The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-02

the people desire to see accomplished. The
Riddleberger bill fixes the public debt and
the interest charge at a specific amount
within the reach of the revenues derived
from the present rate of taxation. and
therefore under its operation there can be
no more default in interest payment, and
consequent augmentation of the obi
cations of the Commonwealth. If the
bill shall stand the crucible of the
courts, the people will understand the
relief that will be thus afforded. But
there are other endorsements besides the
State debt in the form it existed under the
various funding bills. which impose more
unjust and onerons burdens than the debt
has ever done in its most obnoxious shape,
and which call for modification and reform.
We regard the chancery practice of the
State as far more offensive and unjust than
either of the funding bills, but to which
the attention of the people was not called
during the recent election canvass, nor
was it discussed as one of the reforms to
which the successful party was committed.
The Re-adiusters were pledged to relief
of the people in every form it were proper
for the Legislature TO interpose, and while
the chancery practice, with its iniquitous
charges. was not exposed, nor the people
cognizant of its enormities, yet under the
general policy it was declared the dominant
| party would adopt. it becomes the most i'm
portant question that could be presented
for the consideration and action of the Leg
| islature 1t is true these charges do not
come in the form of general tax tickets.
applicable to all citizens. and annually, or
semi-annually presented, to gather revenue
for the support and expense of govern
ment and the discharge of public obliga-
tions But they do come against those
most unable to bear them, and come under
the sanction of law and are collected by
memorable processes. even if it strips the
| itigant of the last farthing. Were they
necessary to the ends of justice, there
would be some excuse for the laws which
impose them. But instead of this, they abb
solutely defeat the ends of justice, and rob
| both creditors and debtors. under the stat
utes as they now exist, and appropriate es-
tates to primary demands which have
neither justice nor right in them. When a
| simple single motion, at a cost of five dol
lars, could be authorized to take the plac e
of the exhaustive and protracted chancery
proceedings, frequently causing delay of
years in settling controverted cases and i'm
posing twenty times the cost that would be
imposed by motion. it becomes a question
of grave public interest, directly affecting
the people, whether or not the change
! should be made. IL is the class of persons
affected by chancery proceedings. who the
more sensbly feel the burdens of govern
| ment. for the gen raj tax collector is sup
plemented by the sheriff with his pro-
cesses and what the one does not take the
other does. The unembarrassed itizen
does not feel the eXactions of these pro-
cesses, aud the ordinary charges of govern
ment can be easily met by him, for he
knows what they are, and can prepare for
them. But his more unfortunate neighbor,
who by security obligations, or m1sfor-
!
does feel them, and yet cannot meet them.
because of their enormity, aud consequent
ly he is driven to the wall, his property ia
ken from him and he exposed to abnormal
hardships, not to discharge the original OBJ
legation for which he is bound, but the ex
traordinary charges growing out of lega
proceedings under the laws as they now
stand.
Burdens thus imposed are much more
Onerous than those growing out of the State
debt and the profigate and ruinous legisla.
ton on the debt subject, by the Bourbon
party. The statutes which impose them
it is true, have been handed down to us, and
to those who are not exposed to their ex-
them. But let the common sense of every
citizen be addressed to the matter, and
he will soon discover that it is for the
welfare of community and the interest of
creditor and debtor that there should be a
change. Community would be the beneficiary
in the speedy settlement of litigated cases
and the liberation of litigants from the en-
barrassment and wrong of court proceed
ings, which absorb attention and thought
and energy, that should be free to work for
the general prosperity. Debtor and credi.
tor would be benefited, in the appropria-
ton of the assets of the one to the payment
of the other, instead Of going to satisfy the
eXOrbitant charges incident to bills in
| al
growing out of them.
Let the proceedings in litigated cases be
simpified and all the ramified charges re-
duced. including land sales and commits
sioners' accounts, so that debt may be
collected when due and the resources OF
the debtor 90 to the discharge of his honest
obligations, and not have estates hung up
in court for years with no one benefited
except the officers of the law and those
who institute proceedings. Public policy as
well as public justice demand this, and the
people will not be satisfied unless the Leg
stature addresses itself to the subject with
prompt and intelligent energy.
Legislation should be enacted, also, impos-
irg stringent restrictions upon the banks and
compelling them to conform to the law OF
their creation. A bill has already been in
trodnced in the Senate by Mr.. Newberry,
looking to this subject, but it does not 90
far enough. 1t provides simply against ilsu-
rious charges for money loaned and for
! fixture of charter for violation of law. 1t
looks to the future and not to the past. IL
should stipulate for restitution to insol-
vent estates, caused, more or less, by us,.-
rious eXactions, so that property illegally
taken, should go to those legally entitled
| to it.
These systematic robberies of the unfor.
tunate of community, in the one case by
/ the sanction of The law. and in the other in
violation of law, should be stopped, and the
statutes SO frame as to relieve 10 the one
case and TO enforce III the other. 1t has
| been from such onerous impos tions that
the cry of hard times is so frequently
| heard-more so than from the taxes de-
manded for the legitimate support of gov
eminent and to meet the States obligations.
Legislative relief in this direction is more
important than the debt bill or any enact
ment that has been or may be passed. And
for the Legislature TO think of adjourning
without some energetic remedies for the