The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-02
DON'T BE FLUSHED.

Envy and malice are potent evils, doing great
harm Yet sometimes general good results there
from. But 1t is not In the initiative; it is the
reflex sentiment and conservative action that
brings good out of things started from selfish
motives This is particularly true where the
body polite rs affected. although begun on
minor and probably personal basis Then
again, when the object struck is peculiarly cul-
pahle, has flagrantly and openly deied the COM
mon rules OF prudence. in veering the pendulum
Is apt to swing too far the other way. case
III point IS tho attitude a few Years back of the
railroads and some other corporations Ignor-
ing, to a great extent. the rights and wishes of
the people whose servants, in some degree. they
we're supposed to be. the crusade of regulation
stances almost humiliation. 1t may be argued
that they deserve now, for past bad behavior. all
that they getting In the swing back; but
this is not saneness or conservatism The pen
dulum should settle to steady, gait and keep
Its proper arc. II is not persecution but regu-
ation that honest and unbiased minds want to
see in this as in other things At tho present
In danger OF being pressed too hard for past
deeds nlisdeeds. according to individual points
Of view But 1t is not doubted that wise coun-
sells viii prevail and determinations fair to the
general welfare will come forth, and nobody
seriously hurt
short time back hue and cry was raised
throughout this State not from an altogether
INIT
the fee officers. Enthusiasts were created and
misled by the designers, and for while the
sober thinkers that would not be flushed had
to either keep quiet or become target of
newspaper cudgels. 1t appears just now that
those who started the crusade In envy or malice
have had their ardor sprinkled down. and the
ranter is hardly considered by the reading pub
lie This system, like the other. has its good
and it's bad features. but at no time have
those who howled for its total adjustment been
able to offer an acceptable substitute The legis-
lature will sift the matter, doubt not, and
VIII clip the system of some ingrowing nails, but
its total humiliation would be destructive of
much Of the good that is to be found in the
State service 1t is necessary to mention but
one OF many branches or the fee system to
convince conservative minds that there are
some phases of 1t that should not be abolished.
Take the country magistrate, for instance,
Some OF them do not make thirty dollars a
year oHt Of the Office, and some of these of
paltry pay are the best citizens of the com
munity-old Virginia gentlemen, with minds
well poised and possessed with hard sense of
justice. Offer such a one thirty or fifty dol
lars a year salary and he would spurn the job,
He had rather serve for nothing than to be
such low salaried officer. Pay him more you
might argue. Then one of the main arguments
against the fee system topples-that it would
save money to the people, When a man comes
to HIS house 10 ask for warrant, or an &C.
knowledgemcnt, and pays his fifty cent fee, 1t
is accepted and no pride is injured.
The Instances might be multiplied, showing
that regulation and not abolition Is what Is
wanted IN the fea system. In this. as in other
important and intricate matters We should not
IN flushed we should go slow, will want
to 10 some ore--maybe
Oysters are no longer luxury. II is beef,
ham, chicken and such ike that are now lux
uries 49, twice over. gallon of oysters
fctratnpdl waighs hetwean eight and nine