The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-08
Governors Message.


was received 1t having been read before the GENE
raj Assembly yesterday, precludes It's publtcatio
/ in full in this issue OF the yIRGINIAN. We give be
low synopsis of the document, together with 81
| tracts from the more mporsant portions.
After abiding to the various measures affectin
! the debt question, which preceded the adoption 0
the Riddleberger Bill he refers as follows to tht
1 last named measure:
] The State debt was again taken up at Its session
4 OF 1S79S0 and the opponents of the SMcCullocl
| BIZ having majority OF its members, adopted
what they styled "a Bill to Re-establish the Publ
Credit" commonly called the 'sRiddleberger Bill,
repeating therein former laws for the settlement
the debt. This bill, by a stroke Of the pen "elimi
nates to use its own gentle phrase more than one
third OF the hitherto ascertafned debt admitted
reported by every fiscal officer OF the Government
| and approved by every General Assembly that ha.
convened since the debt contracted; 1t sseltmt
Mates one-half of the promised interest upon tn.
resldue-1ndeed, proposing and pledging itself tt
pay no certain amount of interest, but only such
sum as may be In the treasury after future Genera
Assemblies have disposed Of what may seem t.
them proper-in its own language, "that may mo-
he otherwise appropriated" it then 'setminates'
nearly, If not quite all that may be left by subject
ing 1t to the State, city and county taxes.
When reflected that this treatment was inflicted
upon debt for every dollar OF which consideration
mad been received; when reflected that that con
sideration had been invested by fathers pure
and kn1ghtly men as ever lived, In elevating and
making strong a Commonwealth which they loved
10 alteration, promising that they and their child
rem would honor and pay 1t; when reflected that II
survives to us and makes Virginia what she ts
when reflected that she had, through her repre-
sentattyes, renewed the promise from year year
through her organic law and legislative enactment
was constrained by the obligation Of my oath, and
by every reason that could prompt intelligent AMI
honorable action. to return the bill the body In
which 1t originated, without my approval "because
believe 1t to be in violation Of the Constitution OF
the State, In violation of the Constitution OF the
United States, in violation of the spirit which has
ever moved and inspired the traditions of the Com
monwealth, and made her name dear her own
0ODOre1 will
ling now to revoke blot word of that
The bill failed to become a law for want Of the
requisite majority over the Governors veto.
The message then proceeds to deprecate the ne
cessity for the of veto power but in defend
ing its exercise, under necessity the says
made by the Constitution the representative of
all the people of the State without distinction of
party and sworn to the power TO protect its
provisions, need not say that 1 could hardly be
guilty OF the baseness well folly of Its sur
render 1t is very true that the legislature is the
proper body to settle the debt question: will state
II more strongly 1t Is the only power that can. But
1t must be done within its constitutional limtta-
lions, and those very limitations provide way in
winch the veto may be overcome
The Governor contends that had the measures ve
toed been approved they would not have stood the
test of the courts. The grounds upon which the
vetoes We're based, the Governor claims have since
been approved by both the Va Court of Appeals and
the Supreme Court Of the United States.
In regard to the present condition of the nnan-
ces the Governor says:
The Auditor of Public Accounts has furnished me
statement of their condition, allowing for reduced
assessments of lands, &c, and adding prospective
incremeAts and has given me the balance that will
remain In the treasury, supposing the receipts and
disbursements otherwise to continue the same as
last year, after paying all the expenses for the sup
port OF government for the support Of the Public
Free Schools the interest the tax paying coupon
debt, consol and 1910 and the bonds held by col
leges, and the amounts ordered by law be paid
quarterly arrearages due the Public Free School
This balance Is S276, 96443.
This sum is applicable the interest on the pub
lie deb-oid unfunded and peeler-which amounts,
according to the Second Auditors statement made
at my request, and now before me- to the following:
Sterling, S51 o. at five per cent interest," and
Dollar, 50, 4242925, Qess the Of $1335, 687 co.
held by colleges, on which interest has been
paid annually, as before recited) four per cent
1nterest-to loan Of 49, 800 due to the Miller Man
ua School, with interest from November, 1872 to
the account of arrearages due the Public Free
Schools. according to the AUDITOR ST. 294 to
amount due the Literary Fund, as per report Of
Second Auditor (september 1881, S5l6, 1922 leland
to arrearages Of interest due public debt as per
same report S3,565, 331.79.
