The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-25
a VOICE FRoM MATHEws.

AvOICE FROM MATTHEW'S.
In the latest issue of the Mathews
Journal. which has very commercially
opened It's columns to discussion Of the
four proposed amendments to the Vir-
ginia Constitution, Mr.. Percival Hicks
writes a most forceful article on these
changes It is to the proposed amend
ment giving unlimited tenure Of Of
flee to ~treasurerS that Mr.. Hicks d.
reefs his attention, and he is very
much opposed to the passage Of such
an alteration In the organic law. He
says some very striking things. and
we regret that we canno. print all he
says. Mr.. Hicks declares:
"As general thing amendments
which do not appeal directly to the
financial or sociological interest OF
the voter are decided by those pro-
fessional politicians who make 1t their
businessit to frequent the polling places,
personally soliciting each voter to
register his verdict in favor of the
particular interest they have In view.
And herein lies our danger. for the
great majority of voters who, called
upon to decide q question In which
they have no direct interest and have
given little or no consideration, will
cast their ballot as requested by any
one who politely but in%sistently asks
their suffrage"
That is admirably put. The main
reliance of the county and city officers
who have banded together to pass
these proposed amendments Is in the
apathy OF the people, which exists
for the reasons pointed out by Mr..
Hicks. The effect Of these changes
does rst have direct appeal to the
average man who has not studied the
changes or been informed of the evils
which they carry with them. The hope
of the oflce-holders' trust is that 1t
can slip these changes through while
the people are not looking. slip them
as noiselessly and smoothly and
wrongly through as they did in the
General Assembly.
Coming to the main issue, Mr. Hicks
opposes the proposed amendment CIV
ing unlimited tenure to ~treasurer1 on
several grounds. This same change. he
points out, was embodiedsin the Unders
jtEE0EFF
wood Constitution. Experience proved
that this provision In that constitu-
ton worked great harm. Mathews
County itself has l~ostsaEgreat deal OF
money by defaulting treasurers. Agree
ing with those who understand the
financial import of these changes, Mr..
Hicks thinks that the provision that
treasurers shall account at short In
tervals creates less temptation Inc OPP
portunity to embezzle and much less
fayoritism in the mater of collecting
taxes on the part Of the %reasure
toward influential politicians.
The difficulty which q popular officer
would meet If this proposed amend
ment were passed Is explained very
clearly by Mr.. Hicks,who says:
Every County Treasurer assure 70
come in contact first with delinquents
\ who are influential in getting votes
served with friends, personal friends
who ask for pecuniarysald indirectly
by having their tax bills carried along
for them. and last OF all with his Owl
innate desire to be obliging, and on
good terms with every one, s9 which
every gentleman In public life eSpe-
riences..
Now the very nature of q good MAJ
Works against him. forthe more goot
~natured and obliging,sNtlle more ur'
bane and charitable he is ,the harder
it is for him to say no., and 4 Will Ven
ture the assertion that nine-tenthss 9
the men In public lifesWhoS get@in hnan'
J cial difficulties are injured by theil
!, good qualities of head and head rather
THAN by n deliberate intentlon#tosde
2 wrong.
: If YOU will admit this consider for
: moment how doubly armed is he Wh
can say to his friend, "old fellow,
1 would like to accommodate YOU BUT
I have to be ready to settle up at sucl
or such a time. and I cannot3sdo IT.
Now, arm this friend with, "oh, n
9 matter, we will re-elect you$andEby tn
time your next term Is out 4 am Y
! to have the money! and you robsyou
lg4county Treasurer of both spear an,
$ shield and leave him at the mercy 9
q his electorate. Andatie better man,3th
better Christian. and the better cit
izen in a general way, Yourss Count
" Treasurer Is. the more likely he IS Y
: fall by the wayside,, :@
This statement is absolutely eorrec
II is unquestionable that the lpoopu
larity OF a county officer injures ~
9 efficiency, This was brought
y the Constitutional Convention Whic
9 placed the present Limitation on treas
= urers, II the fact thatSa treasure