Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-09-16

cent in five year. In 1899, and also
in 1903. there was 800, 900 put into the
hands of the sinking fund commits
sioners, but in 1908 nothing was left
for the State debt.
"Some of these salaries have been in
creased in distinct violation of the con-
stitution. Some have been increased or
crested by a perversion of the law.
Useless commissions and useless Offices
have been created with larger expendi-
lures for so-called travelling and incl
dental expenses, while increases have
been general all along the line.''
Capt Kent said regarding the cleo
ton machinery:
The State constitution, the appor-
tionment of districts, the election laws.
and the entire election machinery give
opportunity, and were intended to give
opportunity, to the Democratic party to
retain control of the government, to
monopolize all offices, and to keep the
affairs of the State in the hands of the
so-called ring of that party. 1 do not
ask that all be turned over to the Re-
publican party, but do maintain that
our election laws should be non-partis-
an, that our election boards and Judges
and clerks should be bipartisan, instead
of exclusively in the hands of one party.
Along the same line, l maintain as
well that the members of the State cor
poration commission and all other
State, county, and district officers, in
cluding all school officials and commits
sloners of the revenue, should be elect
ed by the people and that there should
be minority representation on all our
State boards, whether appointed by the
judiciary or executive. In this way we
shall have not a close trustlike man.
agement of public affairs, but keep
open accounts and open books at all
times"
The speaker also attacked the pres
ent system of tax levy, which, he said,
enable, some communities to make
large returns and Others to make low
tax valuation.
Capt. Kent denounced the present fee
system, which he said caused a loss Of
between 500. 900 and $500, 200 to the
taxpayers. He wanted all officials paid
salary commensurate with their ser
vices, but not based on fees.
He advocated State bank examination
laws, a correction of the present meth
DDS which permit fire insurance COM
panies doing business in Virginia to
maintain a trust whereby they impose
rates from so to rs per cent in excess of
rates in other states" He advocated
good roads, and wanted the convicts to
be put on the highways. He condemned
the system of leasing the convicts at 43
cents per day.
Regarding liquor legislation, he advo-
Gated the unit rule in carrying out the
principle of local option
He advocated the separation of the
schools from partisan politics. Re-
ferring to this subject, he made several
serious charges, saying:
''The public schools of Virginia un-
der the present administration have
been conducted in the interest of a fac
tion of the dominant political party.
This is shown in the recent appoint
ment of division superintendents of
schools. 1t is shown by the fact that
ali the members of the board of visitors
to our higher institutions of learning,
all the district examiners and inspect
ors, all the division superintendent,
and, with rare exceptions, all the
school trustees and teachers have been
selected from the dominant wing of
the Democratic party; and it is further
shown in the recent adoption of books
for use in the public schools for four
years more than four-fifths of the busi-
ness being given to publishing houses
whose leading attorneys and agents in
this State are known to be men high in
the councils of the Democratic party,
some of them holding high official posi-
TONS"