Observation-Disclosures Penitentiary reports 81
estimate the netrecenue Of the Penitentary during
the current fiscal year at $25,00O; which he sug-
gesJs may be increased should certain Of his recon-
meudations be adopted. must commend the dill
gence and efficiency of the Superintendent aided by
an equally efficient and sympathising Board of Df-
rectors who, both aided by the revival Of business
which has enabled, them. under the various stat
utes to make contracts for the employment of the
convicts within and outside of the Penftentiary
have converted il from an expensive into paying
institution.
This will make the aforesaid balance more than |
$780, 900, which, added the current revenues will
nearly, Ii not quite, pay the interest the entire
principal Of the dent of the State peeler
unfunded-at the rates of interest it bears, in
the hands Of the holders whatever may be Its form
full interest to the colleges all the expenses of
government, and the amount annually due the |
Public Free Schools
There will be still outstanding the above items I
OF the Miller School Loan the arrearages due to the
Public Free Schools, to the Literary FUND, and to
the interest upon the debt.
AS to the Literary Fund and the Public Free
Schools, the one Is the States property, the |
other the States sprogeny; both To be cared |
for and protected. We bound to support |
the Public Free School system as part of the organ
tc law The debt is equally So and Of equal II not
prior, obligation. make no boast Of eminent
vice. The records will show that the school-sys-
tenn has received at my hands every aid in my pow
er, under the Constitution and laws, to establish
and perfect Ii, and make it Of greater value the
state. In the settlement with the creditors their
representatives, under the 1910 or McCulloch BILL
by their generosity the schools preserved in
their entirety. The statute, commonly called the
''Henkel BILL which thus provides for the schools,
still stands In full operation, whilst the residue of
the settlement, through which, by consent, the
creditors receive their diminished interest
has been defeated.
By this statute the schools are now provided for,
and receive all they are entitled to under the Con
'tltut1on and laws, amounting annually TO up
wards of half million OF dollars out OF the State,
and that amount or more out OF the county and cor
poration treasures. These arrearages of doubt
.ul and unsettled amount. The present Auditor
mas given me the sum above stated. His predeces-
iollars less and according to what he thought the
'orrect mode of ascertaining the amount due, at
lothfng at all, indeed, regarding them overpaid.
The Superintendent of Public schools differs from
he former Auditor, and has made no estimate
tnce the latter has been In Office, In any event. now
nat they are receiving In full their annual quotas
IND the pressing demands upon the State require
I, the settlement OF these arrearages can very we'll
,e postponed till her resources justify it, which
orm the present outlook, with the rapid advent of
ap1tal to our midst we believe will be very soon.
AS to the accumulated interest on the public debt,
here are various modes in which it could be pro-
lded for without any Increase in the rate OF
ion, which do not think 1t necessary to urge Not
nat would not SO urge to the States obliga-
ions. certainly would. Taxes not agreeable |
'ut they are the cost of good government and
that term implies.
But this increase is not necessary The State has
eVeral millions OF dollars of assets which be
old and applied. All the bonds which bear i've
md SIX per cent interest now redeemable at !
he option of government; this fact alone so chang
IS the situation since the LIST day of July last as to
lew IL with more confidence. Hitherto consent of
ne holder was implied. Now, with reSolute de-
and announcement to meet its obliga-
ions, the Common wealth can issue its bonds at a
nucn lower rate OF interest, and have them readily
AIKEN. We know that may of the creditors will glad
40 so; which, II done will, as have shown, speed
~ III US out OF trouble and preserve credit
lntarniShed.
me Governor then proceeds to say that there is
70 justification for this ''elimination," under the
sfddleberger Bill after meeting her obligations
he State will have surplus of S3OOOCO
The message concludes with defence of the
honor and honesty exercised in the past admin
traton of public affairs in Virginia, allusion to
he vacant county and circuit 1udgeships and refer
nee to the completion Of the Richmond 4 Allegha
y Railroad.