Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES %, 1897
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The two houses of our State Leglsla-
ture will meet here in biennial session
at noon on Wednesday next. and it is
quite certain that their proceedings will
be of far greater consequence than usual
Not only are there to be elections Of a
United States Senator. OF county judges,
OF basement officers" etc, but the fiscal
affairs of the State ought TO be put into
shape against the time when the rate
OF interest upon our public debt will go
up and the assessed values Of real estate
may go down. And then there are a
number Of constitutional amendments TO
he considered; the popular demand for a
convention to revise and amend our
State Constitution having been diverted
only by the promise that every needed
amendment would be prepared and pro
posed" by the Legislature. 1t thus fol-
lows, practically speaking, that this legis-
lative session will determine whether or
not there is to be a renewal of the agi-
tation in favor of constitutional conven-
ton. The decision will turn largely, if
not entirely, upon the success OF the
two houses in adopting retrenchment
measures. And so we predict that this
session will attract in an extraordinary
degree the attention of the public.
Most OF the newspaper men who have
written upon the subject seem to be of
the opinion that the members of the
Legislature, Just as soon as they arrive
here. will proceed 10 nominate and elect
the officers whose terms expire before
another session shall be held.
Certainly, this is the usual method of |
dispatching business. and it has the ad- |
vantage of disposing OF 1.-The button-hole |
brigade" before the distinctively legisla- !
tive work has begun. But will that plan |
do this year? That is 10 say, will it do |
10 elect these officers without first noti- |
flying them that the Legislature has in |
mind a great scheme of retrenchment?
II, without giving any notice of it's |
intentions, the Legislature proceeds to |
choose the heads of departments and |
the heads proceed TO appoint their sub
ordnates, the work of retrenchment vii
thereafter, be found to be very diff
cult.
t-may be said that few Of the officers
whose pay was cut would be able
TO enforce claims for full pay for their en-
tire terms; but, however that may be. |
the fact of their election would become
a powerful lever in the consideration Of
abe subject of retrenchment in the two
houses. And in view of this 1t would
seem to be the duty Of the Legislature
either to do the retrenchlng that It ex-
20 40 hot uffh ~, |
elections, or. IL possible, put itself upon
record in such a manner as win estop
the plea that any proposed reduction
would be violative Of the spirit of the
election contract.
Right here we would say the Dispatch
would gladly see Virginia pay larger sala-
ries than 1t is now paying. With rare
pensated, yet our expenses are too large
in view Of the certainty that our obliga-
lions will be increased in 1901, and in
view OF the probability that our assess
able values may be much reduced, begin
ming with that year. So We shall have
TO make buckle and tongue meet by
searching out new subjects Of taxation
and by cutting down expenses.
Judge Homes, OF Mecklenburg has sug-
gested that our revenue may be in
creased to some extent by assessing
certain "intangiele' corporate property
that has never yet been assessed, but it
Is very problematicM how much money
We should be able to raise from that
source. AS for the main body of tax
payers In Virginia, what they demand
is reduction of general taxation. Ana
so II comes at last TO be in the main a
question OF retrenchment and economy.
II the Legislature is in dead earnest"
about this matter. 1t will show 1t from
the word go" II the elections are gone
into without the Legislatures serving
notice OF its plans upon those interested.
we doubt II public expectations as TO re-
trenchment and reform viii be realized
at this session.
The fact Is. the work of the retrenche, ;,
Is very. very hard, and few retrenchers q
there are who do not faint by the way h
side before their task Is half done. -
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