Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-06
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Governor Mckinney sent his nessag

our financial condition is better than 1t
has been for many years, and it is stead
ily improving. The State debt has
been settled to the satisfaction of our
creditors. There is still outstanding q
small balance of bonds which have not
been exchanged, because the limitation
given the board of commissioners en-
pired before this could be accomplish
ed. Their powers should be promptly
renewed, for limited time, so that all
ofthe debt may be settled upon the
same conditions. l would advise that
an act be passed authorizing the Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund to pur-
chase so many of the bonds of the State
as they can do with propriety, using
such money as may be spared convent
emily from the treasury, after all the
liabilities of the State have been salts
fed.
I recommend that the statute be SO
changed that the Superintendent of the
Penitentiary be required to hire out all
convicts and to take bonds payable 10
the State, with good security and that
he be required to collect the money and
paw it over to the Auditor of Public
Accounts. He should also be required to
give sufficient bond in cash of default
on his part to make the State safe.
Humanity requires that the law hiring
convicts to be worked on the railroads
be repealed. The result shows that
the change from the heated workshops,
rooms and cells to the exposure neces-
sarily incident to the work and con-
finement on the railroads is so great
thati it endangers the health and the
lives of the..convicts. When the new
shoe factories are completed you will
have more convicts in the building than
ever, consequently more danger of dis
ease. To anticipate such an emergen-
cy as this, think it wise to lease a
good farm and erect on it cheap but
secure prison-house, well projected by
stockade, in which, if it should be-
come necessary, the sick prisoners may
be confined, cared for and guarded at
but little expense. If the Legislature
would pass law allowing the Govern
or to grant conditional pardonsto Grim
inals In the penitentiary and in the
jails, it would be productive of good
results. Let the Executive give to any
deserving convict or prisoner fur
Tough, or ticket of leave, based upon
the condition of his demeaning himself
or herself as sober, peaceable, indus
trious and law-abiding citizen, and on
the failure to comply, the party should
be arrested and required to serve out
| his term.
Our criminal expenses are enormous,
and are increasing. The decision III
the court of appeals, restricting the Ju.
| risdiction of justices, has added to this
increase, and some remedy should be
provided to diminish these expenses.
/ again rec )mmend that we pay at.
torneys for the Commonwealth fixed
salaries, and that all criminal expenses
be apportioned between the cities and
counties, and the State, according to
wealth and population; make the party
| who causes a needless prosecution pay
the costs: require the superintendent
of the Penitentiary to send for convicts,
and enlarge the jurisdiction of justices
as soon as the new amendments to the
| constitution are adopted.
I trust it will not be long before we
will be able so to amend the present
oyster law that it will meet with the
approval of all. This industry must be
protected, and the States interests
looked after, or there will be such de-
struction of the natural beds that they
will soon become worthless. Is not
this sufficient to direct the constant and
| oo.,,o.t n g,nrle or tho Goparal A ccpm hly
of Virginia to this important subject?
Let me sum up some suggestion: We
should abolish the board of the Chesa-
peake; we should have fish commits
sioner whose office should be in Nor
| folk, or some convenient place on the
coast, we should have a fleet of steam
vessels, under the control of the fish
commissioner, we'll armed and equip
ped: the fish in the inland waters
should be protected and their growth
encouraged; the commissioner should
be required to report to the Governor
on the first of October in each year,
giving such information as will enable
| the legislature to render the law more
effective; such lands as are not legally
occupied by citizens within reason
able time should be rented out to any
persons who will take them, whether
citizens or not, in no case at a less sum
than one dollar per acre.
Lunatics and idiots should not be
kept together in asylums. 1t is neces-
sary that the place in which the lunatic
is confined shall be as strong as a
prison; he must be closely watched
and strictly guarded. A cheap build
ing, not a prison, is sufficient for the
idiot; no guard is necessary, only few
faithful attendants to see after his
daily wants. They should not be shut
up within iron doors and grated win
dows, nor should it be necessary to
have the premises surrounded by
strong guard, but the place in which
they are held should have all the
comforts and the surroundings of
pleasant home. The party suspected
of lunacy should be examined in a
Court of Record, and by judge, and
with the assistance of the attorney for
the Commonwealth. When there is
doubt, he should have the power to en-
panel a jury to assist him. Persons
have been sent to asylums as lunatics
when they are not lunatics. the result
ofignorance it may be, or of malice.
The law should be SO framed that
mistake of this kind would not be pos
sible, and if the decision is prompted by
malice, the punishment should be ex-
emplary. In some of the States, the
counties or cities from which lunatics
are sent bear the expenses. have but
little doubt that we have a number Of