Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-04
GOVERNOR FLOWERS kEOFAGE.
A Strong, Well Written Document-The
Governor Not Afraid to Deal With
ToDics of the Times

or the House, and Mr.. MalDey, OF OI. Law
renee county the Republican leader. The
Governors message was read In ootn
houses and adjournment was had Tor one
week. Following is an abstract OF Gov
ernor Flowers message:
The Governor referring to State lnStltu-
tions discloses that he has visited nearly,
if not quite all, the State interests and he
holds that mis- recommendations OF legls-
lation must have the weight due to ludg-
ment founded on personal observation.
So close an inquiry into State interests by
a Governor is unusual.
The State has financial obligations
amounting to S450,000 and Treasury oal-
ance Of 81, ,701,4
Touching the Buffalo strike, the Cover
nor announces the expenditure by the state
TO have been $192, 647, and then adds:
"EmplOyes have the right TO strike and
peaceably persuade others to join them and
10 their earnest and lawful efforts TO bene-
tit their condition they may always feel
sure that public sympathy is with them
and against selfish cOrpol ations. Butevery
citizen and corporation, every employe and
employer, must observe aud respect the
authority Of law and government. So long
as they keep within the law the state Gov
ernment will leave them to settle their dis
and property must be protected, and the
lawful use of property by its owners must
not be interfered with. These are the ends
for which the State primarily exists. For
the maintenance of these ends every dollar
Of the States money, the life and service
Of every member of the National Guard
and support Of every law-abiding citizen
are pledged.
''It should be the aim Of the law making
body to see that our laws confer equal
privileges. 1t is not right that powers
should be granted to corporations to op-
press either their employees or the citizens
Whatever can be wisely done by leglsla-
tion to guarantee equal rights to all should
be done. But law will not accomplish
everything. Corporations will learn by
costly experience that even from the selfish
point Of view it pays TO be considerate OF
the welfare of their employees. No men
nor corporations can stop the march OF
civilization. Shorter hours of labor, better
wages and the opportunity which these
give for education and enjoyment are
natural human aspirations. They should
be treated as such in friendly, Christian
spirit, not repelled with arrogant manner
or impatient consideration. Honest recog-
milton by corporations or just demands
from employers will solve many labor
difficulty and prevent many an opportunity
for lawless strife and civil disorder"
Dealing with the law against ''sweat-
shOpsn and its results, the Governor says;
"The present law does not go far enough
to remedy all the evils which have grown
up under this system. If the manufacturer
escapes the responsibility and expense OF
running factory he should be compelled
TO keepa register Of those who are making
up his goods and no person should be given
work who could not produce certificate
from an inspector stating that he occupied
healthy and suitable quarters for the pnr-
pose of manufacturing. This would be
proper amendment to the present law, ana
the Importance of the subject, 1t seems to
me, warrants its careful consideration
The Governor urges the passage OF "a
carefully guarded compulsory education
law and proposes that the canal problem
can be solved only by more rapid transit
On this, Gov. Flower says: "Ample water
power for the generation of electricity is
accessible along the line Of the Erie canal
and could be utilized without great ex-
pense. The fall Of water between Buffalo
and Albany being So feet the waste Of
water at the locks is ample to furnish the
power TO propel the boats by electricity
The State, however, should own and con-
troll the electric plant and charge boatmen
g price sufficient 10 pay the cost for the use
Of the power. This price ought not to ex-
ceed sixty cents day to each boatman
and would be much cheaper than three or
four horses or mules upon which he now
depends and consequently would enable
him to make greater profits in his occupa-
tion. l recommend that proper
provisions be made by law to encourage
andfacilitate experiments in this direc-
tionn
OF the State exhibit at the Chicago fair
the Governor says: "While the present
appropriation has been expended during
the year the commissioners will need an
additional appropriation of $500, 900 to COM
plete their work properly, and that amount
of appropriation is herewith recommend
ed A State Commission of Agriculture
is recommended. IN which shall Se conSol-
idated under one executive head the va
rious bureaus and agencies now existing.
The Executive has something to say of
the coal combination, thus: 1.-THE con-
sumers are at the mercy OF the combina-
ton. 1t can raise the price of anthracite
coal as high as It can find purchasers.
The price has increased - cents ton with
in year. The oaly apparent limit to the
extortlon is the refusal Of the people to
buy. In that case they must use bitumi-
Have the people of tbs State any means of
legislative relief against such monopoly
of q natural and necessary products The
question is worthy Of your earnest atten-
ton"
The Governor is convinced that State
care of the insane further than By counties
is a boon, and he believes public sentiment
favors the postponement of a constitution
al convention.
Attention is given to election bribery
and the Governor wants the corrupt prac-
tces act extended to affect political agents
and committees, and he urges such legisla-
tion as will make proof of bribery on the
part Of candidates, or their political agents
or committees, sufficient cause for forfeit
ure Of Office.
On the subject of quarantine Governor
Flower saws: II am not willing TO confess
that l am convinced that the old fashioned
Jeffersonian theory of self-government
must oe laid aside for the adoption Of
centralized government, exercising great
variety OF functions, which the
States or the people can best
discharge for themselves. I am not op-
posed 70 a national quarantine but to an
exclusive national quarantine sucn as is
urged in contemporary discussion. There
is q field on which the federal government
must exercise quarantine powers. The
place to detain cholera is on the other side
OF he ocean, not in New York. A rigid
system " Inspection st foreign ports un-
der the dirsction of the consular service
would 1orm NE best kind Of national quar-
antine. AS for the rest it can safely be
LETT 70 State luxlk kdietion and control.