Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-12-17
Commissioners of The Revenue.

Commissioners of The Revenue.
The Books of the Supervisors,
generally throuhout the State, are
now composed of men of mature age
and deliberative temperaments. They
are identified with the county by
property interests. Their Office is a
patriotic and unsel6sh one. The
emoluments attached to it are small,
an / insufficient of themselves TO at
tract candidates. Consequently the
men who serve the community in
this capacity are actusted and gov
erned BY the most disinterested and
unselfish motives.
This is happy condition of affairs.
The board is seldom involved in
political aud fractional contest gives
single eye to the economies so nee
esssry for successful government, and
it is the great foundation stone upon
which we can hope to build up the
thrifty and prosperity of the common
veal.
The proposed plan of giving the
members of this board the power of
appointing commissioners of the rev.
enue would put an end to the good
service now rendered by this branch
of the government. These boards
would at once become the center of
the political storms that would GER
tsinly result from the mschinatlon
Of rival candidates for the Office of
commissioner, and in the place of
the capable officials, who now serve
US as superiors, We would have the
gentlemen who are most capable of
getting votes. The unselfish patriots
would give way to the politicians.
Men who would not, or could not, do
effective service for the opposing
rings, would have 10 stand back.
And so we oppose locating the ap-
pointing power in the honorable
board of supervisors.
For the same and stronger reason
We oppose giving THE power of ap
pointment to judges of our circuit
courts. The Constitutional Conven-
ton dealt most unkindly with
judges of the circuit courts. They
abolished the county courts, and
gave their work to the circuit court
judges. They have trebled the work
for the latter with small prospect of
q proportionate increase in pay.
The power is given the people to sus-
pend the corporation courts, and
saddle this work too upon the circuit
Judge. But there is a stronger ar
gument against the location of this
power in the circuit court, than the
plea of overwork.
Since the days of John Marshall,
Virginis's pride has been her judiciary
She has kept her strongest sons upon
the bench, and has never given them
suitable reward. And now after
this long, patriotic and faithful
service, it is proposed to make the
Judge of the circuit court the fna
arbiter of the bitterest fractional con.
tests that have ever sprung up in ouI
midst. For, experience teaches us
where two candidates for commission
er of the revenue offer, they will each
have their friends: the friends will be-
equally insistent upon the merits OF
the respective candidates, and as the
judge cannot appoint both he will
bring down upon his luckless head
all of the odium and venom of which
a disappointed political faction il
capable.
Thus the men who serve upon the
bench, who should give their live,
devoutly to their work of preserving
the peace and happiness of the com
munitY, will be so hampered tina
they will be no longer able TO main
tain the high standard of the cour
ofjustice, which has brought upoI
Virginia the admiring attention Of
her sister states.
As we read the signs of the times
our people want to retain their power
they wish to know their servants; snC
woald retain their right of selecting
their own officials. Therefore, W,
favor election of the commissions OF
the revenue by the people,
A Million Voices
Could hardly express the thanks o
Uornar Hall of INSET Point Ia Listen why