Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-11-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

the Legislature on Wednesday, calls special
attention in the beginning to the fact that
large amount of unfinished business 10 before
the body, and for this reason he confines him
self to the Recommendation of only such new
legislation as seems to be of necessary im>
portance.
He then gives brief account Of the de-
pressed condition of trade, aud the consequent
hard times arising therefrom. This is done,
any remedy by legislation, since such seems
entirely Improbable; but for the purpose of
discussing the proposed passage Of stay law.
On this point the Governor takes ground in
opposition to such q law, generally speaking
He regards stay law as having the effect Of
upsetting legitimate business, since neither
the creditor would have the means to enforce
the collection of his debt nor the laborer the
payment of his wages. And since much bust
ness is done on-credit aud mutual confidence,
the result of such q condition of affairs would
be to destroy credit and would therefore be
most disastrous, both at homo aud abroad.-
"True," says he, ''there may be times Of iu>
dividual hardship, in which valuable property
ia sacrificed at an enforced sale; but Court
of Equity has sufficient power to prevent this
result. In any event, no stay law ought to
go beyond the extent of prohibiting for
limited time the sale of property below fixed
proportion of its appraised or assessed value"
This remedy should never be resorted to ex-
cept in times Of general disaster, and it will
be best for all parties to let the ordinary co.'s
lection laws remain intact. He also recon-
mends no increase in the existing taxation,
and that the expenditures be kept down to
the lowest possible point.
Abiding to the crops in the State, they
have been good, notwithstanding having been
threatened with loss by the constant rains
and we're it not for the general depression of
business the condition of the State would be
very good.
The condition of the Treasury is quite
gratifying, there being balance on hand Oc>
tOber the first, after meeting the necessary
disbursements, Of 1888, 619 Al, which is di-
vided out among the State, General School
and School funds. The receipts, however,
during tho year are S2S, 745 II less than the
and this is attributed to the
carclessness of shoriffs in making collections,
causing them to return larger delinquent lists
than is proper. Many sherifFs collect closely,
but they have little encouragement to do so
when careless ones escape so easily. This
evil should be remedied, and the Governor
thinks that moderate taxation and rigid collec-
tons are the only means by which public
burdens can be made light and equal to all.
According to reassessment of tho lands of
the State, considering the former assessments
for Brooke, Doddridge. PocahoDtas and Wet
eel (the Commissioners of assessment in these
counties not having yet reported) the follows
ing facts Of interest are shown The num-
Der of acres in the State is "a, 779 ,695, de-
crease of 443 ,527 when compared with the
former assessment. The total value of land,
&c, is Sl1O, 1922 900, an increase of S11,>
233, 1927.
The Governor next discusses the public in
situations of the State, beginning with the
Hospital for the Insane at Weston. He gives
very full and satisfactory account of the
condition of this charity. The expenditures
of the institution for the last fiscal year wore
SGS, 10 43, and appropriations regarded as
necessary are $50, go in addition to the sum
Of $4,000 or $40, 900 recommended for the
construction of building for colored insane,
for which no provision has yet been made.
The PeniteDtiary is next considered and
this is also most satisfactorily progressing and
will no doubt in a short time become selfsus-
tanning. There wero in prison in September
los convicts; 81 were discharged during the
year, were pardoued and died. The ex-
penditurcs for the last fiscal year at this ins.i-
tuition we're S43, 1860, and appropriations
The institution for the Deaf and Dumb and
Blind has been thoroughly reorganized, and
its officers have all discharged their duties
with energy. zeal and intelligence. The mum
her of pupils last session was 70, of which
So we're deaf nutes and 10 blind. This ses>
sion there arc present 80, of which GO are
deaf mutes and II blind, whilc the number
yet to be admitted will swell the attendance
to 1O6. On account Of the increasing num>
Dor of pupils, additions to the buildings have
been made and the erection of additional work
shops are necessary. The expenses of the In
stitution last year were $50, 1893 SO and app
preparations to meet those of the current year
to the extent of S41 900 are asked. Very
little is said about the University, OF FREQ
Schools owing to lack of reports from the
same. The Normal Schools of the State, OK
cept one at Concord, in Mercer county. are all
in operation, and generally we'll attended,
The Governor thinks that the provision of law
regarding these schools, are inadequate, and
some action should be taken upon them
either the acts creating these schools should
be repealed, or amended to meet the mecca
sites of the case. He alludes to the pro-
posed establishment of q normal department
at the University. This he objects to on the
ground that such department could not sup
ply the place Of all the Normal Schools of
The State. inasmuch as many of the pupils are
persons of small means, who could not afford
to 60 very far away from their homes, nor
undergo much expense.
He next recommends amendments to the
laws, regarding the filing of vacancies in
office, citing the embarrassments which have
been caused by the deaths of Judge PAUL, of
the Supreme Court, and Judge Allen, of the
Fourth Circuit.
The Governor also alludes to the Kanawha
river improvement, and the Centennial Ex-
position. Regarding the first, he recommends
tha nasSn0a nj m to tha TI1ita1