Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-06


judges are usually taken from the mem
beers of the bar at about middle age.
At their time of life it is most likely
they will have family at an expensive
age, and they cannot, on the present
salary, live and lay up anything for old
age or declining health. They cannot
enter into the various businesses of life;
first, because they have no time, and
secondly, public sentiment will not al
low it. Ii they do, they will at once
be declared swndiers if they succeed;
if they fail, this same sentiment will
charge them with epithets just as un-
kind. Bnt it may be said that you will
find many who will take the position
at $1,000. You can, without doubt,
and if you were TO reduce it to $500,
still you would be able to fill the offices,
but can you get competent man for
these figures? The State needs the
services of the best and ablest men on
the bench, and should be willing to pay
the salary necessary to secure them.
The advantages of good roads can be
shown in so many ways that it seems
useless to discuss the question. Expe-
rieuce demonstrates that if the country
is ever to be built up, and the lands
made valuable, good roads must be
constructed, so as to make them Access
sible and convenient. The State Con-
stitution gives no power to the legisla-
ture to make expenditures for this pur-
pose. The only way possible is
for each county to build its own
roads, and they should do this
whenever their necessities demand it.
The people cannot expect help from
the federal government, nor from the
State government, and, therefore, they
must build the roads for themselves.
If county is not willing to bear the ex-
pense and a district in the county is,
let the burden be assumed in that dis
trict. To do this work, you have under
the law as it now stands, two days Ia
Dor from all the men in the county be-
tween the ages of is and 60, ard tax
of from 5 to Is cents on the hundred
dollars worth may be levied on all the
property in the county. The amount
of tax can be fixed according to the ne
cessity for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in
some cases and less in others. Then
small toll may be exacted from all
thos, who pass over the road, and every
newcomer, and the increase in the val
lie of the land will serve to lessen the
burden until at last the tolls collected
will be all that is necessary to meet the
interest, and perhaps no road tax will
be needed at all. The counties and
towns which desire to do so should be
allowed to issue bonds redeemable in
80 years. The amount should be deter
mined by the revenue derived from the
road-taX on property and the tolls col
lected from those who travel over the
roads, and it might be we'll to put a
small tax on all vehicles from those
who live contiguous to the improved
roads, or tolls should be required.
The State should employ competent
engineer, who should locate and super
intend the construction of these roads.
We have reason to be proud of our
public free schools and colleges. The
present board of visitors of the Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical College
thought it best to reorganize the col
lege and to change its course of studies,
and its methods. 1t caused comment
at the time, but the trouble has passed,
and the result has been splendid sue
cess and has justified the changes made.
On the Goth day of last September
there was serious riot at Roanoke city.
When q mob takes possession of COM
nunity are the civil authorities to re-
tire and the lsWless be allowed to con-
troll? Will the mob be left to dispense
Justice instead ofthe courts of the State =?
Let no one be deceived the law will
be enforced. If the civil authorities are
not sufficient the military forces of the
State will, whenever necessary, be sent
to their assistance, armed and ready to
support the majesty of the law. Let us
profit by this terrible lesson, and learn
in all cases to respect the authorities
and obey the laws.
After the close of the war our State
courts were superseded by the military,
our regular officers were removed, and
there was great looseness in the en-
forcement of the penal laws. A large
proportion of our population were
turned loose without their accustomed
restraints, uncultivated in their morals
and regardless OF law. There was a
nameless offence sometimes perpetrated
upon defenceless females, for which
nothing, in public opinion, could atone
but the death of the perpetrator. The
outrage was too great to trust to the
delays and uncertainties of courts.
Now that our courts are again in the
hands of our citizens, the good people
should no longer give way to these
moments of excitement. / would ap.
peal to the people to await a trial of all
offenders by the duly constituted
courts.
There are various sources from which
money is derived in the shape of fines,
costs, ETC., amounting to considerable
sum. Justices of the peace, constables,
sheriffs, notaries, ETC., who collect this
money, are required to pay it to the
clerks of the various counties and
cities; and these sums are to be
accounted for to the First Auditor.
The Code of Virginia requires the
commissioners of the revenue to ex-
anime the books in the clerks Office.
This work should be delegated to
board composed of the Superintendent
of the Public Schools in each county
aud city, the County Judge and the
Attorney for the Commonwealth.
Such board is better qualified for the
work required than the commissioners
of the revenue.
The appropriation made by Virginia
for the Worlds Fair seems to have been
r,ost ;nd;c;oucIv eynended and will 7