The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-05

oligarchy? Retrenchment is one thing
and reform IS another: they must SO
hand I'm hand The trouble IS, we have
too many officers: we have an office
ridden people. We said 10 our people be
fore they sent US down here that we
would decrease the number OF officers,
and now since we are down here, We
hesitate 10 make good our promises. If
the Register OF the Land Office can be
abolished and money is saved by II, then
let rs do H. We need a reduction OF the
expenses Of tho state and It Is abso-
lutely obligatory. DO not let US say that
nothing will be done, because We cannot
agree on the details" zzz
sir. Anderson OK this city, in reply 20
sfr Eland. said.
"The gentleman from Portsmouth has
criticized me in saying that I first de-
clared 10 be- I'm favor Of retrenchment
and now ] acted as obstructionist. This
statement IS without foundation and I'M
called for All asked for was that the
clerical force OF the Secretary Of the
Commonwealth be increased so that the
work imposed on the Office might be car
RED out.
Mr.. Campbell. OF Amherst. asked Mr..
Anderson, whether ne was willing 70 vote
for that section Of the bill II the Secretary
additional clerk. and Mr.. Anderson re-
piled in tho Affirmative.
EXPLAINED THE WORK.
Nlr. Anderson then explained In detail
tho work that had been done during the
past year in the Office Of the Register OF
the Land Office and referred 10 tho num-
Der of letters written, land grants issued.
etc. Mr. Winborne subsequently replied
TO him and abiding 10 the statistics sup
piled by Nr. Anderson said that the du-
ties Of the Office OF the Register OF the
Land Office were practically nothing. IL
had been contemplated By the committee
70 transfer the duties OF the Keeper or
the Rolls TO the Secretary OF the Com
monwealth and for that reason the COM
n1ittee had deemed II best not 20 cut
down his salary. Since the House had
decided. however, that the duties OF the
Keeper OF the Rolls should remain with
the Clerk OF the House. the committee
had come to the conclusion that the
salary OF the Secretary of the Common
wealth should be reduced and therefore
offered as an amendment that II be re-
duced from 5000 TO 81 $40 q year.
Mr.. Featherston, OF Campbell. then call
ed the pending question which was or
dered.
Mr.. Saunders then moved. DIT winston
not being in his seat, that the latter's
first amendment be rejected which reads
TO strike out the provision transferring
the duties OF the Register OF the Land
Office to the Secretary of the Common
wealth The amendment was rejected.
The second amendment offered by Or.
Winston. reducing the salary OF the Sec
rotary OF the Commonwealth from $500
10 81 800 was then rejected.
The amendment offered by Mr. VIM
borne. reducing the salary 10 $3.50 was
agreed 10 by a vote Of AZ 10 "a
The original bill provides that the fees
received by the Secretary OF the Com
monwealth. which amount TO about 5000
annually. be turned over into the state
treasury This provision has been
stricken cut IN the substitute, tia, that
Official will retain these fees under the
bill! as he has in the past.
When the provision OF the third sec
tions was taken up. which allows the
sum OF $500 annually for the clerical
force Of the Secretary OF the Common