Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-01

I
the path of duty, and trust that the
membe of this legislature will CO.
operate with me in earnestly seeking
ways and means to cut down the ex.
penses OF our government, while at the
same time CARRYING on the great public
and charitable institutions that have
given Virginia the pane of bountiful
mother. And 1 trust that the gentle
men whom I shall call upon to take
charge of the public institutions of the
State will exercise in the management
| of those institutions the same frugality
and sensitive care they would exercise
in the management of their own pri-
| vate affairs. Nothing chills the peoples
desire to help our public institutions so
much as foolish or wasteful e1pendi.
ture of the States appropriations, and
nothing is doing so much to raise
prejudice against these appropria.
lions as the growing belief that they
are too extravagaptly used. And pass
ing through this storm and stress pc
riod in the States finances. it behooves
her public trustees to show lasting and
far-reaching results in all public ex-
penditures. In this lies the patriotism
of our day no less than shouldering the
mueket in time of war. And it be-
hooves all public servants not to use
!, the State as means for private gain,
or for taking ones case, but to do each
day an honest days work, and make
returns to the public no less full and
satisfactory than those of private en-
ployment.
The people are hampered in the con-
duct of their business, and are in de-
spair at the constant and steady decline
in the value of their property, and are
FESTIVE under the oppressive burdens Of
taxation they bear, while the privilege
of securing currency sufficient to meet
these burdens is denied them. The
manpulators of stocks and bonds seem
to have firm grasp on legislation, and
are all powerful in devising means to
shape public sentiment in their behalf,
whilst the property rights of the peo'
pie and the interests of the masses are
completely ignored and neglected. The
spectacle of thousands of Armenian
| Christians massacred, and Cuban pa
triots crushed on account of the sensi-
tive care over the stock market is but a
faint picture of fine cruel neglect Of the
many in our great republic who are
daily being beggared and rendered
homeless by unjust national legislation.
The federal government turns deaf
ear to all their appeals, uttered either
by voice, or through platform or press.
1 hope that Virginia as sovereign
State will speak her voice for her PEG.
pie, and that the example will be fol-
lowed by all the Commonwealth in
this Union, demanding that some bet
ter financial system shall be adopted
than that which at present prevails. 1t
| is burning shame that the statement
is almost daily and hourly made that
there is plenty of money in few ia
vored centers, while it is an admitted
! fact that through the broad land, and
among the people, there is not enough
to meet the tax burdens laid upon
them. Retreuchment and economy is
necessary principle, but how it is to
be practiced on pace with an ever de-
creasing value of taxable property IN
der our present financial system car
not tell. Therefore I earnestly hope
that Virgiuia's voice will be spoken by
the Legislature in no uncertain sound,
asking from the federal government
attention to the real needs of the PEG.
pie in demanding better and more
satisfactory banking system and more
healthful money circulation.
Our revenues are now barely sutfi-
Gent to meet demands. Soon We will
have to provide for an increased rate
of interest on our public debt, which
we are sacredly pledged to meet.
There are but three things as far as
can see that can be done: We must
either find new subjects for taxation,
increase the present rate, or cut down
expenses. The latter course is the only
li0e on which hope of relief can he
based as far we can view the subject at
present. Aud this will be difficult
task, requiring almost Spartan courage.
| But we must remember that there is
stern necessity for rigid economy, and
that the surgeons knife is noble in
strunent in kind but firm hands. 1t is
poor captain and crew who will not
take reef in their sails in the face of
an approaching gale.
do not understand that the COM
plant of the people is so much at the
amount of salaries paid, as againet the
number of officers the present unsuited
constitution allows to be imposed upon
them. We have become an Office rid
den people. In many instances the
amount of salary is only sufficient to
invite scramble for the position, while
the pay is not enough to furnish even a
scanty support. The official has to
find some other means to supplement
his income, and his other occupation
usually receives about all his time, the
State and counties getting but little
| return for the money paid out.
These evils should be remedied by the
consolid alton of offices, and where con
stitutiopal difficulties are in the way
tho places should only be filled tempe
rarily, and the most speedy course pos
sible taken to remove these difficulties.
To this end I hope the Legislature will
appoint joint committee OF its own
members, or a commission outside if
deemed more desirable, to take into
consideration the whole question of
constitutional changes, and get re.
port before the close of the present ses-
sion, if possible. This, it seems to me,
would be the speediest and surest way
to settle the question of securing a
suitable constitution.
bona tho 1arialatura will nrasa the