Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-02-09
terested, plain statements of facts.
Mere generalities will not do.
Reforms Needed

w o"c IeIH, uecuuSe III tne lure
of many terms attracts them they are
liable to assess property to political
ends and for political purposes, and
not for the public interest. Limited
10 one term, they have no incentive
to juggle the tax laws for personal
ends and are =, ore likely to assess at
the right figure influential politicians.
The most powerful lobby in Virginia
today is the office holders lobby, and
the city treasurers and commissioners
form no small part of it. Let us con-
slider on this point the testimony of
correspondent of the Times Dispatch,
citizen at Christiansburg, whose
communication was printed in late
issue. 1.-THE power of these treasurers
should be broken, and one of the best
ways to accomplish this is not to per-
petuate them in office,'' he declares,
adding that he was in Richmond on
the day and night when the Oemocra-
Auditor of Public Accounts was held,
not present as lobbyist, but on a
matter of business, although deeply
interested in the success of his fellow
townsman, the Hon. Charles A. John
son, for the Office referred to. Mr..
Johnson and his friends, says this
correspondent, "stood in dread of the
pernicious influence of the office hol-
ders' trust. " The same writer goes
on to say:
had doubted that there was any
such Organization in existence, but
when learned that more than sitxy
kilograms were sent out of Richmond
on Wednesday night, urging treasur-
ers and clerks to rush to the city so
as to be on hand the night of the eau
Gus; when l saw number of these
officers who had responded to the
call; when l was iformed that there
were a large number present whow
were unknown to me; and when in
dividual instances of their efforts
were brought to my attention, all
doubts vanished. and there stood the
trust disclosed before me in all it's
arrogance and power. l could mention
at least dozen instances in which
they made themselves felt, and should
occasion require it will be done. The
treasurer of the city of Roanoke got
in his work we'll, and ye. he is of the
class who desire to perpetuate tn hem-
selves in Office and power.
The work of the lobby here is
manifest-the job is almost done.
While the tax commission bill and
other important measures lag along
from day to day, this city treasurers'
and commissioners bill has sped
swiftly through the House and now
is before the Senate for passage. 1t
went through the house like red hot
bolt. One man in that body had the
courage to oppose so vicious and un-
necessary a bill. Doubtless not only
city treasurers and commissioners of
the revenue, but county treasurers
and county commissioners of the rev.
enue. and city and county clerks, are
all throwing their political influence
behind these proposed constitutional
amendments. They all pluck the
fruits of a common system, and the
impairment of any part of it makes
inroads on the whole.
"This contest, says the same cor
respondent quoted above, "should
open the eyes of the people and set
them thinking, for it discloses the
fact that officers of the Common
wealth who are charged with the col
lection of it's revenue have exerted
their power and influence to die tate
who should be the officer with whom
they must account and whose duty it
is to call them to book" Herein lies
the germ of the evil. These men con-
stitute an almost unconquerable mac
hine, preventing thas rotation in
office which Mr.. Jefferson held so
wise. and which the sound sense of
mankind has ever demanded. Things
have come TO such a pass that office.
holders constitute rings, controlling
and governing the politics os theft
respective com .nunities, In many
cases saying who shall and who shall
not hold office, growing so powerful
that even members of the General
Assembly of Virginia heed the crack
of their whip. Special interests have
their lobbies, but greatest of all is
the lobby of the self perpetuating
office holders of Virginia. Will the
Senate of Virginia yield to the cla-
NOR of the lobbyists whose work is
against the peoples interest and pass
this iniquitous measure? If it wou Id
render an effective public service to
the people of Virginia, the Senate
will rafuoa fo ey;ya its ,nn..c.t A. -