The Washington herald., 1908-01-09
Special to The Washington Herald

Special to The Washington Herald.
Richmond, Va, Jan. 8.--Tho general as
sembly Of Virginia met to-day. when
Gov. swanson's message was read. ses-
sions were held during the day. and John
W. Churchman. OF Augusta County, pre-
sided over the joint caucus of the senate
and house OF delegates tonight, when
the following State officers were unani-
mously reelected without opposition:
Col. Morton Marye, first auditor; Judge
John Dew. second auditor; Davis Bottom.
public printer, and John W. Richardson,
registrar OF the land Office Until late
this afternoon II was understood that a
bitter fight would be made upon the cleo
ton of Mr. Richardson, anC it was a
great surprise when silenof eigned as
his name was put in nomi-
Soon after the officers named,
George A. Richardson. o. County.
elected TO the house as an independent
Democrat, and whose name had not ap-
| peared on the list Of Democratic mem
bers. arose. anS after stating that he had
always supported Democracy and its prfn-
cipIes. asked that he be admitted TO the
caucus.
Upon motion. 1t was decided that the
joint session should adjourn, and that
the house should convene singly in eau
| Gus to consider the eligibility Of Richard
son Many Of the members openly eX-
! pressed themselves in favor Of imme-
diately ejecting the Henry County dele
/ gate II was decided that the caucus be
/ resolved into a committee of the whole
to consider the case. Many Of the dele
gates denounced independents as one Of
/ the greatest menaces TO the peace Of the
/ Democratic party. The vote was taken
and was unanimous for the rejection OF
/ Richardson.
/ Gov. Swanson's message was as follows:
Reports of Officials.
After delivering a pleasant little homily
upon the independence Of the executive
and legislative branches Of the State gov
ernment. the governor refers To the re-
/ ports Of officials Of the various depart
ments. which he submits with the mes
sage. and recommends them to the con-
sideration of the general assembly. and
himself reports that the executive depart
ments and State institutions are free
from scandal. corruption, and ineficiency,
/ and that the state funds have been hon
/ lestly and carefully administered. OF the
financial affairs he says.
The financial affairs Of the state are
most favorable. and have surpassed the
expectations Of the most sanguiue. The
/ report Of the auditor of public accounts
shows that on the lst of October. 1897.
there was d surplus in the treasury of
/ S7g4. 1872. From this must be deducted
/ S6S.I4239 the amount lost by deposits in
/ 1852 in the Planters and Mechanics bank
/ Of Petersburg. which, though still carried
on the books, IS a worthless account.
/ This makes the real surplus in the treas
/ ury as Of that date, S72557392.
The auditor estimates the receipts OF
+ the State treasury for next year, based
upon the present tax laws and assess
ments. AT 1885,. .553.51. He estimates the
{
/ based upon the appropriations for the
year 1907. at S4,2g1 S39.l But he fails to
include in this estimate of expenses the
I$740C0 which the general assembly Of 1906
directed to be paid annually 10 the sink
+ ing fund commissioners, which, added 10
( the dividends from the Richmond, Fred
/ ericlsburg and Potomac Railroad Com
the retirement of our Indebtedness as
provided in the act of settlement. Add
| ing this 20 the annual expenses. IL would
make 81 365 S397l SubstTaCting these es-
/ timated expenses from the estimated re-
ceipts, there would be left an annual sur
/ plus of receipts over expenditures Of
/ SOL, 71434 1t is estimated that if there
I is no change in the revenue laws, the
receipts of the year following win be
/ practically the same. Thus it is esti-
mated that if the expenditures for the
next two years should not exceed an
nually those Of 1897 on October l. 1909.
[ there would be d surplus in the treasury
of $lS70, ,01261
But a fair share Of our revenue is
derived from licenses, from taxes on
various businesses and from the gross
receipts Of railroads, and there may be
some diminutiOn of receipts from these
sources. on account of the present busi-
ness depression. In making appropria-
tons the general assembly should take
! this into consideration and leave a sub
stantial margin to meet such possible de-
crease.
He Urges Economy.
The governor urges economy notwith-
standing the abundance of State reve-
nues, and also that a portion of the an
nual surplus be used to further reduce
the States bonded indebtedness. He re-
! fers to the action of the previous Iegisla-
ture in starting this movement by enact
ing law approprlating $4,000 annually
for this purpose. and says;
"The act settling our States debt pro-
vided that, commencing in 1910 and con-
tinuing until 1890 about this amount
should be appropriated annually for Sis
/ purpose. The assembly OF 1896 wisely
anticipated these requirements. recon-
mend that this general assembly appro-
/ pirate annually out of the surplus the
/ Sll6.0O0 required for the extinguishment
/ of our public debt according TO the terms
of settlement and that the dividends re-
ceived from our holdings in the Rich
mond, fredericksburg and Potomac Rail-
/ road also be devoted To this purpose. To
do this will only require an additional