Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-09
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Esis rea,ment of Tie Debt Questi

ksfs TTeatnmento of BE Debt Question.
He TOUCHES UPON THE OYSTER, MILITIA
RY, AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER IMPORT
ANT MATTERS.
The Governor, in his message, starts out
by aging; In this paper the effort will be
made to lay before you in the plainest and
most succinct form such statement of at
fairs, digested from the elaborate reports of
the various public departments and institu
tions of the State, as will enable you to axe
a compre hensive view Of "ihe condition of
the Cor. monwealth'' to recognise and as-
sist those parts of the body polite in which
health obtains; and to determine what evils,
if any, exist, for which your wisdom must
furnish the remedy.
The first question he discusses is finan-
cal. by the Treasurer's report" he
says, Gas of the st October, 1885, the APP
parent cash balance in the Treasury was
1904 6S7 4e; the actual balance by the Au-
ditors books THE difference being as to
warrants issued and not yet presented) was
S4O6, 902. 10. This, however, does not state
the actual condition of the Treasury. Some
minor items, which will strike the most ca g.
ual read Of the Auditor report, go to re-
dace the available cash balance in the Treas
placed tie marketable value of Riddleber-
ger bonds to the amount (face value) of 49,
030, 943 10 purchased by the Commissioners
of the ST king Fund under acts of March
18th and August %, 1884, which bonds are
by law convertible into cash in the discre-
ton of the said commissioners Whenever the
exigcncies of the Treasury may so seem to
them to require. The interception Of the
revenue by payment of taxes and dues to
the Commonwealth in coupons since the last
meeting of the General Ass mbly has not
reached such an extent as to seriously dis
turb the administration Of public affairs.
Notwithstanding that strenuous efforts have
been and are being made to deny and des-
troy the constitutional right of the State of
Virginia to be sued in her own courts in the
manner prescribed by her laws, and there
and thus alone, it is gratifying to be able
to report to you that for the fiscal year here
in treated the mount of coupons forced up
on the Treasury in payment of taxes and
other dues was 1922, 600 less than for the
preceding fiscal year. 1t appears that the
available funds and convertible property
now in the Treasury reach IN round num-
bsrs. the sum of 81, 615, 213.S9.
A CHANGE NEEDED.
In this connection the Governor says:
As to the system Of accounts obtaining in
the basement offices, recent events might
seem to suggest the need of a change; but
as the Legislature at its last meeting APP
pointed special committee to cansider and
report upon that subject, hesitate to fore
stall their conclusion by shy recommenda-
ton. 1t seems right, however, for me to
saw that the losses heretofore coming to the
Common wealth through the particular de-
SO much through any fault in the system of
checks and balances, as in the fact that the
law had been allowed to become dead let
ter. This brings me to deal with the most
momentous question which will or can &C.
cupy your attention.
THE PUBLIC DERT.
On this subject be says he has no new
views to advance. He refers 10 the Tosition
- =,