The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-10
TWO COMMISSIONERS.

|
TWO COMMISSIONERS.
A correspondent elsewhere in this
paper relates an Illuminating instance
OF the evil results which follow from
the misuse Of their ONCE by commits
sioners of tile revenue who wish re-
election at the hands of the people.
The case referred to was in the days
when commissioners of the revenue
were elected by the people.
In one of the counties of this State
there were two commissioners. One
of these officers discharged his public
duties without fear or favor, having
in mind solely the public veal. He
made fair assessments. He was honest.
Among other assessments he made was
one of $3.50 on sheep
The other commissioner of the coun-
ty, acting in circumstances exactly
parallel to those in the case of the
first commissioner. assessed the sheep
in his district at only so cents apiece,
one dollar less for each sheep than
the valuation of the first commissioner.
1t was understood in the county that
his other assessments We're made as
favorable as possible to the taxpayers
whose votes were needed for his re-
election He was dishonest. He used
his Office for his private gain, to the
great loss of the commonwealth of Vir-
ginia. He discharged his duties with
fear and with favor
What was the result Of such mis-
feasance in office? What was the re-
suit of the honesty of the first com
missioner?
The honest commissioner had great
difficulty in being reelected. At the
end of two terms, he had enough of
the position and retired. The dis
honest commissioner was elected and
reelected easily and continuously by
the votes of the taxpayers whose prop
erty he had put at too low valuation.
Under the present law written into
the Virginia Constitution In 1902 the
| temptation TO dishonest commissioners
shown in the case cited here Is re-
|
moved. The commissioner is made in
eligible to succeed himself If elected
by the people; If appointed by the
Judge, he can succeed himself indeh-
| nitely The point is this: he cannot
tamper with property assessments so
as to secure additional term OF office
tor himself Under the present law,
the honest man has better chance to
continue in Office than the dishonest
| one.
Yet there are those in Virginia who
wish to amend our Constitution and
restore the old order Of things. where
| by the dishonest commissioner could
re-elect himself by wrongful assess
ments. The proposed amendment
would re-establish popular election OF
commissioners and give the dishonest
officer his old opportunities to graft
and plumber the State treasury for his
own selfish ends.
a vote against the amendments uf-
Iccting commissioners of revenue Is
a vote Tor the honest, fearless, and Inn
partial discharge Of the, duties by
those officers. Vote the proposed
amendment down.
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THE SAND CURE FOR DYSPEPSIA.
II is claimed by tho Indianapolis
news that a physician OF that town
was the first to use sand as cure
ior dyspepsia, and now comes a milk
dealer of Boston confirming the adj
vantage OF common sand taken In
'erhaily as remedy for Indigestion.
ING indianapolis doctor made his dis
coVefS about twelve years ago, and 1t
was much talked about at the time.
learned men OF an experimental turn
wrote about 1t In the medical Journals
hhn many remarkable cures were re-
ported; but there appears to have
nefh an ndlsposltion on the part of
ths people generally to take II up
4, tHe uAe OF sand as an aid TO digestion
~ probably much older than the Tn
a'ahapolis discovery; theirs liz an old
4 hhSlis that this, that or the othor man
nus sanh In his crnw," and, while It
nus been thought that this had refer
ehco 70 perDon'n COURAGE rather thA1