Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-04

unchanged, on the ground that the dutie
Of the positions are constantly becoming
greater The salary OF the first-name'
officer is 1,so0. and Of the other two
$40 each. The bill further provides tina
the directors OF the penitentIary shall re
ceive 50 for each working day, not e
exceed $50, which is the same as a
present.
The salary OF the Superintendent a
Public instruction is reduced from 800
to. 81, 800.
CLERKS CAN WORK LONGER.
Commenting upon the reductions made
for the employment OF clerical forces IL
the various departments. Mr.. Winborn'
said at present these clerks only worked
from . to o'clock. This, he said. was
their nominal working hours. and he die
not think that they had to work very
hard, even during these hours. For this
reason. he could not see that II would
work any hardship 20 them TO have two
! hours added to each day, which would
! have the effect OF enabling three men tc
do the work at present done by four
and so on In the same ratio. He next
drew attention to the fact that four years
ago the clerical force In the Second Audi
tors Office had been considerably In
| creased. on account OF the funding OF
the State debt, then in progress. This
work. he said. had all been completed.
| and new bonds Issued. but still the in
creased force was retained. The same
thing, too. he continued. was true Of
the Treasurer's office
A DIsTASTEFUL DUTY.
Mr.. Winborne said that the role when
he occupied in presenting the objects OF
this bill was most unpleasant 10 him.
But" said he IL did not come here to
do that which was pleasant 1 came
here to do my very best for the best in
terests not only Of my county, but for
the state as whole" The speaker
drew attention to the fact that two
thirds of the session was gone, and that
not one actual act of retrenchment had
been passed. There had been any amount
of resolving to retrench. he said, but
very little Of the actual thing itself" He
drew attention to the proposed calling
Of a constitutional convention, and said
that the necessity for such action was
inevitable, if something was not done.
The only thing 10 be done was 10 cut
down expenses. In closing he urged
the necessity for meeting the issue brave
~ and squarely, and said that he hoped
this would be the action OF his fellows,
rs IL CeTtdlNiN would De MS.
ABOLISH SECOND AUDITOR.
He was followed by Mr.. c. ]. Campbell,
Of Amherst, who, I'm opening mis- remarks.
which he said prefaced the Offering OF
q few amendments 10 the committees
substitute, took occasion to congratulate
the House in that IL had at last gotten
hold of the question of retrenchment
and reform at the right end. He also
having had the courage TO take the ini-
tiative in the matter. His only objec-
ton TO the bill was that 1t had not
gone quite far enough. He then offered
his amendments.
The first was to consolidate the offices
Of First and Second auditors, and TO
make the former official perform all the
duties now distributed between the two.
In order to, in a measure, compensate
the First Auditor for the additional du-
ties he proposed transferring to him the
S20 accruing from the Miller fund, which
would make the joint position worth, in
all, about $3.50.
In advocating this consolidation. he
said he did not want to be construed
as undertaking. the services Of Major
Ryland, whose Office he wished to abolish.
for he knew that official to be almost
invaluable to the State. For this reason
his second amendment was to add $1,000
to the amount allowed for clerical force
in the First Auditors Office thus making
it possible for the State to retain Major
Ryland at a salary a least not less than
that amount. His third amendment was
to abolish the office OF Second Auditor.
The amendments. as q whole, he said.
In conclusion, would result I'm saving
to the State of $500, and it was his !
opinion that $500 was quite enough TO
employ the necessary clerical force to |
run the office, as proposed in his amend |
ment
MIR. WINSTON FAVORS POSTPONING |
Mr.. Winston. of Hanover. offered q |
motion that the bill be passed by until |
to-day, until the substitute, which was
under discussion, had been printed ard |
placed i'm the hands of the members. He
urged this, he said, not for the purpose
OF delaying matters, but simply in JUS
tice TO a large number of members. who
were absent from their seats.
Mr.. Carter, of Scott, said that he had
no speech to make on the matter before
the House, except TO say that he was
glad 10 see that 1t had at last gotten
around to the right place, and that il
would do wrong if it did anything i'm
the world other than pass the bill under
He said ii was no dis
paragement of the State that her Off
GERS should have their salaries reduced.
and he hoped the House would go
straight forward along the line in which
{ had started. DR.. Winstons motion
10 postpone was then put and lost.
MIR. FEATHERSTON'S TALK
MI Featherston, of Campbell. was the
next TO take the floor. He said that he
was glad to see the motion TO pass by
defeated The people who elected the
members Of the General Assembly looked
10 and expected them TO cut down ex-
Denses and not to search for revenues
He said this was the cOmmon-sense way
)f looking at il, and he believed i'm APP
plying the same rule TO the State as 10
he individual. He showed how the State
vas running behind between $4,000 and
5O,cOO annually. and how by 1890 upwards
II $4,000 Of debt would have accumu-
ated. and how that to meet this amount
md the interest on IL, fully 500 600 would
ave 10 be raised. How them" said
ie. "can we confront such a condition Of
lffairs and contend against cutting ex-
,enses?.
rs there a man." he continued who
believes that the assessment I'm 1900 will
,e what it is now? No." he replied.
With earnestness. "Well, then. the prob
EN- resolves itself into this. whether il
$ best to cut down expenses or to in
rease the rate Of taxation. You know
he answer, gentlemen. You know that
ou could not return and face your con-
tituents If you were to do the latter
}ut If should he foolish auorerh 20