The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-04

| In regard TO the penitentary. the bill
| does not make any change. IL leaves
| the salaries of the superintendent at ~
| 600: OF the surgeon at $120.of the first as
sistant keeper at $40 of the other three
| assistants at 500 each and the pay oil
| the directors OF 81 "A day, not exceeding
| $50 In one year for each one. also re-
mains as It has been.
| The salary OF the Superintendent OF
1 Public instruction is cut down by thc
bill from 5000 TO 1880.
| EXPLAINING IT'S PURPoRT.
| In speaking on the bill I'm a general way
| Mr. Winborne said the work Of the clerks
| in the Office Of the Auditor of Public Ac-
counts was nominally from a. M. TO 3
| =. NJ and the clerks there were not
| very busily engaged. 50 that their ofiice
| time could be increased two hours daily.
| In the Office OF the Second Auditor and IN
| the Office OF the Treasurer. the number
| of clerks was increased during the pend
| ing OF the funding OF the state debt and
| the same number Of clerks IS still retain
| ed. If the bill passes. which reduces nc
| expenses in misdemeanor cases one-half.
| tho work in the Office of the Auditor o'
| Public Accounts will be greatly reduced.
| If nothing was done with these bills
| IN regard to retrenchment and reform
| during the next few days then 1t would
| be inevitable by February 18th, when the
bill providing for a constitutional con-
| vention came up i'm the Senate as special
order. TO pass the measure. so that such
a convention might be- called. But even
| then no immediate reli-f would be offer
| ed. The only way 10 get out Of the
| dilemma would therefore be to reduce the
expenses of the State.
| Mr. Campbell, OF Amherst. congratu-
| lated the House that il had at last gotten
hold OF the right end Of the little crea-
| ture "retrenchment" and the only objec-
| ton he had to the substitute offered by
| the special Committee on Retrenchment
| to the Featherston bill. was that II did
| not 20 quite far enough and he desired
| therefore to offer a few amendments.
In the first place, he desired to amend
| the fourth section so that the Auditor OF
| Public Accounts shall be the Second Au-
ditor and he shall perform the duties OF
| that office Inasmuch as this meant Il
consolidation Of the two Offices, his amend
ment also provided that the fees from
the Miller fund be turned over TO the
| Auditor Of Public Accounts. which would
make his salary $3.220
4 second amendment 70 the bill pro-
vided that the amount 20 be expended
OIL the clerical force OF that office shall
be $3.50 instead Of $500. as provided In
the bill. In speaking 10 this amendment
NJ. Campbell said he did not intend 10
dispense with the valuable services OF
the present Second Auditor. but ne only
Intended 20 transfer him TO tn office OF
Auditor Of Public Accounts. where he
would continue TO carry out his former
duties and would receive q sal ~ from
81 go 10 $500.
As third amendment Mr.. Campbell
moved 20 strike out in tho substitute bill
the section which refers 90 'hc ofiice OF
second ArC'tor II these three amend
ments were adopted. said Mr. Campbell
an additional saving of $500 FOR the
State would be accomplished.
REFUSED TO PASS BY.
DIR. winston. of Hanover. took the
ground that the members were largely
talking to empty benches and the SUD
stitute under discussion had not yet been
printed. He. therefore. moved that II De
postponed until to-day and made the
special order at / O'Clock so that 1t might
be printed in the meantime.
Mr. Carter. of Scott felt gratihed thal
the House had at last come TO the right
place and was discussing the proposition
Of cutting the salaries OF men who were
able 10 have their salaries reduced anu
he hoped. therefore, that the bill would
not be passed by.
DR.. Winston's motion 10 pass the pill
bv was then defeated by large ma
iority.
Mr. Feathcrston. Of Campbell the pa
tron Of the original BILL then obtained
the floor. He told the House that the
people who had sent the members there
had expected them 10 cut down the eN-
penses of the State and not 10 make a
search for additional revenue. which. ar
Ter all. would be only more or less PROD
lematical. II had been stated for IN
stance. that the bill introduced by MT.
Parks-which required bonds. notes ana
other evidences Of debt 10 be lsted LOT
taxation--would bring large revenue
into the State treasury. He feared. now
oyer that these very people who in the
past had failed TO pay these Just taxes
would soon after the passage OF TINS new
law ind some way 10y which TO hide
from assessment q large portion Of their
possessions.
..rhe sample principle should be ap-
.ued 70 tho state" continued Mr..
Featherston. (which is exercised by in
dividuals i'm the management OF their
own priyate affairs The revenues or Inc
state. we are told. are now running be-
mind from 5000 TO S0V@ annually, ana
in "a short time We viii have 10 maze
provision for an additional $lSOWo when
will have to be paid, as soon as tho in
creased interest on the state debt be-
comes due. But that is not all. II is
well known TO an Of us. that in lWJ
when the next assessment of the Valua-
ton of property in this State will be
made we will find that the general depre-
citation of values during the past year
Will considerably decrease our revenues,
while the expenses will be increased in
stead of being reduced.
'"Thcre are only two ways TO help us
ont of this dilemma. we must either cut
down our expenses or increase the rate
Of taxation II the latter was done. how
would IL be met by our constituents
caution this House and ] urge the state
officers to abide by these proposed reduc-
uons of salaries. I predict mere now
that If these reductions are not made,
then the people Will arise and they VIII
not only cut salaries. but they viii cut
off the heads OF these very state officers.
n the bills which provide for a reduce
don of salaries are enacted. the state
will he benefited h. saving OF from
5000 10 500
GOING FOR THE SURGEON.
Mr.. Charles r. Bland. Of Portsmouth,
made a forcble speech. wherein he de-
clared that he was I'm full accord win
the sentiment of the bill under discus
sion. There was room for rotrenchment
but the cutting should apply I'm an equal
manner to all salaries. lie Was surpris.
ed. however 10 see that the substitute
bill allowed the salary OF the surgeon or
the pententiary TO remain untouched.