Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-02-01

Augusta Affairs in the Legislature. s

TOR BRt WIN ALLEN AND SPECIAL COL.
LECToR HAMILToN's TAX CoLLEC-
TIoNs -ARRAIGNMENT OF AUDITOR
ALLEN BY CHAIRMAN ATKINsON-HIs
DEFENSE BY SENATOR BAILEY-THE
STATE INSTITUTIONS AT srAUNToN-
RAILROAD CoMMIssIONER-LoCA oP-
TION-REBoKT ON THE ASYLUM PoIs.
DINING CASE.
&C, &C., &C.
In the House of Delegates the two bills
taking from the Governor the appoint
ment of tue Boards of Directors of the
Luuatic Asylums aud The d. D. u b. H.
stltutit n. aud giving it to the 'ard OF
Public Works have been passed. Both
bills on reaching the Senate were referred
to the Committee ON Public Insttu-
tions. The bills require the appointment
of Asylum Directors to ba made at this
session OF the legislature, and for term
of three years, and the Same with D. D. &
B. L. Visitors, except their term is put at
four years, and the term Of the pr esent
Board is to be ended on June 30th, next.
Both B yards are them selves to ill vacan-
of the Governor filling them. The bill
vacates the offices of the Asylum on
March 1st
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER.
Mr.. Opie off red resolution asking the
Committee on Boards to report. by bill Or
Otherwise, as to the propriety of abolishing
the office of Railroad Commissioner. Mr..
Opie said it was imp ortant to have this
matter attended to Immediately. He
wanted to know whether the office should
be alb )lshed; whether any change should
be made in the numbers OF Railroad Com
spoken of to have three instead of one
Commissioner.
LOCAL OPTION PET ITIONS.
In the Senate the President laid before
the Senate communIc alton from the In
dependent Order of Good Templars, pray
ing the adoption of local option law. Ga
motion of Mr.. Kpi"er, the comnunica-
tion was referred to committee.
In the House Mr.. Opie presented peti.
lions from Augusta county for local op-
ton. which we're referred.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE
TRANSACTIONS OF s. BROWN ALLEN
AND JOHN e. HAMILTON IN THE COL
LECTION OF RAILROAD TAXES ADoP-
TED.
At l o'clock on Monday the Sen.
ate proceeded to the consie Grafton
of the resolution submitted by the
Committee tor Courts of Justice-that
unless within sixty days S. Brown Alien
late Auditor. or J. E. Hamilton, do
8 tile the balance (S4 494 S9l found due by
the report of the Committee for Courts of
Justice, the Auditor of Public Accounts
be instructed to employ Messrs. w. w.
Henry and Holmes Conrad to prosecute
the States claim in the proper court
against Allen and bis suretjes or against
Hamilton and his sureties. Or both.
Allen employed his brother-in-law
Hamilton, treasurer of Augusta, to levy
on certain railroads held to be 'delin-
auent'' for taxes, and paid him 20 pei
cent commissions without authority OF
law, as the committee commended.
- The Attorney General maintains that
Allen was right in what lie did, hence the
necessity Of special counsel.
4 minority of the comliittee-the Goa
IitiOn member thereof-reported that AL
lens acts were legal and proper.
Senator Atkinson, cnau man of the
COMMITTEES for Courts of Justice. in his
speech. said:
Mr.. President In rising to present my
views on the majority report from the
Committee on Courts of Justice, L desire
to state at the outset that | shall discuss
this resolution from q legal standpoint.
So far as am concerned politics shall not
enter into the consideration Of this cues
zion.
AS the trustees of the people we should
investigate and ascertain whether or bot
public money has been squandered. Ii
from the law and the evidence it shall ap
pear that public moneys have been i'm.
properly taken from the Treasury.
shall Call upGa the Senate to act aud to
act promptly.
Mr. President. the time has come when
the repre- sentatives of the people must
speak out plainly. the time has come
for the people to know what scenes are
being acted in high places. The time has
come when the representatives shOnld
hold to strict account those charged with
grave responsibility
1t happens that in thE case S. Brown
Allen, late Auditor, should have the pub
lie animadverson because Of Cefaul5 IN
duty to the Com mon wealth.
cannot indulge myself on this occasion
in an excursion through pleasant fields
and aD#eFg meads TIE subject is too
grave. The daty is too urgent and direct
TIE business is too painful. The resolu-
eion implies wrongfO. use of public
money. It is always shocking 10 discover
q public servant unfaithful to h hlga prnst
and with his hand nnla:sfully laid upon
Treasury of the Commonwealth.
What IS the Case before us ? Mr.. S
Brown Allen. late Auditor, is charged
with collision and illegal acts i'll the ais
burseaent of the revenue of the Common
ssealth.
L will stats the circumstances Of this
serious dereliction. The railroads undel
law are assessed by q csTSaiR board, and j.
GLeP do not pay by given TING they art
ASSESSED $50 900 per mile and the collectloT
lis put isa Ihe hands OF a treasurer. mi
Allen appsiated a gentleman to c0lltc
this assess ment and paid him the enorm
Gus commission OF % per cent. in viola
tlon of law. That gentleman was John E
hamilton. of Augusta SoEnty. Had MI
Ats@n the right TO appoint Ear. hamilton
"a SPEC ., collector in these cases ! In Ih
Act of 1852 the law states how this as
easement Is made and by whom cOllecte d
It grevides that taxes shall be collected
by treasurers. and they shall receive
certain compensation, viz, On sIGs owe
SIS 600 two and half peE cent.
Tnere is, however, a law that provides
thsG sa,scial collectors shall b appointed
and t>,asitg pei cent. allowed them TO
collecting {, certain class of delinquen
taxes. When stler using due diligence
fa,lure to get the tax, ;ls;d after lists nav
beep returned 10 the supervisors and til
,narties fanOrted inso!vent. and The IenOg