Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27

SENATOR GEORGE y. khbLhlsl"
..,t,,,,ona1 Inhibition against retrench-
snent. even IL IL were desirable. Ihat the
criminal charges of the State are sun
much too large, even though reouceo py
about $4,000 as a result Of the leSlslalloh
OF two years ago, all are Wiling 10 sul ll,
Many bills have been offered, ana ihuCh
labor spent in devising ways and means
20 remedy the abuses which have crept
into the administration Of the criminal
laws. TO do this, and yet az the same
time work no hardship upon those oihclals
and those communities where the laws
have not been abused, has been ulih-
cult undertaking. AS result or tnese
iabors a series Of bills have passed both
houses. designed to correct the abuses
of the law, and which, II is estimated,
will save to the State large sum or
money vet at the same time protecting
ms fully as possible the officials who have
not been guilty OF these abuses. or
course. the amount Of these savings Is
more or less problematical.
Other laws. have been passed looking
toward a better assessment and collection
Of the taxes due the State, and much time
and labor spent I'm trying to perfect sys-
TEN Of taxation that would reach those
subjects which have heretofore been
evading their fair share Of the burdens
of government. Experience alone can tell
how far this end has been accomplished
but It is confidently expected that as
result Of these enactments a considerable
increase Of revenue will come into the
Treasury.
UNPLEASANT, DIFFICULT TASK.
In undertaking to deal with the question
of retrenchment, as applied to the appTo-
priations TO the public institutions of the
state. and the reductions in salaries Of
the officials OF our government, the
Legislature has been confronted with a
most unpleasant and difficult task. Here
there is no room for retrenchment other
than taking away from some institution.
or from some Official a part Of what they
have heretofore received, and most natu-
rally this has provoked the most deter
mined and united opposition from the
parties affected and their friends, and the
reductions made. whilst not as large as
were expected by many and demanded by
public opinion in many cases, will never
theless amount to a saving Of
good many thousands of dollars,
II the plans as outlined by the Finance
committees OF the two houses are en-
acted into law. The office of Register
OF the Land Office has been abolished
and his duties conferred upon the Secre-
tary of the Commonwealth. Reductions
have been made in the clerical force Of
the departments. and the salaries Of
those remaining reduced.
A number of amendments to the Con-
stitution have been proposed, looking to
the reduction in number Of elections to
the consolidation Of the courts. and a
cheaper and less complicated judicial sys-
tenn; to the better collection Of the capt.
tation tax by making its prepayment a
prerequisite for voting, and also an
amendment which will enable the better
collection of the tax Tor the privilege Of
taking oysters from the natural rocks.
A Board of Fisheries has been created
20 manage the oyster crab. and fishing
interests and its advocates predict for
II that the State will receive a very large
increase Of revenue from these sources
on account of its operations and at the
same time that better system OF laws
IS devised governing these interests.
Bills looking TO largely increased reve-
nue. from telegraph. telephone, and ex-
press companies have been considered
and II enacted into law will add very