The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-16

Then there comes I'm, the question Of the
States finances Within the next year,
there will DE- am addition of per cent. t0
the interest OF our burtens0me public
debt The Stale that Is carrying eign-
teen or nineteen million Of dollars OF pub
lie debt should practice The most intelli-
gent economy az its command. DO IS not
TOO great an estimate 10 say that ONE
third of the present oihce-hOlders of Wire
glnia could be dispensed With hut th1t
IS not the only way I'm which economy
may be reached. The criminal eypens g
of the courts constitute a burdeusome
item. These may DE cut in half The
8uperintendency of the school fund may
be reduced so that money may Dee saved
here. The manner of collecting taxes am
of assessing property needs overhaulins.
The sheriff and the treasurer and the
commissioner o. revenue might We'll Dee
consolidated into one office or if not G1n-
solidated into one office. some other -lan
coI.d easily be hit upon whereby tEtre
should not be a continual passing over
the same track by the different officers.
But what are some of the practical diff
cult.es I'm the way of these reforms and
these constitutional changes? do not the
bus ness men and the taxpayers, The
farmers, desire these burdens lifted2 DO
they not want their state government
simple and economical I'm its c0nstitu-)l;
To be sure they DO But i'm the hands of
the courthouse officials. the men 10
whom they are I'm the habit of looking Tor
political suggestions and guidance. they
are as helpless as dock OF scattered
sheep Through every community there
are men who are willing TO vote the
views OF the sheriff and the judge of
aHsI rr fl.HH 90.
Of the supervisor and commonwealth
attorney. rather than vote their awn
views and for their own interests. Mr..
Dooley crammed a great deal OF practical
politics I'M the remark that "l am for
Clancy because Clancy put M son Ter
renee on the police force. and got my
daughter Aggle a school" That is what
is the matter with Virginia to-day. The
farmer votes directly against his own
interests. and piles up burdens OF taxa
ton and expenditure Of that taxation
because his son rides as deputy for
somebody and his daughter, "Aggie" has
a school II we are an office ridden
people. il is the fault Of ourselves. 4
change Of the constitution is I'm our
reach. The men who are drawing their
stlpends from the treasury monthly are
always on the alert. Any suggestion
whereby their Office would be akrogated
brings down most persistent and I'M
sidious opposition upon the head OF the
suggester But cannot the people wake
up and shake things: can they not send
men 10 Richmond this winter who VIII
order a constitutional convention?
Another practical center OF opposition
Is IN the Virginia State Senate. I'm that
Dliy are lot Of old experienced poiiti-
cal leaders OF local strength and renown
who represent the ofiice-hOldlng trust or
Virginia These people throw themselves
solidly against any suggestion OF a con-
stitutional change. They know thereby
they have the practical politicians IN
the various counties and oiiice-holdlns
citizens on their side. and they know the
power and the influence OF this class OF
men. Young Mr. withers. OF Pittsyivania
county, came down with fine array or
facts and figures. and swept TINS oppo-
sltI)n once frop is feet lAeutenl mt
Governor Kent was I'm the chair, and the
fine old gentleman chuckles 10 this day
over the discontinue OF the opposition
before the pebbles and the sling Of this
young David from the Dan. But when
the constitutional convention was submit
ted to the people. they had rallied their