Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-12-15
The Governors Message.
An Able Review Of the State S
Varied interests.

GOVERNOR MKINNEY DISCUSSES AT LENGTH
THE OYSTER AND CONVICT QUESTIONS
CARE FOR THE INSANE AND MANY
OTHER SUBJECTS.
Governor McKinDey's message is dOcu-
ment Of about 10000 words. The fol.
lowing summary is taken from synopsis
wired to the Baltimore Sun by its Rich
mond correspondent:
The message Of Governor Mckinney,
sent in to tie General Assembly, is a
lengthy and interesting document. He
begins with the statement that the fnan-
cial condition OF the State is better than
it has been for years, and is steadily i'm
proving. 1t is ample to pay regular ex-
penses of government, sustain the asy-
lums and schools, pay interest on the pub
lie debt and provide for the States Con-
federste veterans. The assessment Of
taxes has increased from $2,6i6, 523l3 in
1889 to S3,l47.506.31 in 1893. He deals
briefly with the public debt, stating that
under the settlement effected during the
administration SPA .547,S5s Of old bonds
have been received in exchange for new.
There is still outstanding small balance
of bonds Which have not been ex-
changed because the limitation given
the board of com nissiOners expired
before this could lie accomplished.
He recommends that their powers be re-
newed for a limited time so that the whole
debt may be settled on the same con-
ditions. Four times the semi-annual III
terest has fallen due and was promptly
met every time. He also recommends
that the commissioners of the sinking
fund be authorized to purchase 50 many
OF the bonds of the State as they can
with propriety do, so that there shall be
NJ increase in the amount to be paid in
meeting The 3 per cent. interest when it
fall due 10 July 1901.
TIE PENlTENTIARY.
There are now in tie pen.teutiary 1910
conyicts. The net revenue from the
peniten;iary fJr the last fiscal year was
S!S. 677, and the Goyerno. believes that
hereafter the net revenue from this source
will be S50. 600 year. He favors the re
peal Of the Law hiring out cOnvicts to
work on railroads, because Of the great
mortality among them, aud in view Of
repeal the workshops within the ptni
| Tertiary have been enlarged. To pro
vide place for those who may be tffl.ct-
ed with contagious disease, as well as for
the old, the invalids and Buys, be resom-
mends that suitable farm be leased with
option of purchase and that a cheap
PRISON he erected thereon. Prisoners
thus confined could make a support for
themselves and make food for the others
The criminal Ell enses in 1898 were
1921 900, compared with $4,000 in 1860.
He believes that many innocent persons
are prosecuted and he recommends that
prosecuting attorneys be paid an an
nual salary instead of for the cases prose
cuted By this and other means, which
he suggests. he believes the criminal ex-
pen:es could be reduced to $l47, 900.
THE OYSTER INTERESTS.
The oyster question is dealt with at
length. Governor Mckinney holds that
the oyster grounds belong to the whO'e
people, and that thev should get their
belongings. He insist. also shat revenue
which the State collects from those who
take oysters is not tax, but rent. The
grounds are rented at the low price Of one
dollar per acre, and no man is compelled
to rent them those who rent them do so
OF their own will and are in no sense tax
payers, but tenants.
For the first time slice 1884 the re-
cepts from the oyster grounds in 1898 ez-
ceeded the expenditures, the surplus be-
ing about $1,000
The Governor shows that there are in
the States waters IS, 900 acres of natural
bed or rocks which no dredge should ever
be allowed TO scrape. In Chesapeake bay
proper there are go. 600 acres OF grounds,
to say nothing Of grounds Oh the ocean
side of the Accomac and Northampton
and marsh lands. The Governor believes
that in tina all these can be rented at a
dollar an acre, giving the State a magnif-
cent revenue.
The Governor shows that the expense
for caring for the insane has increased
from 1920, 900 in 1870 to 1916 797 in 1898.
a per capita cost of $50 per annum. For
this and other reasons, which he argues
az length, he recommends in the f ;st place
that person suspected of lunacy be ex-
AHMED in open court of record instead of
by justices, as is now the case, and by q
Judge learned in the law AID with the as
sista0ce Of the attorney 70 the Com
mon wealth. When there is dolbt the
judge should have power to impsnel a
jury to assis, him. Thus shall expert
discrimination be made as between dan
gerOus lunatics and harmless imbeciles.
In the second place, lie advises that
there BE- separate asylums for the danger
o1s luuatics and harmless imbeciles sad
idiots, the first named to be confined in a
well guarded institution, having also the
attention of expert physicians, the second
class to be cared for in other establish
4
COUNTY ROAIs.
Tie Governor takes 1t 70: granted that
better county roads are necessary and
outlines plan to improve them. The
federal government and the State cannot
build them, he says. and 50 each county
must build for itself, If the county Is
not willing as whole to build roads
| and oue district In the counfv il LET the