Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-08

IT'S SPLENDID RECORD.

D.msersss Projected the Isssresss Of ths
Commonwealth.
To the Editor Of tie Dispatch;
In q previous article, after defending
by the record the last General Assem-
bly, from some Of the charges made
against 1t in the so-calIed Republican
platform and address, we promised by
the same record to present to the coun-
try what the Assembly had done for
the public benefit. Elected as the Gen.
eral Assembly was after four years Of
the rule of Malone and his myrmidons,
it had a great deal before it to do.
Since the reckless legislation and pro-
fligate administration Of the govern
ment Of the State, there was . great
deal to undo as well. Complaints Of
corruption and incompetency in public
officers resounded on all sides,
and general investigation into their
conduct was an imperative duty. Not
withstanding it was thwarted BY Ex-
ecutive vetoes and by the factious de-
lays of the opposition, the General AS
sembly accomplished as much for the
benefit of the State at large as any ses-
sion ever held in the history Of the Com
monwealth. They found the public Off
GERS confederated together to fill their
pockets with the revenues of the State
the public charities occupied with in
competent and partisan officials; the
free schools turned into q political enc
CINE; and all the machinery of cleo
tons and the county judiciary
with some honorable exceptions) d.
rected to the accomplishment Of party
purposes. These things were so ap-
parent that the people elected members
of . different party from that which
had so managed their affairs. Besides
the many measures of private interest
affecting individual enterprises and of
local importance, many matters Of gen.
eral interest demanded calm, thought
full, and careful legislation.
REDEEMED THEIR PLEDGES.
Surrounded with these difficulties and
the responsibilities the people had
thrown upon them, they assembled on
the Sd Of December, 1888. The Demo-
Gratis in the Legislature at once pro-
ceeded to redeem their pledges to the
people made in the Lynchburg Con-
yention. The Governor in his message
stated that the act approved February
IA, 1882, known as the Riddleberger
act, in no sense constituted a settlement
of the debt, and that the responsibility
rested upon the Assembly to put it into
effect, and to say whether it should live
or die, and the Democrats in the As
sembly at once resolutely accepted the
issue. At their first meeting resolu-
tions were introduced and carried,
pledging themselves to pass all neces-
sary legislation to effect settlement Of
the debt. Whatever might have been
the opinion Of individuals as to pro-
per settlement, the people had decided
the matter for themselves three times
at the ballot-box, and, as true Demo-
Gratis, they were bound by the verdict
of the people. A joint resolution was
offered on the sixth day of the session
declaring their acceptance Of the Rid
dleberger settlement, and it passed both
houses unanimously, and forthwith it
was carried out by several statutes. BY
act, chapter 397, an appeal was given
as Of right to the Commonwealth under
the act prevent frauds upon the State,
which act was itself amended by chap
ter 1913. The act, chapter 42l, amends
previous acts in case Of persons offer
ing to pay taxes in coupons and forbids
actions of trespass against officers for
levying. BY chapter 1873 license taxes
were required to be paid in currency.
and to all acts of incorporation granted
the whole session it was expressly
added, by what was known as " Trigg's
amendment" that all taxes due by
them should be paid in currency and
not in coupons, which was made the
general law by chapter 1872. Counsel
were directed to be employed to argue
leading coupon cases. Brokers and
coupon-vendors were required to pay q
license tax of 81, 900, and attorneys
practicing in coupon cases to pay a
license tax of $3.50 in addition to their
general license tax.
AN IMPORTANT ACT.
1t would seem that the Assembly
had taken every means and met every
case at the regular session; but unex-
pectedly they were called on to pass a
more important act at the extra ses-
sion. BY an omission or defect in the
original Riddleberger act Judge Hughes
decided that the consol coupons ma
tured up to July, 1885, could be fund
ed at par. The amount Of these cou-
pons annually maturing is 1882,
and Judge Hughes in the case before
him did authorize. s3ll ,247 to be fund
ed ; but the General Assembly, meeting
in extra session Immediately after the
decision and before the bulk of the cou-
pons came pouring in, passed an act
stopping the funding, thus saving the
State from having 100000 added to
her debt. We are indebted for these
figures TO that able fnancier, +. G.
Ruffin, in his open letter to Mr.. James
II. Darst in the Dispatch Of the Both of
August, to which we refer our readers
for other interesting facts. Such being
the record, the charge in their platform
and address that 1--WE betrayed re-
adjustment by an ignorant and wicked
course of legislation !" falls to the
ground.
INVESTIGATIONS.
The General Assembly was soon
overwhelmed with petitions requesting
Investigations in all Of the departments
Of government. We have already given
their action as to the judges complained
Of. In other departments it was dis
covered that the party in power had been
guilty Of many gross malefeasances in
ofdce, of which we will exhibit from the
record q few cases. While the salary
Of the Attorney-Ge by Acts
of lS77-'7S, page TIA, was fixed at
1880, and it was declared by the same
act that "he shall not receive any fur
Their compensation" it appears, by the
report Of the committee appointed to
examine as to what Attorney General
Blair was making out of the Office.