The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-13
The Peoples Interest.

OF the truth of a government of the peo-
pie, by the people, and for the people.
The Peoples interest.
1t is claimed by the Democrats that the
Re-adjusters are not entitled to the credit
of bringing the pen itentiary to self-sus-
tanning basis, because, they allege, it is
managed by Board of Visitors, of whom
Gov. Holiday is the President. and its Of
tlcers are controlled by Democrats. This
won't do. The Board of Visitors have been
of the same political complexion ever since
the war,and yet so long ass Democratic SUI
perintendent directed the affairs of the PEN
itentiary. the result was cost OF about
| 100000 to the State. The first wear of Will
| lans' administrations Re-adjuster--
brings the institution not only to a self
sustaining basis, but actually to paying a
revenue into the Treasury. It is useless
for the Bourbons to attempt to squirm out
of this. The management of the peniten
tiary by them was in accord with their
management OF every other office ia the
State. No reference was had to the inter-
ests OF the people. So that the officers could
have good time of itand draw their salaries
regularly, they were not concerned about
the taxpayers or the Treasury.
| The same may be said of the several base
ment offices. The auditors office was a
marvel of disorder, careessness and ineffi-
cheney. The present auditor discovered in
the iron safe $4,000 in registered letters,
some of which had been there for years,
and which ought to have gone into the
Treasury and to the credit of the parties
transmitting them as soon as received
There were about $3.50, 900 against the va
rious County Treasurers. and the books Of
the office showed that with some of them
there had been no settlement for five or six
years, when the law required semi-annual
settlements While this criminal careless
ness and neglect were being practiced. the
officers themselves were indoIently loung-
| ing in their respective departments, and al
lowing the machinery to run itself in this
hap-hazard way The office of peniten-
| tiary storekeeper shows the manner in
itors attended to their duties We presume
that this office, like that of the Supernten-
dent OF the penitentiary, comes under the
notice of the Board. If so, their negligence
was shown in the defalcaton of $50, 900,
which was never exposed until the Read
justers passed into power and ordered an
| investigation. In the Second Auditors Of
| flee uncancelled coupons were found. which
should have been cancelled as soon as paid in
| But this was not done, and to what extent
| they were afterward issuedthere Isl no way to
| find out accurately ;or at least no exposure
of the whole matter has yet taken place.
In deed, from one end OF this important de-
| partment to the other, the most fragrant
carelessness was discovered, and all direct
| y operating against the interests of the peo-
Pile. The public welfare seemed to be the
last thing thought of. The presumption
seemed TO control that the offices belonged
to certain class, and that it was nobody's
| business how they were managed.
| The,etf,rontery manifested by the Demo-
cratic speakers and the Democratic papers.
in referring to this whole subject, is insult
ing to the intelligence of the State. In
stead of joining in the condemnation which
such criminal abuse of power demands, they
absolutely attempt to defend the party I'M
der whose auspices the wrongs haye been
committed. 1t is evidence that they care
nothing about the people, except to delude
them into voting the Democratic ticket, and
that their assumption of virtue and superb
GRITTY goes so far as to defy the right of the
bone and sinew of the State, whence the
values are created which pay the taxes, to
question the fragrant mismanagement of
which they have been guilty. If the PEG
pie are not lost to all sense of self-respect,
independence and manhood, they will show
this insolent faction that they dare to take
care OF their own interests. and will demand
at the ballot-box that n OF only the Govern
or but the Board of Visitors to the Pcni-
Tertiary are their servants and not their
masters.
If there were not another question at is
sue In this canvass, the reforms and econ
onies which have been introduced into
the basement Offices and the penitentiary
ought to determine the result in favor of
| the Re-adjusters. 1t is the first time since
the war when these officers have acted as
| though they considered themselves the SER
wants OF the people, entrusted with impor-
| tant duties, affecting the rights of the con-
stituent body. and which personal honor. as
| we'll as public policy demand they should
discharge faithfully and efficiently.
We are sure if the voters of Virginia, ir-
respective of parties, will only calmly re-
f1ect on the matter-weigh the adminstra-
lions OF the two factions, and their results,
they will not hesitate to 60 to the polls and
record their sutfrages against the proscrip-
tive, insolent and intolerant faction which
has preyed upon the very vitals of the
Commonwealth for the past fifteen years,
and dragged her name and her fame down
so low that it is almost impossible to reach
lower depth.
Address of Hon. j. F. Lewis.
Hon. John F. Lewis, Re-aduster candidate
| for Lieutenant Governor, has issued an address
70, fl,,,