The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-01
STATE PRESS
Low Pay for Land Assessors.

What docs this mean? II means los.
to the state and counties individually anG
an injustice TO the citizens of this Common
wealth. 1t means loss to the counties in
dividually. because there are Very few men
in this Commonwealth who are qualified
and we'll informed to the value OF lands
in the different counties of the State who
will. from a sense of patriotism, accept the
important position of land assessor. yet this
is what our present General Assembly has
asked the citizens to do. II is true tho
House has passed bill allowing each as
SCISSOR So per day. but when we stop and
think moment we find that So per day
Will not cover the actual expenses OF tho
assessor who does his duty. With such a
status as this some of the counties will
have qualified men as assessors. not from Il
pecuniary standpoint but from sense of
duty they owe their counties. while the ma :
jority of the counties will be forced to ap-
point men who are not qualified for the
position. This means that county AS land
Will be assessed at market value and
county B's land VIII be assessed above mar
ket value, while county C's land will be
assessed less than one-half OF the market
value, and the majority OF the counties will
be in county C's class.-Emporia Messenger.
The Committees Primary Bill.
The state Committee bill mas some equal
iy obnoxious features. II confers power on
the Executive Committee to determine
whether nomination shall be by primary
or convention lin any given case" The
state Executive Committee is appointed by
one man, the Hon. j. Taylor Elyson. who
has never been known to be enthusiastic
for the primary at any time. His given
cases might be TOO frequent. Besides no
committee not even the state Central Com
mittce, should have such power. Years ago
in certain county not a thousand miles
away the County Committee used to name
county nominees for the Democrats. And
the Democrats generally got beat. The
primary principle is the Democratic
principle of local sclf-sovernment, OF
the people exercising their local option
to candidates Well r,Dl Such
a proposition as the above nullhcs the
primary at the pleasure and nod of an
Executive Cornmittee.-Northern Neck News.
Poor Economy In Abolishing Examiners.
II Is observed for example. that one of
the arguments used in favor OF abolishing
the Office Of state School Examiners is bas-
ed upon the economy thus kelly to be eff
fected This consideration ought not to
operate with the Legislature. When the
oiico OIL slate school Examiner Is abolish
co INC pruning Knife is applied to ampu-
late an arm of the States educational sys-
TEN which has been shown by results to
nave accomplished very important. IL not
essential part In portecting. advancing and
e uens me public school service OF the
Stn'v, euth course would reflect dis
tinetly retrogresstye movement in public
pu ,i VI we NSfS highest dignity and use
l ~ .k H. ana we might say, of real ncces-
s'S. We 40 ho' RECALL Just now the amount
required 10 support the district school cx-
aminers. but We think 1t comparatively
snia,i. certhlnly II is Of insignificant pro-
portions Wheh measured by the beneficial
rnsults wilch II has produced for the cause
OF pubic MISUNDERSTANDING News,
should Approve Byrd Primary BILL.
IN. inc General en-, Assembly should pass the
primary plli orered IN the House by Speak
or .Hyrd' which has been modified from lis
orislnai iorm ana reject the others. includ-
ing that presented by tho subcommittee of
me Demncra'ic Executive Committee. It is
wen Known w. mat this newspaper has always
opposed me primary hut so long as the
,n,,s party sees 1T to use this
methoa Or nominating candidates for office
4 Is nasn,y Desirable that VIC get rid of
the present slip-shod loose and totally nm
satisfactory aystcm, which has hccn a posi-
I'VE pvna, a'f h,, TO the party using It. Mr.
pears 70 Us from somewhat casual reading
her 't q, sa,oo o provisions, throwing nun.
ahls m "nsatu pLinalN guarding n commend;
and nor,is aS1nsl lhe petty frauds OF biased
an III ga,,lsAn election officials and, best OF
~ an, nlss,i nra tho candidate or voter
, non aepflyes Tho candidate guilty OF SO do
i' t, ot ntar asaln holding office in VIRGINIA
Etor i 3 d