The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-11
OF tho Union. and has been satisfactory

Of Of, the unlon'; and has been satisfactory
The assessment OF revenues Is delicate
and difficult tosk under any form OF
government; but fnHnfn iis ~ lest
iinaclnery for this. work Is preferable.
hcials called examlners OF records and
one Of whom in each judicial circuit
must make assessments OF all moneys
bonds. notes, stocks and every species
OF personal property Under the control
OF the court, us we'll as of all water
craft over five ton bur.iel.
After making these valuations the ex-
rissioners OF revenue, who make extern
sions thereof upon their books, the state
paying commissions to both sets Of Off
cials. There Is hardly any class OF prop
than that In question. and the fact that
the State should have paid to these ex-
aminers of record alone the large sum
of one hundred and eighty-two thousand
seven hundred and seventy dollars ts1s2.
770.67) and eixty-seven cents in the past
ten years for work which could have been
done by the commissioners of revenue,
who are also paid the regular fees for
extending these valuations, Is II great
wrong upon her taxpayers I. therefore.
advise the abolition OF this new and un-
necessary office, and the rclmposition OF
its duties upon the commissioners Of
revenue with rigid accountability Of
service.
Comprehensive civil service regulations
authorized by statute and applicable in
the appointment and retention of all
partmcnt would be a beneficial nchicye-
ment. The conduct of this business
should be analogous to that of safe and
l'sound banking institutions. a system OF
civil service should also be extended to
all employees of the pententlary and in
sane hospitals. other than their respec-
tive superintendent and assistants. and
TO the police, janitors. conductors of ele-
vators and machinsts employed at the
/, seat OF government.
| The selection of these officials as well
as their tenure of office, should be deter
mined wholly by efficiency and charac-
| ter. and removed entirely from the sus-
| pic!an of political considerations.
Report Every Cause.
i renew my recommendation that COM
monwealtf's attorneys be required to re-
port at least quarterly to the Attorney
General the style of every cause. civil or
criminal to which the Commonwealth is
a party. together with the disposition OF
each cause; IL continued. the reasons
therefor, and II concluded. the Judgment
therein. Such reports would give data to
determine the relative increase or de-
, crease of crime. as well as the status of
all Judgments for costs and fines, thus
enabling intelligent legislation to remedy
our present wretched method for the col
leCtlOn OF tneSe JuuSmeHlS. HIS system
IS in vogue In the national government.
and ] have personal reasons for knowing
, that 1t expedites the administration of JUS
tice, saves expense and facilitates the
| collection Of revenue.
The Confederate battle flags which have
been returned to the State by the United
States Government should be under con-
tinuous official care, and deposited i'll
some flre-proof receptaale adequate for
the indefinite preservation ~ these oln-
blems OF the courage and self-sacrifice
of our people In days of war. am con-
strained to believe II is only necessary
to invite your attention to this subject
that proper legislation may be afforded
Primary elections are the evolutionary
by parties. but such a system is of little
practical good unless legalized By effec-
tive safeguards Not only should the eX-
pense. which Is not a large item. for, the
conduct of the primary be borne by the
State but what is of far more import
should be legally provided for in IL way
to secure their unquestIonable Impair,
TALLY and fidelity. The genius of our
institutions demands the freest and fair
est opportunity for the exercise of the
ballot by those possessing the privilege
government than an unfair or fraudulent
election. primary OF. regular. But 1t IS
not alone necessary that elections should
be actually fair: ii is almost of equal
Importance that the people should believe
them to be fair. and. therefore. their
whole administration should be removed
from every ser1blancc of partiality. In
order that the purity Of the ballot may
be sustained by public confidence, which
can never be fully attained II election
officials are all taken substantially from
one party or from one prsairztiion 81