Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-04-10
lCOMMUNTcAIEpl


least upon souie of it's more impor.
tant duties, | therefore venture TO
make few suggestions. The ques
tion OF the franchise seems TO be one
that will tax, and has taxed, the
brains of the hest lawyers of the
State, how this "Gordiau Knot" il to
be cut, Is yet 20 be seen.
There are other matters of equal
Importance which have, SO far AS |
have observed, hardly beeu touched
upon. 1t is well known that when
our State debt was funded, il was
provided that different rates of inter.
est should be paid at different times,
that Is TO say, commencing at the
lowest rate of 2 per cent. for u certain
number of years, and then at the ex
plration of that time per cent. was
TO be paid and so on, l think, until
we reached the high rate of per cent.
If | am not mistaken the 3 per cent.
rate Is near at hand, aud provision
must be made to pay it. How is this
to be done? Either by 40 Increase of
taxation or reduction of expenses.
am sure our people do not want az
increase of taxation. This, then,
briefs up the financial part of the
question to be dealt with by the con
vention. | do not claim originality
for anything may say on the sub
ject. Originality is scarce COM
modify and as far AS government is
concerned, of slow growth. 1t some
times happens that instead of making
an advance movement III our govern
mental affairs, we have made back
ward step. Such believe to have
been the case in the adoption of our
present constitution. We gave up
better system (aIader compulSiOn) than
we got.
The greatest drain in the revenues
of the State is our judiciary system;
therefore let US abolish the county
judgeship aud require the circuit
judge to try all the gravpr criminal
offences and all civil cases involving
over 800. Elect one magistrate for
each district in a county, give him
jurisdiction up to 500 and the trial
of all petty larcency cases when the
penalty is the county Jail. Give the
right of appeal TO three magistrates
(Or more, if considered best) whose
decision shall be final.
Place in the hands of the magis-
rates the duties now performed by
the board of supervisors. Have one
man elected in each county to take
charge of the county roads; abolish
district boards and have uniform
taxes for all over a county for all
county purposes; elect one common.
wealth's attorney for each judicial
circuit.
Consolidate the treasurer and sher-
iff.
Abolish the Office of county super
intendent of schools.
We should have board of equali
zstion so that all property would bear
its equal proportion of taxation.
What would we save by this
change.
| am unable to give figures.
lst. We would save the salary of
100 judges.
End. We would save about on
half of the expenses of the Common
wealth Attorneys in 100 counties.
5rd. We would save the expenses
of juries in all disputed cases under
500, besides other costs.
4th. We would save the expense
of 100 County Suprs. of schools.
9Th. We would save the extra paw
given to sheriffs In 100 counties.
9th. We would save the expense of
District Clerks, of Boards aud Dis
trict Road Supervisors to the mum
her of not less than 1000 at $40 dol
lars each.
If all this could be put down in
figures it would be found to amount
to large sum.
Consolidation and the abolition of
useless offices is what the tax payer
demands.
Greater responsibility on the office
holders and better pay ought to
command efficiency and brains.
The assessor should not be allowed
to succeed himself.
The Sheriff shonld not be allowed
to succeed himself (being also Treas
urer). neither should one of his dep
mites ne allowed to succeed him
All officers should be elected by the
peonle.
The Common wealth Attorney
should receive fixed salary. and
then bring no fees attached, no
temptation to prosecute doubtful
cases with attendant expense to the
State.
The temptation to show favors on
the part of Assessor and Sheriff
wonld he taken away.
have thus briefly and somewhat
crudeIv outlined what | believe
would save large sum of money to
the State and not detract from its
efficiency but in some respects add
TO it. ECONOMY.