Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-05-28
That Land Commissioners
Bill.

bon orator Of last tall VINO dld not
prom Use and almost swearthat the peo-
nle should have the Land Com miss
,oper's Bill'' enacted into law? How
many bourbons, whom we shall here
after denominate aristocrats, declared
to their neighbors that they would
never vote the bourbon ticket again Il
they succeeded in the election and
failed or refused 10 enact that bill into
law? The only objection they alleged
against the bill was that they wanted
the commissioners elected by the peo-
pie. In vain did we endeavor 10 ex-
pose the hNpOcricy and deceit OF such
a prorositioL because the commissioner
would be in measure trustee, ad-
ministrator, executor and guardian in
his several official relations, and, there
fore, he should not be elective. In
VAIN we're some men told that the
bourbon aristocrat would be the last
mau 10 redeem this promise, and es
pecially SO if he happened TO be law
yerwLo profited by the system as 1t Isl
How we'll that promise was fulfilled
let the law they enacted answer. II
proyides that each sale bill shall con-
tain q certificate resembling the fol-
lowing:
In the Clerks Office of the Circuit Court
Of Shenandoah county, April IA, 1884.
John Doe Admrs. Complts.)
VS.. IN Chancefy.
Richard Roe &c. Deft's.
!. Peter Policy, clerk os said court, do
hereby certify that Solomon Smallfry Conn
appointed under decree of April IL, 1884,
for the purpose of making sale of the real
estate in said cause mentioned, situated in
Shenandoah county, has executed bond in
the penalty ard upOu the conditions in said
decree required, and that his security justified.
Given under my hand this l4th day Of
April, A. D., 1884.
PETER POLICY, C. C..
Was ever LumbuggerY more trans
parent Commissioners are appointed
rs before, give bond as before and
justifv as before. The only change
made Is that this certificate is made
part Of the sale bill. No man knows
who he bondsman Is. No man knows
the amount of the bond. No man
knows how many similar bonds the
same bondsman has justited on
JustiiyiDg means that the bondsman
goes into ceurt and swears that be Is
worth the amount Of the bond over and
above bis own debts and those he Tex.
poets" to pay as surety. Wien he
goes upon the bond, he does not sex
Iect" 10 pay it. He does so because
be coDfdes in his principal. So he
may go on executing such bonds till a
man of s5OOO or $4,000 Of property
justi6es ito $l50,000 10 100000, as
has been the case n,this COuntyin more
than one Dameable instance. One
lawpartner goes on as commissioner
and the other iushfes on all the bonds
Just as be did before, One member Of
family is made SPECIAL commissioner
and another jusiihes bonds till scores
Of estates are covered by security that
was not originally worth tue value Of
any one Of them.
This, people OF Shenandoah, is the
fulfllment OF bourbon aristocra!lc pro.
mise. That law which gave us an
officer 10 be known and bonded as our
treasurers are known and bonded,
whose bondsman should appear 10
open court and be known Of all men,
who was required 10 execute his work
promptly, report sales, receipts and
disburstn ents Of all property and
proceeds at each teIm of the court,
aud for any default in selling or
paying over The money, the judge was
forthwith 10 remove hlm-that Land
COMMISSIONERS Bill is substituted by
this enacted treachtry, this abortion OF
q statute.
How long, oh! how long, will men
toll 10 live and accumulate that their
children may exc out a miserable ex
istence hanging around court houses,
begging piiiances OF their fathers
earnings at the bands of lawyer, COM
missioners whose interest it is to Keep
chancerV suits alive and estates uD-
settled? How long shall we submit to
pigeon holding an estate in a clerk g
Office only that new suggestions may
be made. new petitions fled, new de.
Gees taken for every death, marriage,
removal from state or other Of numer-
Gus assignable causes? AS tie law
now stands, a man who is possessed o.
$500 in property aud over $1,000, had
as well will the balance to the court
house. he will never more THAI pay
out and this proportion will hold
good 10 the aveIage of estates in Vir.
Rinia. 1t is proved By experience, and
is almost susceptible Of actual demon
straliOD.
Why is this so One class OF people.
and by 20 means the worst, (ior the,
are simply guided by the animal instincI
Of self preservation the lawyers, pre-
fer the law as it is. AnOlher class are
the very few Who have all they hare sc
well in hand that laws are no terror to
them. They do no. have time to think
of any law ill they get sick. These
and the first class form very close
corporation IN politics. The third class
are the people. These are subjiyided
into two classes, Their interests are
Identical and they know it. The one
class have the courage to assert them.
aoiv ga Tho 0thor 10 sim Mo q hatch of