The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-04


ated? Why was not such intent expires.
20 u as that reassessment should be made
IN 1860, and every fifth year thereafter
and ottener II necessa,y2 If the power
OF the General Assembly were unlimited
in this respect, why attempt to prescribe
the times and mode of it's execution? The
power to impose taxation is inherent in
every government, and is uncontrolled ex-
cept by the fundamental law. When,
however, restrictions and limitations are
prescribed by the Constitution, this power
must be exercised within the established
and defined bounds. The Constitution Of
1881 did not contain the sectlen under dis
cussion, and the fact that it was incorpo-
rated in our present Constitution raises a
strong presumption that its trainers not
only deemed some limitations upon the
powers of the General Assembly in this
behalf essential, but also that they
intended that the power should be
exercised only at the times, and in the
manner prescribed. While am not pre-
pared to pronounce this act to be Tin pal
pable violation of the Constitution"
entertain such grave doubts upon the sub.
ject that would counsel an avoidance of
any further legislation of this character.
have no doubt that in some localities lands
have decreased, while in others they have
increased in value since the assessment of
1870, but can the Legislature undertake to
accommodate its legislation to every tenn.
porary tiuctuation in the value OF property
in every locality in the State? What is
needed, and what we have not yet had, is
a fair, just and equal valuation of the pro-
perty in the Commonwealth /; but this can.
not be attained by reassessment, even If
| the Legislature had the undoubted authority
to order it. 1t can only be accomplished
by some plan of equalization, which shall
as near as possible secure the assessment
of all property at its real value, as pre-
scrlbed in the Constitution.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
| The reports Of our three Insane Asy-
lums, and the Institution for the Deaf,
Dumb, and Blind, are herewith submitted.
All these institutions have been most ad-
,niraby managed during the past year, re-
ii ,ct NJ the highest credit upon the officers
IN charge and the several Boards OF Direc-
tors. | again urge upon the General As
sembly the necessity ior increased accom-
modatlou for the insane. Large numbers
OF these untortunates are confined in our
10 Is because there Is not room for them IN
either asylum. Our preseis asylums must
be enlarged, or new one constructed.
am still OF the opinion, and for the reasons
urged in my last annual message that
it's advisable to establish "another asylum
at Lynchburg or some other point equal y
accessible to that portion (the Suutli-slde)
of the State" All things considered, |
deem 1t unwlse to attempt the enlargement
ct either our eastern or western asy lums.
regret to see renewal on the part of the
authorities of the former Of a persistent
| and as think unwise effort TO secure from
the legislature sanction of an expensive
scheme for the enlargement Of that institu-
| ton.
PENITENTIARY.
| While the Penitentiary is in better con.
dition, and is as well, if not better man.
aged than ever before, it has not during the
past year been as successful in the reduc-
lion of expenses and the increase of its
earnings as had hoped, nor as believe it
would have been, had the recommends
tons which have heretofore made been
promptly sanctioned by proper legislation.
1t was charge upon tho treasury during
the last fiscal year over and above all re.
cepts of $50, e50.7S; but when the amount
earned, but unpaid, on the LIST of October
last for the hire Of convicts, the value of
the labor performed by convicts upon the
| Capitol and Penitentary improvements. to-
gether with the amount expended in the
permanent improvements of the latter are
taken into consideration, it will be found
that the actual cost of this institution to
the State was less than SAC, 900 and this,
too, notwithstanding the fact that the mum.
Der of prisoners was about as large as dur.
ing any preceding year.
Some changes nave been made in the
system of hiring out convicts. Formerly,
the contractor bore all the expenses of the
care, custody, clothing and maintenance of
the conyicts employed by him, and paid to
the State twenty-five cents for each days
labor performed. The changes which
have made are in the price per day, which
has been raised to forty cents, and placing
the medical care and superintendent of the
convicts entirely under the control of the
surgeon of the Penitentiary. Thus the
State will realize fully one third more for
each days labor performed, and the health
and general condition of the convicts be
more carefully and satisfactorily main.
tanned and protected. There were on tho
list OF October last 1913 convicts, of whom
357 were hired out to labor outside Of the
Pcnitentiary, in pursuance of the oct of
April 23d, 1870.
| cordially commend the recommends
ton of the Board of Directors as to in.
creased accommodations within the Peni-
tertiary, and | desire to call especial atten-
ton to the valuable suggestions of the sur.
geon. And in this connection desire
again to call attention to the necessity of
some provision for the separate care and
custody of youthful convicts, and repeat
here the language of the message
of December TIN, 1870: q Another
change il required in our prison
system. Now, the youth of twelve or fif.
teen years, sent to the Penitentiary for a
year, perhaps for larceny, may be incar-
cerated in cell with a wretch hardened
by twenty years of crime. At the
end of twelve months the you'll, gradl.
ates from prison perfect master of all the
arts and appliances of an accomplished
thief and burglar, ready and eager perhaps
to put in practice The knowledge acquired
during his years association with the de.
PRAYED companion of his cell. This NAV
be an extreme case, but not st all an i'm |
probable one. There are many cases now in
our Penltentiary differing from this only in |