The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-02

An editorial article in the Richmond
Wing a few days ago, charging that the
laws, in their execution, Disseminated
against the poor man, has caused sensa-
ton. The illustration to enforce its ar
gument, given by the Wing, was that
poor young fellow, named Allen. charged
with stealing $50 from woman in the
Salvation Army,wa sentenced to the PEN
itentiary for five years few days after
the theft was committed. He was a
stranger and had no rich and influential
friends. W. r. Smith, clerk in the Au.
ditor's Office, was discovered two years ago,
to have stolen from the State something
like 100000, and finally sentenced to the
penitentiary for two years, but as yet has
not been taken there, and in addition a
strong petition has been presented to the
Governor for his pardon because of ILL.,
This is the text from which the Whiq
breaches forceful and salutary sermon
and concludes that the laws do not cooperate
equally upon the rich and poor. Our CO.
temporary might have found even more
expl essive illustrations If he had taken
the trouble to go back few years when a
poor clerk was sent to the penitentiary for
number of years and his rich superior
officer sent to the lunatic asylum for the
same or similar offense, the two having
conspired to rob the State. The Whig is
doing good service in more ways than one,
and is giving 10 the people of Virginia
high-toned, fearless and able metropolitan
morning daily. 1t deserves to be encour-
aged.
The free. traders and importers are never
satisfied unless they have some scheme on
foot to favor foreign interests as against
American interests. The last insidious
device is that projected from the Treas.
ury department in relation to foreign
ores. A decision has been reached by
that department involving the question
as to whether the duty on imported iron
! ore of IS cents ton shall be levied upon
it's gross or its net weight, or in other
terms whether the figures accepted as the
invoice weight should be that including
the moisture Of the tonnage after deduct
ing the moisture evaporated at 212o. This
is radical innovation upon the usage of
the country, and should at once be met by
stern and widespread protest. The prac-
teal effect of the application of this rul-
ing would be to reduce the inadequate
tariff on imported iron ores. 1t is an in
genious and sinister. attack.upon the min
ing interests of..this country and ought to
be condemned!in. such.ss strong and indig-
nant terms as to cause the. Secretary of
the Treasury to revise and recant his un-
just if not foolish decision, Instead of
| the practical reduction Of the tariff of IS
| cents on imported iron ore, as would be
the effect of the drying out process of the
Secretary, it ought to be increased to at
least So per ton, as the degree of protec-
| ton the iron ore interests of this country
should demand, and Congress should enact.
The Petersburg Lader-Appeal, demo-
cratic, says that mo extennation or excuse
can change the fact that reform has re-
ceived stunning blow at the hands of its
chosen champion, whose accession to
power was made possible by popular faith
in his profession as reformer," This re-
fers to the reinstatement of Benton, a
democratic offensive partizan," and the
removal of Stone, a Republican offensive
partizan," holding similar offices and sus-
pended for similar cause. Well, Mr..
Cleveland has hard time of it with his
Democratic friends. Mr.. Barbour says he
has not chopped off heads fast enough, and
our contemporary says he chops them off
TOO fast, to be consistent with reform no.
| lions.
The people Of Richmond are in a condi-
ton of much excitement over the case of
Cluverius. By this time his counsel have,
no doubt, presented to the Governor the
facts and reasons upon which they ask
communication of the death sentence to i'm
prisonment for life. 1t is stated that the
prisoner has prepared a statement, giving
an account of his whereabouts on the
night that Lillian Madison was supposed
to have been killed, and that evidence will
be adduced to the effect that he was at the
Academy of Music at the time he was re-
ported to have been seen near the old Res
ervoir. Judge Hinton S opinion .will.be. a
part of the exhibit presented by counsel. .
Democratic correspondents are discus
sing the respective claims of Jno. s. Bar
bour and Gov FitZ Lee to be the successor
of Hon. II. H. Riddleberger. in the U. s.
Senate. The legislature to be elected next
fall will have the choice of a senator.
Wouldn't it be we'll enough to consult the
Republicans about that little matter? 1t
is more than possible that they might pre-
fer some one else than either Barbour or
Lee.
Col. John S. Mosby was in Washington
last week, when he visited the Treasury
Department to settle up his consular &C.
count. He found the government indebted
to him in nice little sum. He was on
his way to Boston to enter upon three
months lecturing tour at the invitation of
the Grand Army of the Republic, for
which he is to receive $4,000.
MIR. Stillman, who bad been teaching
music class and training chorus at Cliff
ton Forge, was arrested last week by the
Sheriff of Amherst county, charged with
horse stealing. The offense consisted in
hiring horse and buggy to elope with a
young lady against her fathers wishes
The horse and buggy were.given into the
hands of colored man to return, and the
pair took the train. The old gentleman
swore out the warrant for the arrest.
In the Circuit Court of the city Of Rich
mond Friday in the case of the Common
wealth of Virginia against S. Brown
Allen, ct, ais, a motion made to set aside
the verdict entered on the 10th inst. was
oyerruled and demurrer to the evidence
was also overraled, and judgment given
for Commonwealth for S4.494. 90, De.