Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-01-18
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


day of last week, and published in full
in our columns this morning, will be re
garded rs a very thorough, instructive
and satisfactory review of the concerns
of the State. 1t cannot prove other
wise than valuable aid TO the Legs
lature, and to each member, in obtaining
a compact and comprehensive view of
the work demanded a, their hands, as
well as for the very jndlcious sugges-
tions aud recommendations regarding
the character of the measures TO be
adopted.
The document will be read carefully
and in full by all who have an Interest
in knowing the condition OF public at
fairs, and it will, therefore, be supertiu-
Gus for us if we had the space, 10 refer
to many details that are of much inter
est and importance, and all of which will
doubtless receive due attention at the
hands of the Legislature.
The condition of the finances Of the
State shows that the contaglon for
bankruptcy, in these times of debt and
depression, has not yet taken hold OF
our State, but on the contrary the bal
ance in the State Treasury at the close
of the last fiscal year, was larger than
dming any other year since the creation
of the State. More than this, says the
Governor, the people "have paid their
taxes, apparently with unusual ease and
creditable punctualily. The sheritfs
have, with commendable promptness,
paid their collections into the public
treasury" And 'rhere have
been fewer failures of business men than
in any other State of equal area and
population" This is certainly very
gratifying and exceptional condition OF
things at this particular time,a speaks
we'll tor the administration OF the gov
ernment OF the State in all its depart
ments.
All the public institutions of the
State are in crcditablr condition and
well administered, with the exception OF
the Insane Asylum. The capacity OF
this institution is insufficient 10 accom-
modate the number of patients that
should be cared for, and that the State
is in duty bound to make provisions for.
1t is already crowded with over a
hundred more patients :han it is de
signed TO, or can properly, provide tor.
Beside this there are now lying around
in the jails of the State, eighty-two
other insane persons, that can not have
the benefit of treatment, and who are,
by this delay, cut off from hope of re-
covery. We hope that this part of the
Governors message may, i'll the interest
of humanity, receive due attention.
The reference of the message 10 the
operations of our Free Schools is both
complimentary to the State Superinten-
dent and shows very satisfactory results
in the management Of the finances and
increased efficiency in the work Of the
schools. The report Of the superinten-
dent, 10 which we referred at length,
Yesterday, confirms these conclusions
and otherwise furnishes very exhaus
tive review Of the whole subject
The Governor joins very heartily in
the general demand for codifcation OF
the statutes, and in this connection
presents some specific and very cogent
reasons why the work should not be de-
ferred. He specifies nine different III
stances, in the acts Of single session,
of sections which are Of doubtful and
difficult construction, or otherwise in
harmonious and conflicting, aud we are
well assured that he has not exhausted
the subject.
The important question is, "What is
the Legislature going TO do abont II =
Every member is satisfied Of the necessi-
ty of deing something. But what?
Shall they consume the entire session in
a vain attempt TO do the work them
selves, or shall il be submitted to com
mission to prepare it for them between
this and the next regular session or at
an adjourned session?
There is not a man in the Legislature,
however superior his ability, unless he
be practicing attorney and already Ia
miliar with the statutes, who can under
take to familiarize himself with the stat
utory laws, in forty-hve days, as 10 eth
er furnish any valuable assistance in re-
vising them, or even 10 vote intelligent
" upon them il presented for his con-
sideraton. We doubt il there could be
found committee even Of the most
eminent lawyers in the State who would
he willing to risk their regulations in
the performance Uf the same work IN
that period of time. For the members
of the Legislature 10 assume TO 'study
law" within that time and then revise
and enact laws that others shall prac-
tice, means simply 10 precipitate us into
a more nnmerciiul legal muddle than we
now suffer 1t means The consumption
of the entire time of the session upon
one work TO the exclusion Of every 9th
er important matter And in the end,
It will mean a loss the State Of the time
and money il has consumed and an aP
pointment of comission to revise the
revision.
We intend no reflection upon the
ability Of the Legislature in these sug-
gestions. Our impression is that, so far
as ability is concerned, the present Leg
islature is above the average. But if
they were all ex-rnembers Of the Su-
preme Court of Appeals, we would dep
recate such an attempt by them as that
of making a revision Of our statutes in
foriy-fve days
The apparent duty Of the Legislature
10 thprefore IN aGopt the sup0estion of