Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-12-11
GOV. W. E. CAMERoN's MESSAGE.

inees. A joint committee waited on the
Governor, and soon thereafter his message
was received and read.
Not having the the space to publish the
message in full, we publish such portions
as are of most interest to our readers.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
In regard to.the public debt the Governor
says:
"Now, as for many years past, foremost
of Importance of the subjects which will de
mand your attention stands the public debt.
During the last session of the General As
sembly the act approved, Feb. 18th, 1882,
established a basis upon which the credi-
tors of the State were invited to fund their
claims for principal and interest into new
bonds bearing per cent, and the support
ing enactment contained in chapters and
Al of the acts of Assembly, session 1881,
have SO fulfilled their purpose as to afford
relief to the treasury and to make possible
the discharge of the floating debt while
meeting promptly all cash demands for the
expenses of administration. But these
measures in no sense constitute settlement
of the debt. The total amount of old in
debte dness of all classes, principal and in
| terest. funded up to the list of October last
was SO, 492, 707.19, and under the act of
| February IA, 1882, to the same date, was
1927, 603.30. 1t is thus apparent that
while the new bonds have been ready for
delivery during period covering more than
twelve months the amount funded under
the Riddleberger bill has been less than
per cent. of the entire debt, and of the un-
funded obligation, principal and interest,
outstanding against the Commonwealth
there remains the sum of $33, Ali, 086. %.
| Within much shorter period, under the
McCulloch bill, more than So, 100000 of
bonds were surrendered, and yet that meas
ure utterly failed to settle the debt. 1t is
true that the Supreme Court of the United
States, in the case of Antoni VS.. Greenhow,
sustained the act of January IA, 1899, as
furnishing an adequate and constitutional
remedy to the holders of tax-receivable
coupons. But experience has shown that
act to be deficient in several important par
ticulars. The enacting clauses omit any
reference to the coupons detached from
bonds of the Commonwealth under the act
of March %, 1879. The eventual effect of
this omission must be either to exempt the
holders Of 1910 coupons from the condi-
lions imposed upon persons presenting in
payment of taxes coupons produced by the
| L,
to force both the State and the holder of
McCulloch coupons to rely on the act of
January 90, 1882, commonly known as
''coupon-killer No. g." That act has not
been subject to the construction of any
court of appellate jurlsdiction-State or
federal. Experience has also proved that
the requirements of section of the act of
Jan. IA, 1882, are not sufficient to procure
proper care of the States interest in the
suits therein authorized to be brought in
corporation and county courts by persons
in whom the claims of coupon-holders and
taxpayers conioined." The message then
points out the fact that thousands of dol
lars of coupons have passed through the
courts without the needful scrutiny contem-
plated. The Governor says: "Witbin the
official knowledge of the Executive coupons
have passed through the courts upon the
sole evidence of persons who could not, by
any possibility, testify with knowledge as
to their genuineness and legality. Judg-
ments have been rendered against the State
treasurer on coupons which had no number,
and therefore we're the legal product of no
bond" He says during the past six months,
owing to these causes, the funding under
the Riddleberger bill has practically ceased.
No sutton, he alleges, during the period
named has failed to establish his case against
the State, except where the Executive has
employed counsel to represent the State.
"The measure Of duty which seems to
apply to the executive in this case is to
seek absolute success for the settlement at
tempted. 1t cannot as yet be called in any
true sense a settlement. Remaining with
the General Assembly is the duty or privi-
lege of making to live or to die the scheme
| Of 1zn oh
To be successful it must be forceful The
question now is not whether the General
Assembly will give negative support to an
attempt which is no settlement, but wheth-
or the majority of that body will sustain and
advance the present legislation Of the debt
question. Let the responsibility remain
with the power. 1t is as true now as it has
always been, that readjustment to be sue
cessful must be coerciye, and that every
ultimate power residing under the constitrl-
ton in the Commonwealth of Virginia must
be exhausted to protect her from excessive
and unjust claims"
The Governor then recommended as fol-
lows: That the act of January IA, 1882, be
so amended as to require the services of at
torneys for Commonwealth; second, to de-
fine the manner and method of verification
of coupons; third, demand witnesses should
be summoned from such departments of
the State government as would at least be
likely to know which coupon was genuine
Or which fraudulent: fourth, that the act
above referred to should be amended so as
to include coupons on the 10-40 issue of
bonds; fifth, that in obedience to the consti-
luton no money be paid out of the treasury
under plea of reclamation, except by bills
of appropriation.
The Governor, in his reference to the
basement officers, says: sThe second au-
ditor's office, originally created as checker
balance upon the offices of auditor Of pub
lie accounts and treasurer, has grown to be
a dangerous if not useless adjunct of the
administration-an officer, with considera-
BILE emoluments and heavy force of assist
ants, under bond sufficient for the respon-
sibilities with which he is charged has
nothing really to do that two clerks, under
specific statutory instructions, could not as
well and more safely perform; that the Of
lice, from the original intention of a mere
clearing house, has grown to be the keeper
OF all the trus bonds of the Common wealth ;
that in the past fifteen years every trust
| fund that has been invaded has been in
vaded through the agency of this PRACTICAL
| ly irresponsible office
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
'rhe Governor in referring to the public
free schools, said ''that the State in the
past two years has been able almost to dou-
BILE facilities for free education; that no
proper efforts of expenditure have been
lacking by this administration to carry out
its pledge in that respect. As was said to
your predecessors and pledged to tho peo-
pie, the Executive of the Commonwealth
knows no higher duty than to contribute
all in his power to furnish the means for
teaching all the people to understand their
rights, to know the limit of their privileges
and TO feel and perform the full share of
their duties to those whom we have armed
with powers and responsibilities of citizen
ship.
THE OYSTER INTEREST.