Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-08-07
DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENTO OF
THE FINANCES OF The
STA TE

not only read it but put it by for future
reference. Any statement in it may be
verified by application at the Auditors
office, which gives it superior weight to
the loose statements of political canvas
sers of either party. 1t is showing on
which the Democratic party can go to the
people of Virginia with a perfect assur-
party took charge of the government on
the 1st of January, 1884, Treasurer Banks
dale found in the Treasury 81 40 ,594.06;
there was in the Treasury on the 18th of
July, 1885, $1.5S0,717,7 1t will be remem-
bered that the Democratic legislature
passed resolution to buy 100000 of Rid
dleberger bonds every month. These
bonds were bought for $952.000, and last
Saturday in Richmond had market
value of 81 ,O19, 577.59. They are now held
by the Commissioners of the Sinking
Fund who have the power to convert them
into money when needed, and are that
much cash in the Treasury. This is the
statement Of the condition of the Treas
ury:
Amount in Treasury on
January LIST, 1884. when the
Democratic Treasurer took
charge, ,594 O6
Cash in Treas
ury July IL, 1885, $62S.717.72
Add Riddle
berger bonds
held by commits
sioners of Sink
ing Fund, 952,000.00 1880 717.72
Excess over amount found
in Treasury Jan. l, 1884, $1l0, 1923. 66
And now it must be borne in mind that
the Democratic State administration
makes this showing after having paid all
the ordinary expenses OF the government,
including the regular appropriations to
public schools, Lunatic Asylums, &C.,
and the expenses of a regular and an extra
session of the legislature, and, IN addition
to this, has paid 1868 ,279. IA interest on
the State debt. and the folJowing sums
auhich are outside of the ordinary annual
To Ys,sSes the State government:
For sabled aoldiers, $3.50 90
n. cohstrydction of colored
Normal School. at Petersburg, 23,791 90
For colored Insane Asylum at
Petersburg, $1,000 90
For construction of Southwes-
tern Lunatic Asylum estab-
lished by last legislature, 11,045 So
Building Fund of Eastern Lu-
natic Asylum $4,000, and
putting in electric light $10,-
600, $4,000 90
University of Va. for water
works, sewerage, &C., 10000 90
Va. Military Institute, special
appropriation to relieve it of
deot, 10000 90
Refunded to Public School
Fund 500 600 from proceeds
of sale of A. M. & q. r. R.,
and $4,000 from License
taxes, 275,O0O W
Female Normal School at
Farmville, established by
last legislature, 5000 90
Increase Of appropriation to
University of Va, 100000
year for two years, 10000 90
Judgment of Kelley & Larguey
against the State for $40
in 1857, compromised for
$4,000 and paid, 5000 90
Extra appropriation to Wes-
tern Lunatic Asylum for cur
rent expenses, 1880 60
Fees to Assessors and others
for assessment of lands, an
expense incurred only once
in five years and therefore
not an annual one, 1897 81
The current expenses of the government
paid, interest paid Including some that
the Republican Judges of the U. S. Courts
had collected by the clerks of their courts)
more than quarter OF million refunded
to the Public School Fund nearly quarter
of million of extra appropriations paid,
and balance of more than million and
half in the Treasury! The Democratic
platform may well point with satisfaction
to the management of the finances of the
State by its party. At this rate of reduc
ing the public debt, 81 800 900 year (for
$3.50, eOG buys that many Riddleberger
bonds), the Democratic party can. in
twenty years, present Virginia to her peo-
pie free Of debt. These are statements
that should be preserved by the Democrat
ic canyas5ers and should be read and
pondered by the voters of the State. Let
them compare these figures from the
account books of the State, with the reck-
less and abusive platform utterances of
the Republican party in Virginia and de-
eide to which party may be safest entrust-
ed the financial affairs of Virginia.