The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05

as low 8 they can be TO secure well quail
flied anG efficient officers. and the peo-
PIE demand the best system attainabic.
and will not tolerate any change which
may tend in the most remote degree 10
impair or weaken tho system or place
It In the hands OF incompetent or incf-
fcient superintendent
Fourth. Adjustment OF the offices OF
county and city trcasurers.
state. county. and city taxes are col
lected upon commissions. IL the offices or
county and city treasurefs are abolished
and the duty Of collecting TIE revenues
imposed upon the sLeriffs there VIII SIM
ply be a change Of persons without any
saving. unless the commissions are re-
duccd. Should this be dcrc2 ! think not.
The rcspo nsibilities are great ana hne
business qualifications are required. and
n the emoluments are inadequate II VIII
be difficult to induce proper persons 10
ac,ept the positions, and the Common
wealth may suffer in the collection OF
her revenues Besides. the sherins have
generally enough To engage them IN SeTv-
ing civil process. enforcing executions, ar
resting offenders. attending the sessions
Of the courts. and performing the duties
which belong peculiarly to their offices.
Again, with the taxes 10 collect AMI eX-
ccutions to enforce. the sherjffs would
held a power which might prove 10 be
dangerous.
Fifth Criminal expenses.
That the criminal expenses Of the State
are TOO heavy must be admitted that
they should be carefully considered and
the pruning knife applied whenever II
can be done with due regard TO the en-
forcemcat Of the laws the preservation OF
order and the demands Of justice cannot
lie ql estiontd.
But this. as Well "a the proposed
changes before mentioned. can be accom-
plished. if desired. either by legislative en-
actment or by the people by amendment
to the co. atituton-either a safer and
much less expensive mode than consu-
tutiondl convention.
STATE VALUATIONS.
A general reassessment Of the lands Of
he Commonwealth being required this
year. il was feared there would be a
considerable reduction in values and
consequent falling off in the revenues
This apprehension gave me deep concern
for with n decrease i'm the revenues 10
any considerable extent there would be
serious embarrassment in meeting our
obligations ard the expenses Of our State
government. / am, however pleased TO
learn that the reassessment shows that
there has been an increase in our real
not a decrease. SO that Virginia. despite
the heavy financial depression unucr
which she, in common with the whole
country, has been suffering for several
years. has gone forward and added ap-
probably TO her taxable real estate
values. IL speaks volumes for her ma
terial strength. and the courage, energy
and industry Of her people.
our treasury has been able TO meet
promptly every demand made upon IT,,
and there is no reason TO fear that loss
will be sustained by the dedication Of
any VINO have been entrusted with the
collection of the States money. Scarce
" at any period in her history have the
finances OF Virginia been in better CON-
dition. and the present fiscal year prom
Uses a, well as the last two.
PUBLIC DEBT
Little need be said in reference to the
public debt. it has been settled upon -
basis honorable TO the State and sausfac-
tory to the creditors. and i can conceive
of no condition Of affairs that can arise
10 renew any contention over this Iues-
ton.
Under the provisions OF an act approved
January 81. 1894. holders of q portion Of
the unfunded debt. who were barred from
the provisions of the act approved Feb
ruary 20. 1892 by their failure to accept
within the time prescribed were per
mitted to accept the terms Of the last
named act. and the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund were authorized and em-
powered 70 place these holders on the
same footing as II they had actually ac-
cepted the terms Of said l9st-naIned act
within the prescribed time I'm pursuance
Of the power conferred and as directed.
the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund
advertised for the reception Of said out
standing bonds for exchange and bonds
to the amount of $l.4.4.Ol19s were s'irren-
Gered and funded, ana. I'm lien thereof,
new % per cent. bonds for he aggregate
sum Of S1,Ol5.1SfS9 were issued.
Ii is well known tnat the United states
holds registered bonds of the Common
wealth. In May. 1924, demand was made
for the payment of these bonds (asgre-
eating as stated by the Treasurer of The
United States IN his demand, $4,000 prin-
CipaD. and refused upon the following i'm
prOgnable grounds. as set forth in the
letter of A. W. Hartman. ESD Treasurer
OF Virginia. TO Hon d. II. Morgan, Treas
urcr of the United States:
First Because no appropriation had
ever been made 90 pay them
Second Because the bends were issued
before the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the State Of
Virginia. but no credit was allowed fo-
West Nirgina's equitable proportion of
said bonds
Third. Because the Government Of the
United States is indebted 10 the Com
mcnwealth Of Virginia for advances made
ana money loaned during the war Of 1872.
amounting on the lst day Of January,
| 1891, TO 81 500, U22.G
1t is matter of record that for forty
! five years Virginia las heen demanding
payment of these advances and loans, and
| ever since the United States became the
holder of the registered bonds aforesaid
| Virginia has been ready to give due credit
| for the same upon the United states in
| dcbtednoss 10 her. bat 10 the present
| time she has failed to secure a settlement.
| one branch or the nthcr of Congress has
repeatedly. hut at different sessions. rec
| ognized Virginia claim. and passed bills
| to paw her Other States have been paid
the advances made by them. bnt Virginia.
as patriotic and true as any, ard 50 h5er-
al i'm her territorial donations TO the
Union, has been left 10 continue her &C.
mands
| would recommend that your hOnora bic
bodies memorialize Congress for an adj
| justment of the matters between the
| United States end Vii gnia. and take such
| other action as may. in your judgment,
| promote settlement Of accounts be-
tween them.
BY joint resolution OF the General AS
sembly approved March g. 1894. entitled
| "A joint resolution TO provide for adjust
! ing with the State OF West Virginia"
| &c. a commission was created and au-
| thorized and directed under conditions
| specified. 10 negotiate with the State or
! West Virginia settlement and ADJUST
mani of tho proporriop If tho ntlhlir de hf