Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-07-21
ANOTHER OF Mr.. STUART'S MISTAKES.

ANOTHER OF Mr.. STUART'S MISTAKES.
Mr.. Stuart made so many misstate-
ments of fact in that speech he deliver
ed at Lebanon on the 9Th of May, 1902,
that he will be kept very busy explain
ing them. In its account of the speech,
the Lebanon News said:
He referred to the fact that the cost
of the convention, which he said would
amount to about 800, 600, had been
complained OF when, he said, the con-
vention had saved to the people the
sum of $3.50, 900 per year"
This shows how careless Mr.. Stuart
was in his remarks to his friends, who
requested" him to vote for proclama-
ton of the constitution. 1t seems to be
habit Of the Democratic speakers and
leaders n Virginia to be very reckless
In their statements about the financial
matters of the Commonwealth If thew
were equally as inaccurate and careless
IN their own private business affairs
they would soon lose credit and become
bankrupt But they appear to imagine
that mistake of few hundred tbou-
sand dollars is unimportant when speak
ing OF the expenditure of the public
funds and the cost of running the State
government. The actual immediate
cost entailed upon the tax payers by
holding the convention and the making
of the constitution amounted to 1894.
742. Al, which can be stated as follows:
Cost of Constitutional Con-
Yentlon. ............ $3.50, AIS, 05
Cost extra sessions of Leg
lslature to make statutes
conform 20 constitution
and put it in force. .. IA. 324 36
Total. Observation-Disclosures. 1884. TAP. Al
So, it will be seen that Mr.. Stuart
made mistake of about 1924, 900 in
his estimated cost of the work that
was done to save the life of the '-sick
man" of the East by sacrificing the life
or political power of the "well man"
in the Ninth district. A pretty expen-
sive prescription! This is not all, how
ever. The cost IF this new consti-
tuition is somewhat on the order of the
endless chain. Though the constitu-
ton was pronounced by those who
framed it and by the professional poll
ticians, for whose especial benefit it was
made, the most perfect and ablest
instrument ever offered as the or
yanic law of any constitutional gov
eminent, it has already developed |
many serious defects that have raised a |
;lamor, even among the Democrats, for
There are three amend
nents that are to be voted on at the |
election in November, next, and many
'thers are to follow.
Mr.. Stuart will not deny that the first
eason assigned by the Democrats for
evising the constitution was the mat
er Of economy in the administration of |
he State government, and, incidental I
hereto, reduction of the number of
'fice-holders. His hearers at Lebanon
night have inferred from his state
nents that these much desired results
would follow the adoption or proclama-
ion of the new constitution. His an
'ouncement that 1.-The convention had
aved to the people the sum of $3.50, 900
er year" was very encouraging, if it
ad been substantially true.
We are curious to know when, where
nd how the convention has saved any,
hing for the State; and especially on
hat part Of its work Mr. Stuart based
is calculation of the $3.50, 900 per year.
urely he will not undertake to prove .
nat anything was done to reduce the ex- q