The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-11-19
TIE Work of the Legislature.

The Petersburg Inder. Appeal OF the /
18th, says: City Treasurer Connete, re-
ports that numerous applications have
been made to him within the last few days
by large taxpayers, for information as to
the methods of paying taxes with State
coupons. The feeling has been stimulated
no doubt, by the recent decision in the hus-
tings court of this city, and the low price
at which the coupons can be bought
Owing to obstructive legislation in past
years vast quantity of past-due coupons
have accumulated in the hands OF bond
holders who will have no trouble i'll work.
ing them off through the pocket nerve OF
tax payers. The danger, therefore, to the
revenues of the State is of the gravest
character, and will require remedial legis-
lation, either in further obstructive meas
ures, or an increase of the tax rate. The
heavy license of 81 900 imposed upon bio
kers in this State, does not accomplish the
object it was intended to. but on the con-
| trary gives the Baltimore dealer in cou-
pons a decided advantage over Virginia
brokers. and depriyes the State of consid-
\ cradle revenue from that source. Evil
IDENTIFY the debt question is not settled"
Not only willthe Legislature to convene
on the first Wednesday in December have
/ the debt question and its complications to
consider, but it will have other grave in
terests to encounter The public schools
are threatened by the volume of cou-
pons pouring into the Treasury, and
the sharitable institutions are menaced
from the same source. The public county
roads will demand attention, as well as
the railroads, and many other matters,
which will require not only the closest at
tention, but wise craftsmanship to adjust
in the interest of the people.
Apart from these questions, affecting
the general welfare of the State there will
be an absorbing matter to dispose OF early
in the session, which will excite great in
terest among the friends of the respective
aspirants to the position. 1t is that of the
election of United States Senator. The
contest will be prominently between Hon.
John S. Barbour and Hon John w. Dam
iel, with number of reserves coming un-
der the designation of clark horses. .
The canvass has already grown warm and
exciting between the friends of the two
gentlemen named 1t is said that Gov
ernor-elect Lee favors the claims of Maj
Daniel, which is likely, as Maj. Daniel and
his friends were instrumental in giving
him the nomination for Governor. If this
be true, Daniel will enter the field with 8
decided advantage among the politicians
although it is clear to our mind that Bar
bour is the choice of three-fourths of the
rank and file Of the Bourbon party. II
Barbour should be defeated, it will be ar
illustration of the fact that political par
ties are nngrateful as well as Republic:
are additionally presumed to be.
The basement offices will have to b
filed, and numerous appointments by tht
Governor made, which will cause disap
pointment with some and qualification
with others. The election of judges, boil
of the Circuit and County Courts is real
ly the most important duty before thu
/, Legislature, as it relates to Office. AL
ready we notice that the friends OF candi
dates are pressing their favorites, from ;
party standpoint almost exclusively. II
would be healthy indication if politica
services were made subordinate to rea
, merit and qualifications for the positions
. The Judiciary ought to be kept as free a.
: possible from partizan influence, both II
/, the election to the office and its admins
i tration. But this will hardly be exempli
} fed with party SO Every hungry and very
thirsty for the reward of party services
All the gray e-interests of the people will b.
considered secondary to partizan demand
and the most active party workers viii
; stand the best chance of success.
1t would be propitious day for Virgin;
, if the Judiciary could be entirely divorced
from partizan poll tics. In the recent cleo
tions in Pennsylvania and New York
Democrats and Republicans were voted
for irrespective of party beliefs. In SOM
! Of the strong Democratic districts il
Pennsylvania Republican judges wer,
: elected, and in some of the strong Re
publican districts Democrats were elected
In New Y ork. three Democrats and tw'
Republicans were reelected by the vote.
of all the people, without opposition, be
cause of their fitness for the positions tt
which they aspired, and for which the PEG
pie had asked them to become candidates
l In this State both parties are at fault il
this respect Before the Readjusters cam
into power every judicial office was heli
Q by Democrat, and after they came int
5 power they sought to reverse this ant
| make them all Readjusters. We expec
: to see the Democrats appropriate ever!
judgeship to its party following, and no
: leave a single county judge who is moi
branded with the party seal. AS this vii
: most certainly be the case. we can only
hope that the best men in the party viii
be selected, and that the judiciary will al
least reflect the better sentiment and ele
ment of the Democratic party, chosen
with primary reference to the legal &C
quirements :and judicial fairness of the
men selected.
The next Legislature will have great
power and will be commissioned with
great responsibility. AS citizens, sharing
in both bad and good government, we trust
the duties to be discharged will be met
with high sense of the responsibility at
tached and that the public veal may be
subserved, rather than party interests.
-------
The Democratic party in Virginia is
between the devil and the deep sea. They
have posed so long before the country as
the only honest people of the State, and
denounced their opponents SO bitterly as
regulators, that the people of the North
really believed their professions and ma
terially aided them in their contest. Now
these Northern allies are rejoicing over
the result and eagerly proclaiming that it
means a settlement of the debt acceptable
to the bondholders and the wiplng away of