The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-20
Lessons for Legislators.

Editor OF The Times:
Sir.-The following observations are
based upon ten years experience I'm the
Senate and House of Delegates OF Vir-
GINA.
First: That dog law IL more destruc-
tive of statesmen than OF dogs. one
legislature authorized the boards OF SUI
pervisors OF counties to levy a tax of one
dollar on each dog. At the next election
the people left this legislature severely
at home one the ground that IL threw
the responsibility Of taxing dogs on lot
of mutton heads I'm each county, thus at
tempting, I'm a cOwardly way 20 shift
the responsibility from its own should
erS.
Second: That the oyster as "A revenue
subject is a glaring and unqualified hum
bug, which Is agitated as political Ques-
ton every two years, by and for the
benefit of the sand fiddler politicians along
the coast.
Third: The biennial spurts Of re
trenchment and reform results from the
foolish promises made by silly candidates
I'm the rural districts to their constituents,
that IL elected they will lower taxes by
cutting down the fees Of cOnstables and
magistrates, and reducing the salaries OF
the Judges and other half-paid officials. As
a matter OF course. this class of REFORM
ers never accomplishes anything. except
the disappointment of their gulled and
gullible constituents.
The yokel delegate Is as poor as his
constituents and leaves home in full sym
pathy with them honestly believing that
he can tighten the burden Of taxation. by
reducing the pittances paid constables'
overseers Of the poor, etc. When he arrives
i'm Richmond he draws his mileage. which
perhaps amounts 10 more money than ne
ever had in his life at one time before.
Finding the city people well dressed, ana
apparently rich his highest aspiration is
e.. y.l~ on lf
sallies out among the cheap john cloth
ing stores and with his mileage buys
himself a white shirt and a shoddy suit OF
clothes then has his shaggy. hair cut
and done up by city barber and MS
shoes shined Thus arrayed 10 his utter
establishment. he begins to receive cals
from a horde of lobbyists and polite ana
pressing invitations from the hosptable
and generous people of Richmond, some
times 20 dine. and always 10 VINE. Al nrst
these urgent invitations and marked at
tcntions puzzles the yokel member. but he
soon concludes that it is the genuine. old
fashioned. easte<n Virginia hospitality
that he has heard talked of by his pre-
decessors.
Dress as city people dress fed as Rich
mOnd people are fed, and wined NIUE
more literally than the natives are Wiheu,
tho voLel gradually forgets the hard times
al home. and concludes that all TINS cry
about hard times and retrencnment dun
reform is q humbug. The inevitable con-
clusion of the whole matter is, that II re-
tronchment and reform is expected OF any
legislature the bill or bills must be rush
ed through in the early days o. the ses-
sion. H..
Tho experience Of all the years since
the war and many before. should point
ONT to this legislature that the only way
10 get any revenue out of the oyster Is TO
abolish tho tax altogether Then many
thousands of dollars might be saved that
are annually spent in the vain enort 10
execute the oyster laws with navy 50
TO speak. .,. -,
II anv member Of the legislature non
cstlv feels that he will never. no never
again. place himself i'm the hands OF ms
friends I would advise him TO vote for
dog law and that relic of barbarism the
whipping post o,, ,,r,,,prp