Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-07-27
Auditor Massey,

limo on Auditor Massey, prompts the
inquiry, "what has he doney" The
answer to this question will bring to
light record of brief ofihial life that is
about AZ pregnant with results rs any
we can call to mind. In the brief space
of six months he has caused the 100
county Treasures to bring forward ar
rcarages that have been covered for
years in the mildcw of the Capitol Base
ment, amounting to hundreds of thous-
ands Of Dollars. This Is money the
State has caused to BE- levied and which
the tax payers have paid, but much Of 1t
has been held back so that the Common
wealth has been paralized in the per-
Torrance Of Its very highest functions.
1t is money kept from the insane and
the dumb and the blind. Massey has
waved his little wand, and, presto, here
is the money in the treasury. lie has
also caused the TreaSurcrs to make
monthly payments of the collections of
the current year, and presto, the usual
bank loans have become obsolete. From
these two sources he has paid up the
asylum arrearages Of 100000, the col
lege arrearsgcs of $4,000, the literary
fund arrearages of SAC, 1000, and 100000
on the school fund arrearages, $l64,-
600 on old warrants. This much
abused official has closed up gap
In the revenue amounting to over
half 4 million of dollars. He has stopp-
ed the pilfering Of the school fund and
is emptying the jails Of the neglected
lunatics.
We have not heard that Massey has
stolen any Of the public money, though
he declares that he has discovered a
large leakage Of the public money of
over 800 month, in the rutagc of the
Richmond Jail, and ia very promptly
puttinga stop to 1t. lie has that first
class official blood hound, the efficient
Comm'o. Attorney Of Richmond, after
the jailor for this little irregularity. We
are told Massey has the public business
Of the Auditors office squarely up with
the calendar. Notwithstanding this re-
freshing record, Massey ia now about
the most ronndly abused man In the
Commonwealth. Even for the pursuit
Of the Auditor the dogs Of war seem
just now to be called or the trail Of Gen.
Malone. One IL almost tempted to aus
pect that Massey's very efficient admin
tration Is an artful strategic diversion in
favor Of that prince Of the Belzebubian
Empire, the Senator elect.
But the reader asks "has Massey done
nothing clseI" Well, ycs-that l., It Is
said he has used on the stump some of
the official Information which he has
absorbed while In the $. Il. Corner Of
the Basement. But then we must bear
IN mind that tho amiable and incorrupti-
bic Mr.. Taylor, who preceded him did
much the same thing through the medi-
um Of his reports and perhaps otherwise
In print. No man has moro respect for
the character Of VIM. r. Taylor than
the writer OF this, but we must say that
we never knew him to be assalcd for his
partisan views by these same patriots
who abuse Massey.
II Is not our business TO write down
Massey M the Ne plus ultra Of virtue IN
this age Of sand. He may have his
faults. We think he has. But In the
name of conscience, we don't sec any
thing he has done as auditor that should
put him TO The torture Of the heated
daily prcas Of this State.
IL the Fundcr press wish 10 tie him to
the yard arm Of The ship Of State and
give him the cat Of public criticism,
why, that Is simply business. But even
then we see nothing new TO call Il forth
afresh. II It can DC shown lhat he Il
organizing q few Dcgolycr jobs or crcd-
II Mobiller swlndles to steal the public
money, or even to divert II to unconsli.
tutional use', we shall help to scourge
him. But rs long as he cleans up the
unpaid public revenue and applies 1t 10
IT, proper uses; an long ny he thus grease
cs the wheels Of government to prevent
their being stopped by the hot box of
the coupon, we shall ask the people to
watch Massey and soc that he Is sus-
tanned. We know of nothing else 80
well calculated just now TO teach the
people the need Of more REIMBURSEMENT
an the persecution aud attempted torture
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