Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-09

thinks now, as he thought then, that every
consideration, moral and legal, was met by
the proposition for funding made in the act
of February 14th, 1882, to the several classes
of bondholders. never have considered,
and do not now consider that any pledge
made as to the execution of the Riddleberger
bill precluded any citizen of Virginia from
thereafter advocating any legislation neces-
sary to carry it into effect.
In the Governors message of December
s. 1888, to which reference is now made,
the attention of Your bodies was called to
the fact that no legislation had yet been ia
ken sufficient to give effect to the Riddle
berger bill. The act of January IA, 1889
VIGOROUSLY neglected to require any equi-
table allowance of principal or interest for
t he refunding Of that class of bonds known
as ten-forties; and the act January 26, 1882,
raised before the ultimate courts of the
country an entirely new question. Expe-
rience having shown, after trial of these
measures, that they were not sufficient to
accomplish the objects desired, / have no
apology to make to the people of Virginia
or any portion Of them, for lending my
counsel and approval to remedy, so far as
it was done, what had been shown to be insu-
fiicient. 1t would ill-become me to insist on
any policy to be pursued by the executive
and legislative officers chosen by the people
of Virginia to administer their affairs as the
successors of my self and my political asso-
ciates. At the same time feel forced to
sound the signal of danger. Encroach-
ments have begun to be made upon the
rights guaranteed to this Commonwealth
by the Constitution of the United States.
In raising his voice of warning the Gov
ernor calls attention to the opinion deliver
ed by four dissenting justices of the Su-
preme Court of the United States in the
case of Pointdexter as. Greenhow, decided
April 90, 1885, and other Virginia coupon
cases.
With modesty he reviews the sugges.
tions made in his messages Of 1SS2-'83-'64
in reference to the public debt, and would
also recommend the passage of an act, to
take effect at once, that no coupons shall
be received or cashed at the treasury of the
State, or accepted by any collecting officer
thereof, unless accom- panied by the bond of
which it is the product, to prove its genuine
ness or identity.
PUBLIC DEBT OUTSTANDING.
The amount of the public debt outstand-
ing other than Riddleberger bonds, by re-
ports of the auditing officers is as follows
Principal and interest to July LIST, 1882,
$2S, 900, 532,63 interest subsequent to
July 1s,, 1882, to and including July 1st,
1885, So, 731, 500, 49-making outstanding
October 1st, 1885, $50, 1852, 232. 80. There
has been funded up to October 1st, 1885,
81, 81, 032.71 of the old Indebtedness, prin-
cipal and interest, and the amount of bonds
and certificates issued under acts of Febru-
airy 18th, 1882, and November Goth, 1884,
in lieu thereof was $4.971, 500. 66, OF
which the State holds by purchase and
otherwise as follows:
By purchase by the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund, So, 03O 943. 10; by the Board
of Public Works $143, 900; and by the Lit
erary Fund of Virginia, s94 900; received
in settlements of Indebtedness to the State
and cancelled from the Richmond and
Danvilfe Railroad Company, $438. 899. 40;
fro.n the Upper Appomattox Company,
$40, 1854. &c; from sureties of defanlting of
ficeis ON account of indebtedness to the
State, $62, $685. SO, leaving in the hands OF
the public creditors, 50, 1870, SD 3d..
TIE OYSTER AND KINDRED QUESTIONS.
Under this caption the Governor asks
tie Legislature to pass some bill giving the
Executive authority to protect the States
interest. He praises the law existing in
relation TO tn subject but does not claim
that it is perfect.
A revision of the law controlling the TAX
ing offish in the open waters of the Sta e
is suggested.
THE MILITARY.
He thinks the condition of the military
of the State is good, and says no effort has
been spared to add to it's efficiency. The
present statute dealing with the volunteers
is not libt raj
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
In dwelling upon this subject the Gov
ernor does not think that Virginia since the
the war has devoted sufficient attention O,
money to the agricultural department. Of
the Government.
THE PENITENTIARY.
He believes that the conduct of the pen
itenuiary has been honest and efficient and
recommends special treatment of young
criminals as to keep them away from more
hardened ones.
He recommends necessary appropriations
to the various charitable institutions of the
State, and also the passage Of mandatory
provisions for the appointment of judges of
elections from opposing political parties,
with penalties attached for the failure in
the appointing power to observe the require
ment; and admitting the presence of repre-,
sentation of each political party interested
in an election, while the vote is received,
canvassed, counted and certified.
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The Governor intimates his intention to
send a special message prior to January 1st,
1894