The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-20
Commissioners of Revenue.

Editor of The Times Dispatch:
sit,-Seelng by the Richmond papers
that member of the Legislature has in
troduced bill providing for the appoint
nent of Commissioners OF enc Revenue
by the Circuit judges instead of select
ing them by popular vote, as at present.
space In your Valuable and widely-read
paper to offer some objection to tire pro-
posed change and to make SOME sugges-
lions that seem to me to oner--consider-
ing the interest of the State and people
what appears to promise much fairer
and much more satisfactory solution OF
this question than any yet offered. In
the first place, we all recognize and APP
preciate the force of the ostensible
reasons that prompt the present move
,nent to remove as for as possible the
selection of these important officials from
the seductive Influences of favor and
force, as illustrated by these active and
often governing factors In popular cleo
ton. For proper and fearless discharge
OF duty, II Is absolutely necessary that
they should be chosen In such manner
as to make them as independent of both
individual and public censure or favor
as possible, for II is an exceptionally
honest and fearless commissioner who
will do his whole duty to the State in as
sessng property, when he is anxious for
every mans support In recollection TO
Office In the contest of interests thus
tain to be sacrificed in favor. OF that of
the Individual. Hence we are not in
favor OF the popular election of these
officers. On the other, hand. we think
1t bad policy and that 1t will give rise
TO great dissatisfaction because of the
opportunity afforded for the exercise of
obnoxious favoritism on the part OF SOME
judges, should the appointment be- placed
respect for the judges Of this State, and
believe them to be as thoroughly honest
and patriotic as the average human ma
ture viii permit them to be, yet 1t can,
NAT l.s, t,tnI IlnSv O.FY,N VNpn Co
of the bishops. that They arc nothing
but male men after ALL" with all the in
stincts. all the ambition and often all the
weakness Of the average politician ,l,i Of In
which they wear cannot change their.
nature, nor their disposition to reward
friends and punish enemies, and some
times, perhaps, contrary to right. and
the public. and 1t may prove In soire of
these possible appointments that If you
are not henchman of the Judge you
needn't come around" We don't believe
1t safe or wise to give any one man. nor
judge even, such an opportunity for the
exercise of such autocrutic power, even
though 1t may not be used towards selfish
ends. In view of the foregoing we would
suggest getting as close to the people
as possible in tho method of selecting
these officials without endangering. their
efficiency and Independence of action in
the discharge of their duties. a board
should be constituted in each county,
composed of the Circuit judge, the Conf
monwealth's Attorney, County Treasurer
and the supervisors OF the several dis
trcts, the Judge to preside over its meet
ings. which board shall be clothed by
the Legislature with .thelduty and power
of naming the Commissioners of;the Rev
enue. BY this plan obnoxious favorlt-
ism would be impossible; the opportunity
for. and effect Of political pulls
through the active int,nehce OF these Of
of such men as will meet the approval of
Mt least a majority of this board assured,
and the discharge of duty under the eyes
their offices know and appreciate far bet
ter than the judge himself, the value
and effect of good or poor service on the
part OF these commissioners. BY the
adoption Of this plan the people would
be satisfied and proper performance OF
duty by the commissioners would be al
most assured. Tho reason for naming
the district supervisors and County Trea-
surers as members of the proposed board
are perfectly apparent to any ono who
knows how closely these officers arc re-
lated to the finances of a county and
district, aud how vital TO the same isla
proper performance Of duty by Commits
sioners of the Revenue.
Onancock, Va. N. wv. MOCK.