 900 OF interest
payable to the Literary Fund. not inclu-
ded, to be added making $1,tS2,000 from
which deduct 1917, 600 and you have de-
fciency of $4,000 to start with. And in
calculating the revenues Of the future the
Auditor does not count the diminutiOn Of
the Moffett tax under the new rate, nor
sufficiently estimate the reduct ion OF the
land assessments of 1880. That reassess-
ment, Mr.. Paul held, would reasonably be
based on the difference in the value of tn
products of the land between 1870 and
1880 which he thought was nearly one
half. But say there was only % per cent.
deduction, that would make further def
cheney Of $685. Still more, there are
81, 100, 600 now due to schools and 1886, 600
of unredeemed coupons yet out, 100000
due the banks. borrowed money, and 500,
600 due to insane asylums.
AS to the three-fourths Of the school tax
to be retained by the County Treasurers, he
replied that when retained it would be
found to be coupons. He described the
Funding party" as composed of ''small
lawyers who were anxious to be talked
about, and merchants who wanted to pay
their taxes in coupons" and complained
that while lunatics are In jail, and two
hundred deaf, dumb and blind colored
children were without an asylum, men
sent to the legislature to remedy this had
been "kneellng down and admiring the
gold-tipped fingers Of the brokers Of Lon.
don and New York;
He was particularly severe ON the Al
len amendment to the new bill, which pro-
vides that the Auditor may issue debt Ger
tificates, to be sold at not less than rs cents
in the dollar, to get money when, and if
necessary to pay the interest. Mr.. Paul
characterized this as infamous. In con-
clusion he prophesied that the people were
going to rise in the majesty OF their power
and do just what they pleased with the
debt question, and give the supporters OF
this bill a last aud final resting-place.
Loud applause.)
REJOINDER OF JUDGE ALLEN.
Judge Allen picked out Mr.. Paul g at
tack on the Allen amendment, and pro-
ceeded to read from the record of the
House of Delegates, showing that exactly
the same amendment to the Bocock-Fow-
Ter bill had been voted for by James Bar
bour, Fauntleroy, Frazier, Mottett, Reu-
ben N. Harrison, and all the Readjusters
of the House. 1t did not get to the SEN
ate, but it had been prepared in a caucus
Of all the Readjusters.
As to his voting not to submit the new
bill to the people! Why didn't Mr.. Paul
vote to submit the Barbour Till to the
people2 As for himself he did LOT so vote
because such submission was unconstitu-
tional. The legislature, under the con-
stituti0n, could not delegate its power to
the voters. That was the expressed
opinion Of Judge VIM. j. Robertson, for
merry Of the Court of Appeals, whom this
audience had often heard quoted as au-
thority. MIR. Paul talked OF his own re-
gard for the people! He, the speaker, had
a yet higher regard for them. What would
the farmers Of Rockingham aud Of this
whole Valley think of him il he should
seek to submit the question of the taxes
they should bear. to the vote OF the mass Of
ignorant negroes In Virginia. And,
further, what would they think Of him if
he had offered resolution as Senator
Paul had, looking to taking even the CAPT.
tatiOn tax off these negroes, so as they
might all vote on taxing white farmers.
Senator Paul here interrupted. saying
that the resolution he had offered for in
quiring into the expediency OF abolishing
the capitation tax was brought about by
seeing one-armed soldiers deprived of vo-
ting by it, and it was doubtful if it was
not in the face Of the constitutional pro-
vision relating to the franchise. There
was no truth in the statement that he had
offered it in order that negroes might
vote.
Judge Allen said he knew nothing and
said nothing Of the intentions of the
mover of the resolution, but the resolution
itself was there and its effect was plain.
For myself, have to say that would b.