Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-03-15
From the State.
Contamination of the Grab.

whatever Tor even an extension OF the
session, which could Lave been made
without pay, much less for the call OF
another session at the enormous ex-
peuse of between thirty and forty shous-
and dollars. There has been time
enough, and 10 spare, since the meet
ING of the General Assembly, three
months ago, to transact all the business
that was required for the government
of the State, even allowing full half OF
it TO have been firittered away in need
less debate or in the iactional conflict
which was brought on by the majority
and confined exclusively to that side.
AS conservative Democrats we had
nothing whatever 10 do with the quarrel
between Mahone and his opponent for
the bossship of the Repudiationists,
Mr.. Massey, but for quite a third OF the
session our representatives were COM
PEELED to look on as enforced spectators
to tins unseemly squabble over the
distribution Of the spells of the plumber
ed treasury, and 10 silence allow things
to take their course. They were hope
lessly IN the minority, placed there by
the coalition between the Republicans
and Regulators, and as a matter OF
course utterly powerless 10 do any
thing one way or the other without
surrendeiing their principles and inde-
pendence and ferfeiting their manhood.
The excuse made for calling this
session, of necessary legislation remain
ing unprotected, is very lame one
indeed, ard will not for moment be
admitted by the people of Virginia.
The fact is the Readjuster majority
worked from the very beginning to
make il a necessity, or at least appar-
eutly so. for DO real necessity, as we
have remarked, existed. TIE COM
mittees. it has been shown, neglected
their wolk IN most shameful manner,
and failed 10 prepare the necessasy
assessment and appropriation bills,
which should have occupied AL their
time from the first and been brought in
early for full and careful consideration.
And had this been done, as it should
have been, there would have been no
plausible excuse for the extra session,
aud the salary grab" could not have
been CLOSED over with the varnish Of a
pretended necessity, by which it is
proposed 10 impose upon the credullty
of the people. Tie Legislature OF
1880, il which the Malone Readjus'
lers also held a working majority, the
same tactics were resorted to with the
same object IN view, that OF making a
salary grab," and the appropriation
and assessment bills were not acted
upon but Governor Holiday prevent =
ed the cousummation Of the swindle by
declining 10 reconyene the Assembly,
and the; Government went on much
better without it under the cd assess
ments and appropriations. And the
same remedy could have been resorted
TO now. They then had an Auditor
whom they were willing TO trust 10
receive and pay out the money OF the
Commonwealth for the necessary ex-
penses of its government, ordinary aud
extraordinary, and although they de-
clined to trust him any further, yet
they have elected another who, accord
ing 10 their own dt declarations, must be
fully as competent, and who is even
more to be trusted TO do Their biddingi
and now we shall be surprised if at the
end Of their extra session they ind
themselves any more ready to adjourn
or their work any nearer completion
than it is al this time
No; their only object is the $3.50 ex.
ira salary allowed and Of which Gov
ernor Holiday deprived them by re-.
fusing to call an extra session 10 1880,
but which they are now determined to
grab" and pocket. 1t is the ''swag"
they are after, and having secured that
and finished the distribution of the
plumber, the work Will still be neglec-
ted, and the interests OF the Common =
wealth left TO lake care OF themselv es'
The congressional apportionment is
another excuse, Tut that, too, is but a
subterfuge, for the act Of Congress spe-
cially provides that in case OF Tie lnabil-
ity OF Legislatures to redlstrict their
States. the additional representative
NAV be elected bv the vote OF the 5 ate
at large. and why, therefore. call All
extra session al tie cost Of $40 900 to a
State which pleads the poverty act,
merely 10 provide for the election that
has already been made?
The only lair reason we can find for
this extra session. Is IA partisan one
aud grows out OF the fears of this acct
dental majority that power is about TO
slip from tl,n n, aud consequently this Is
their last chance and having nothing
to lope for in the future, they are bent
on making everything they can now, on
realizing every d liar out OF the present
On no other HYPOTHESIS can We suppose
sensible men could act so insanely.
They must surely lie aware that the
people will Lold them strictly acc0un-
table Tor their action 10 this matter and
refuse 10 condone their great steal"
their barefaced robbery of the public
treasury. and knowing this.th y break,
dow u their bnGges or burn their ships
behind them, and leave the future to
fortune.
What course our Conservative repre-