Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-02-13
Letters From the People.

:intervleW possible Candidates LOT Vic
next Legislature as to their views IN
regard to certain public questions.
1 AS my name will likely be placed
lbefore the democrats OF the Eastern
!Shore for re nomination, cheerfully
avail myself of your open columns.
| With reference to the candidate for
limited States Senator, need only
say that. if l am returned to the
General Assembly, shall support for
that Office the choice of the demo-
j cratic party of the Eastern Shore.
! whoever that may be. "Countyman
may feel assured the party will make
idue deliverence on this and other
Important questions, and that its
instructions will be faithfully carried
out by party nominees. That this
preference will be for Senator Daniel
is fo,egone conclusion; for believe
he is the choice of nineteen-twen-
tieths of the democrats, not only OF
the Eastern Shore, but of the State.
Personally, favor Senator Daniel;
he is in every way the logical candl-
date; and it has never occurred to me
to think of anyone else in connection
with the office. l do not believe any
other name will be presented to the
caucus, nor perhaps even to the
Assembly. AT any rate, believe my
fellow-citizens who judge me by my
past record will not hesitate to trust
me to reflect the wishes of the party
in this matter.
With reference to the late act in re-
gard to exclusive original Jurisdiction
by justices of the peace in misdemean-
or cases, 1 Gun only say, if the effect OF
the law is not Statutory it should be
repealed. That the bill was passed
from the best and most laudable
motives, no fair minded citizen will
question who troubles to give the
matter proper thought. And per-
haps your readers will pardon me, if
refer briefly to these motives.
1t is fact that should be more
generally known, that the criminal
expenses of Virginia are not only a
grievous burden to our taxpayers,
but almost a disgrace to the states
manship of the Commonwealth. This
rather strong assertion is only borne
out by palpable facts when the fig
ures are considered, and especially
when we compare the criminal ex-
penses of our own county with those
of other counties in the State. For
example, while these expenses for
Accomac, with population of about
80 900, was, (1S95), $500, that of
Smythe, for instance, with popula-
ton of one-half, was nearly equal;
Tazewell, with population of 10000,
was Sc, FOB; Scott, with population
of %, 900, was 1919. These counties
are selected as examples of rural sit
uations not embracing cities or even
large towns, where the pro rata is
often higher In other words, the
criminal expenses of the State aggre-
gated in 1895, $500, 6S2 O0. That the
execution of criminal law in Virginia
has been an expensive part of our
State government, the tax payer who
studies these figures will not deny.
There is another fact that is prob
ably not as we'll known as it should
be, viz: that we are actually con-
fronting, in these hard times. a
threatening necessity for an increase
in our State tax rate. The late As
sembly with these facts before it,
attempted, believe, to do its best
for the people. A special committee
was appointed on reductions of GRIM
inal and other State expenses, and to
them such bills were referred as had
: any material bearing upon such leg
islation. The bill to which reference
i, is made, as introduced provided for
concurrent original jurisdiction, and
in that shape, believe, once passed
the House; but in the judgment OF
the committee referred to, was amend
ed and finally passed as it now stands.
1t is needless to say this committee
was composed of some of the best
: lawyers and ablest legislators in the
State, and that however its practical
, operation may have fallen short in
. the crucial test of experience, the
object aimed at was the praise
worthy one of relieving the State Of
part of its burden of excessive
criminal expenses.
In Accomac, some embarrassment
has apparently arisen in regard to an
forcement of the local option law; an
embarrassment which could not be
. foreseen at the time of the passage
of the bill, but which, believe has
t given rise to most of the dissatisfac-
= tion expressed with the law. 1t is
, hardly necessary to say, despite a
popular error to the contrary, that
it has apparently worked well in
other sections. At any rate, its re-
suits are already apparent by re-
duction in the aggregate of the States
criminal expenses to date.
Still, if the ends of justice are not
being served by this new experiment,
the act should be amended or re
pealed, and the citizen must pay his
taxes without grumbling over bur-