Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-03-23


others were only detected on their way
when they had passed one house, and
were well nigh their third reading in
the other. One very important bill,
possibly the most important for evil,
certainly now the most notorious, got
through both houses and into the
hands of the governor before it's mean
ing dawned on the lawmakers. They
then made a rush for the executive to
save the State, but the bill being in
his hands and a pen being near, and it
being the custom of that unfortunate
functionary to do the wrong thing on
all occasions, he proceeded, it is said,
before reading the bill, to dip his pen
and add another to the long list of
plumbers he has made. Many of these
lawgivers boosted that they were self
made men. This means that their
education is only of the free school
origin and variety. But most of our
free schools teach one how to read, If,
therefore, these dangerous measures
got by our solons without being read,
it must be due to carelessness and neg
ligence, and not because they could
not read. If they could read, they are
not excusable, if they could not, then
they are.
The most startling feature Of legis-
lation vas the passage we say of the
Tax Inquisitors bill, which created 11S
new officers, and probably added
$118, 900 of a burden in the way of
| their salaries. If they average $1,000
each there is $11S,000 at once. But it
will be recalled that the salaries Of
most all of the State officials were in
creased. This possibly was done to
carry out the idea that wages have
been advanced everywhere else, and
must be advanced here. This is an
age of prosperity we know and the
poor officeholder must not be forgot
ten. This was unnecessary as mona of
them would have resigned OH account
of their inability to live on the wages
paid, but the Christian statesman is
not forgetful of the fact that it is
more blessed to give than to receive,
His m~unifcence added a large amount
to our tax burden.
There was another act which we are
satisfied was a mistake. That is the
, bill to increase to $135 900 per veal
) the Confederate soldiers pensions
We are not opposed to real charity
) nor is there any man On earth who
l occupies in our esteem SO exalted {
position as the Confederate soldier
, But in Virginia few are the subject o
5 real charity. Its Il provision in nature
that none will beg unless they know
there are those who will give, and al
aims givers increase SO do beggars
: If our old Confederate soldiers hav,
themselves and their families to de
pend on, they are usually provided
with sustenance. If they, like thu
| Union soldier, have a political part,
and the government crib to sustain
? them, they may become objects of char
t ity, and thousands become beggars ant
| mendicants. AT the Soldiers HON
t we not long since heard Col. Randolph
say that it had become the custom o
: communities to send their whiskey
buns to the Home to be cared for
He said there was no charity In this
and such an institution had never beef
built for that purpose. 1t was bull
to assist those who, on account 0
causes over which they had no con
troll, were likely to suffer, and thos'
alone. This seemingly meritoriou'
l object, the old Confederate soldier, ha'
been abused, and to provide funds tt
, pay this unnecessary and onercul
l charity it is said the tax inquisitorl
law has been passed.
/ Let the public see then what has
, happened. For the soldiers $135, 600
70 pay officers to collect this sun
. $11s, 600. Total $3.50, 600. This is JUS
one little item the last Legislature ha,
given US. There are many more.