Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-01-08
ACCOMAU G. It.. VA. SATURDAY JANUARY 1898

L
what we can to see that the voice {
the people and not the mandates {
these combines ara spoken at tn
polls. In this way only can we kee
the political atmosphere of the Stat
pure and sweet, and wholesome
nourishment for n race of lofty me
and noble women.
There are many things claimin
our attention as the commissions
heads of the people. There is feel
ing of unrest and disappointment
Throughout the land. The burden
of taxation are excessive aud I'LL
equally distributed. The people ar
restricted in the exercise of their jus
rights. There are too many officers
and too wasteful expenditure of pub
tic funds. Whenever man calls at
tention to the burdens of the peop
and urges economy in the expendi
ture of public funds he is met by TIL
cry of "demagogue." l assure yo'
that no such flippant charge shall
deter me from the path of duty, ant
| trust that the members of this Leg
islature will co operate with me il
earnestly seeking ways and means t
| cut down the expense our govern
Inent, while at the same carrying OIL
the great public and charitable insti
buttons that have given Virginia the
name of q bountiful mother. And
trust that the gentlemen whom
shall call upon to take charge of the
public institutions OF the State will
exercise in the management of those
instiGusions the same frugality and
sensitive care they would exercise i'll
the management of their own private
affairs. Nothing chills the peoples
desire to help our public institutions
so much as foolish or wasteful eX
peuditure of the States appropria
tions and nothing is doing SO much
10 raise prejudice against these APP
preparations Us the growing belle THAI
they are TOO eXtravagantly used. Anu
passing through this storm and stress
period in the States finances, it be
hooves her public trustees to show
lasting and far-reaching results in all
public expenditures. In this lies the
patriotism of our day no less than
shouldering the musket in time OF
war. And it behooves all public
servants not to use the State as a
means for private gain, or for taking
ones ease, but to do each day al
honest days work, and make returns
TO the public no less full and salts
factory Than those of private EN-
ployment.
Inc people are hampered in the
conduct OF their business, and are III
despair at the constant and steady
decline in the value OF their property
aud are FESTIVE under the oppressive
burdens of taxation they bear, while
the privilege of securing currency
sufficient to meet these burdens il
denied them. The mauipulators OF
stocks and bonds seem TO have Il firm
grasp on Legislation and are all pow
erful in devlsing means to shape pub
lie sentiment in their behalf, whilst
she property rights of the people anu
,he interest OF the masses are COM
)letely ignored and neglected. The
spectacle of thousands of Armenian |
Christians massacred, and Cuban |
patriots crushed on account of thu
care over the stock market |
s but faint picture of the crue. |
Neglect of the many in our great re- !;
public, who are daily being beggared (
md rende led homeless by unjust na
ional legislation.
The Federal Government turns u
leaf ear to all their appeals, uttered
lJher by voice, or through platform I
II press. hope that Virginia as a
overeign State will speak her voice
or the people, aud that the example
will be followed by all the Common
realths in this Union, demanding
hat some better financial system
hall be adopted than that which al
resent prevails. 1t is burning
name that the statement is almost
ally aud hourly made that there IL
leuty of money in few favored
entres, while it Is an admitted fac,
hat through the broad land, anu
mong the people, there is nul
uOugh to meet the tax burdens laiu
pom them. RetrenchmenJ anu
economy is necessary prl"clple, but
ow it is TO be practiced on pace
18th an ever decreasing value OF tax
bic property under our present IL
ancial system l cannot tell. There
,re, earnestly hope that Virginia !
DICE will be spoken by the Leglsla-
Ire in no uncertain sound, asking
ON the Federal Government atteu-
on to the real needs of the people III
better and more salts
.cGory banking system, and q more {
ealJhful money circulation. II
Our revenues are now barely suffi I
ent to meet demands. Soon We
i'll have to provide for an increased 1
tie OF interest on our public debt, l
hich we are sacredly pledged TO
eet. There are but three things as {
r as can see that can be done c
e must either find new subjects of {
xation, increase the present rate, 5
cut down expenses. The latter
'urse is the only line on which hope ii
relief can be based us far as We &
n view the subject. And this will v
difficult TASK, requiring almost
,aruan courage. But we musJ re {
ember that there is stern necessi. b
for rigid economy, and that the &
rgeon's knife is Il noble instrument
kind but firm hands. 1t is a poor
plain and crew who will not take !,
reef in their sails in the face of an :,
gale. :,
l do not understand that the com y
amt of the people is so much at y
e amount Of salaries paid, as =,
.ainsJ the number OF officers the =
constitution allows =
be imposed Upon them. We have r.
come an office-riduen people. Iu -
any instances the amount of salary
only sufficient TO invite Il scramble -
r the position, while the pay is not -
ough TO furnish even scanJy sup =
rt. The official has to find some ,,
her means to supplement- his i'll =,
me, and his other occupations usu :,
y receive about all his time The g
ate and counties getting but little -
surn for the mouey paid out. =
lese evils should be remedied by =,
e consolidation OF offices, and -
lere constitutional difficulties are
the way the places should only be CT
ed temporarily, and tile most I'll
n l.. | T.,