The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-24
EXPLAINS DUTIES.
Register Of Land Office Tells New
Legislators Of His Work.

Colonel John w. Richardson, Register
of the Land Office, made the following
statement to a Times Dispatch man last
night:
There being many new members In
the present General Assembly that are
not familiar with the operations of the
land Office, and they and | now being
too busy to talk the matter over, / beg
through your paper to speak to them as
follows:
"Anent the forecast of the report of the
committee TO look into the advisabiity
of separating the State departments under
my control as Register and Superinten-
dent of Grounds and Buildings, i wish
TO say, list, that IL the Offices are sep
ara,ed. the one OF superintendent of
grounds and buildings Will have to have
an office and keep set of books, In
which to record his purchases of supplies,
such ar coal, wood. ice. etc, and in which
to audit all claims contracted in the way
of repairs etc, to be paid from the Gov
ernor's contingent fund. and the dis
bursement of the Capitol Square fund,
etc, and hence it will be best not to
divide the work, as the clerk now allowed
me can. with the assistance that ] can
give him from my duties as superinten-
dent. keep these books for me- besides
attending to the important clerical work
of the land office, and act as register and
superintendent, should circumstances OF
any character detain me from the office.
| have just examined the fee book OF
the land office back to and including the
years 1903-'0., and find that the average
annual receipts of fees is about 5000, which
is paid .intosthe State treasury. less ac-
that my ciesk. who receives n salary
of $40 per annum, really costs the state
only S24O per annum.
"As to sweeping changes referred to in
the forecast. know of none, except the
proposal to put more force under my
appointment and control, which does not
mean an increase of the duties of the
office, but simply more help to perform
them. and il takes as much time to man
age one employe as n large number, IL
! under proper discipline and arrangement
of duties. / wish TO say. In this connec-
ton, for the information of my brother
State officials that ! have not sought,
nor do l now seek to supplant any Of
them in any of their appointments, and
am only contcnding that j shall not be
held responsible for the conduct of any
empioye not appointed by me. | have
trouble enough with the patronage
now have without Inviting more.
There are members now serving in the
General Assembly who will remember
that al every term since my fncumbency
including the Constitutional Conventions
efforts were made by some members to
abolish the land office and superintendent
of grounds and buildings, on tile plea
then that there was nothing TO do and
the plea is now that there is too much
for one man to do, coupled with the
declaration that tho duties OF the register
OF the land Office have greatly dwlndled..
Finally, as to the work: With all the
sweeping chnnges' spoken Of, | can do
it promptly and efficiently, and have in
the past SO done, as l confidently believe
all will testify who have had work done
in the land Office.
II shall cheerfully abide the mandates
OF the General Assembly, whatever they
may be, in this matter, but l cannot be-
lleve it will destroy the identity OF the
peoples control and head land office by
merging 1t into some other department
after they have known 1t as such since
1926"
Official recognition o. "A the services oil
Pay Director William W. Gait at Mrs
Bay on April. rs, 1898, during the war
with Spain, is proposed In a Joint reso-
LUTON offered in the Senate yesterday by
Mr.. ss,le, Of Norfolk. A
While paynaster on board the u. S.
S, Raleigh. Just previous to sailing to
attack Manila, Gait performed in II most
gallant manner valuable services in CON
llection with completing and outil.ting the
Raleigh and exhibited conduct Of higll-
ly prilscworthy character IN procuring
an essential piece of equipment from Hong
Isong, but 70. which the vessel would
not have been able to participate in the
historic battle In Manila Bay The srr-
vices OF Calf received special mention In
the report OF Commander Coghlin Of the
Rneigh, and also brought to the pay
master, besides promotion, a special sconl-
mandatory letter from the Secretary of
the Navy. The resolutions proposed now
by Mr.. Sale is In these words:
4. That ii is htting md proper that such
meritoilous s.eNlces and distinguished
conduct Of II native soniof Virginia should
be recognized by the Legislature Of the
Stasn and should he perpeluated in lier
fgeords and ureniScs as in keeping with