Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-03

statute requires, 10 hold courts IN those
equities wherein vacancies existed. A
vacancy occurred in the Ninth Judicial
circuit BY the death Of Judge james N.
Jelress. on the STA Of April, 1890. I APP
pointed and commissioned the Hon. A. b.
Evans. Of Middlesex county, to Ill this
vacancy.
| On the 2sth day OF June, 1890. the Hon.
E. II. Fitzhugb, judge Of the Chancery
Court of the city Of Richmond. died. /
the vacancy occasioned by his death. The
commissions Of the two judges appointed
BY me expire thirty DAYS after the com
| mencement Of tho present session OF the
General Assembly.
BKAPPoRIIoSHKST.
The fourth section Of the fifth article Of
I the Constitution requires that a reappor-
tIonment of the Senators and members of
the House Of Delegates shall be made in
the year 1891. and every tenth year there
after. This work. also. 10 20 be done during
the present month. 1t should at once re-
eeive your attention. and nothing should
be allowed TO intervene 10 prevent this
important duty from being performed.
do not apprehend that there will be much
trouble in making such an apportionment
as will give general satisfaction TO the
/ different sections Of the State. No lndi-
I vIdual interest should be allowed 10 inter
fere with Just and fair apportlonment,
and equal and exact justice should bedone
to every section.
CONGRESSIONAL KKAPPoRTIosMESr.
This will give more trouble, but you have
/ more time for its consideration. l hope
I spirit of perfect fairness will prevail, and
I with the Constitution Of the State as your
guide and your authority for this impor-
/ tant work you may perform II so well as
10 disarm criticism both at home aud
1 al I'D 49,, sr.tr. 20 - nd
complete Justice in shaping the districts.
That fair representation may be given, let
/ the districts be formed of contiguous
! counties, cities, and towns, and be CON-
pact and include as nearly as may be an
/ equal number Of population" Such an
spportionment is required by the Consti-
tuition and is right.
COUNTY ROADS.
! The wretched condition of the county
roads last spring, due IN part TO the IN
/ usual vet winter. has occasioned much
discussion throughout the state, and now
| the question is referred to the General As
/ sembly for solution.
To know what to do is difficult and per-
| picking. There are as many different
suggestions as there are neighborhoods,
and all are in measure controlled oy the
wants and surroundings Of their particular
| localities. The general road laws OF the
State have been substituted, IN the main,
| py various local laws. Last winter about
| twenty-seYen counties passed special laws,
and for several years the inethciency or the
| old law has given rise 70 various local
laws suited. hope, 10 the peculiar con-
ditions of the counties for which they
were enacted.
County roads are local questions aud
l what would be suitable for one county
| would not be for another. IT the begisla-
| ture were TO endeavor TO pass a new road
law for the whole State 1t would scarcely
give more satisfaction than the present
one because OF the different conditions OF
the various counties. as to location, popu-
lation, aud necessity for roads. Improved
roads. lit is conceded, would be great
| convenience and comfort 10 many
| of the counties in the State,
but whether the demand for better
| roads is sufficiently urgent TO justify the
expense necessary TO procure them Is
practical question about which there may
be much difference of opinion. Many are
clamorous for better roads and make de-
mand upon the Legislature for them, when
there is but little that 1t can do. When
| asked If they are willing TO stand the tax
| necessary TO make such roads they frankly
say that they are willing, but that the peO-
pie are not The Statels prohibited blythe
Constitution from being party TO OF
| having an interest in any work OF internal
| improvement. All the work that can be done
must be ny the county under enabling
| acts of the Legislature. If the General
| Assembly had the power TO borrow money
or 10 levy a tax for purposes OF internal
| Improvement 1t would be unwise at this
time for il 10 attempt TO do either, when
we have so large q debt with interest un-
paid cruelty harassing US, the greater part
! of which was contracted in building our
| railroads, digging the canal, and opening
| turnpikes 10 improve our transportation
facilities by creating these great highways
through the State.
those States which are attempting by
large appropriations 10 inaugurate gene
raj system of improving their county
roads nave practically no debt and have
much denser population, hence they have
a greater necessity for the roads and more
ability TO pay for them. but are therefore
Dad examples for us TO follow. :.
The law now requires all the able-bodled
men, with but few exceptions, TO work Tor
| two DAYS in each year on the county roads.
IL parties refuse 10 work-aDd very often
| they do-how can you enforce the law
| You can warrant and get judgment for
| seyenty-fve cents tor each days failure TO
comply with the law, but if the party has
no property how can you enforce the
! Judgment? You cannot resort to lmpTison-
ment: such a remedy for collecting debt
has long ceased to exist in Virginia. and.
| believe, in every State IN the Union, and
renewal OF it will scarcely be allowable now.
cosvIoTs TO WORK ROADS.
Some propose that the convicts in the
| penitentiary be gwen TO the counties for
this purpose; but that would be force so
| small and encompassed with so many diff
fculties that it would scarcely be found
| practicable, We have now law of that
| kind. passed by the General Assembly in
1856, page $50. am informed by the Su-
perintendent of the PenItentiary that this
| kind of labor has only been tried IN one or
two counties, and there seems TO be no
disposition to experiment with 1t further.
| Under this act we have IN all some three
hundred men whom we can send 10 the
| nublie works Those who are convicted
of higher offences, and are known to be
vicious, are not allowed to be taken TO the
! counties for work because of their despe-
rate character and the inducement to
make efforts to escape.
IL Is believed that labor can be secured
in the country for the purposes required
| cheaper than paying the expenses OF ana
| guarding the convicts. and then the county
| in which they are worked Is exempt from
the peril of their presence and their es-
| capes. But suppose the counties desire
them. what small force TO do the road
making! Divide them among the counties
| and it would only give about three to q
| county. The other hands in the peniten-
are hired out on long contracts, which are
| profitable to the State, and it would not
be wise OF proper to rescind them.
Isee nothing practicable that You can
do but TO allow the Board of Supervisors,
il the people of the county wish it, and
thev are elected by the people and are re-
sponsible TO them. and should know their
best wishes and be governed by them, 70
borrow money 10 improve the roads of
their counties. but the law should be care
fully guarded so as to prevent inludlcious
borrowing and expenditures OF money,
and unreasonably taxing the people
| TO meet the interest, and in due
time pay OF the principal. / would adj
wise that when the order to raise money
for the purpose is made by the supervisors
that an appeal be allowed to the judge OF
the county on the petition OF twenty-five
free-holders, and that he shall have the
mower 10 restrain the supervisors IN part
or In whole from further proceedings IN
this behalf. ifin his judgment the expendi-
ture is unwise and unwarranted by the de-
| maud for the improvement OF the Eoads.
| COUNTY BONDS.
If a county issue bonds the State cannot
become a party TO it, nor can the State
lend its credit 20 make them safe or sala-
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