Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-07
Az RIcHMoND DISPATCH THURSDAY, DECEMBER I, 1898

- General Give an interesting review or
ne Volunteer forces OF Virginia for the
nresent wear. We have one brigade ., 20
strong: Il IN made up Of various branches
az the service; It's officers are competent
and efficient: the men are tairy wei
armed and uniformed. They are not only
an ornament to the State, but are neces-
sary for our peace and protecllon 'nsf
nresence lnstIres good order and the eu-
: sarcenent OF the law: they can be relied
on 10 maintain the dignity OF the state
( and TO uphold the ciyii authority They
deserve the confidence OK the General AS
aophlv. who should do all in their power
10 add to their comfort and pleasure Tor
NE do not know when we may De ioresu
"a call upon them to maintain the peace
and dignity Of the Commonwealth.
THE DIREcT-TAX.
! There was collected from the United
States Government January 2. lsss' tue
sum OF siI2. 702. n direct-tax, which was
reported TO the Legislature at It's last ses-
: sion. The act for the distribution OF TINS
money has been promptly executed ac-
! coriing TO its requirements. Ihef ap-
stracts of the tax-lists were taken from
the United States Treasury Department
j at Washington, ID. c.. and the copies us
posed of as the act requires Inc treas
! urer or Commissioner OF the severn
! counties entitled 10 receive the tax "ere
duly appointed. and proper BONDS "ere
4 taken and the money 10 winch saCn
/ county was entitled was paid over 70
each Treasurer or Commissioner FOR dis-
/ trihution. The law requires reports OF
I the distribution to be made semi-annuany
/ 10 the Governor by the several treasurers
/ or dlrect-tax commissioners. when nav
| been rendered by all for the six months
/ ending January lst and July l. lS@' an"
verified according TO law. On the lV'n
/ ~ Anri 1892. after the adjournment OF
! the Legislature. we collected S5,44l.7J. THIS
/ amount is now in the State Treasury
| and the law will have TO be amended so
/ as to have this sum distributed TO those
/ entitled.
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
on the 10th day Of March, 1893, / APP
pointed a State Board Of Health. appor-
| toned among the divisions Of the state
| as the Statute requires, TO hold Once
/ for a term Of four years from the ua'e
| OF their commissions. ] was Induced 10
make these appointments because OF lhe
| great uneasincss felt throughout t'e
! country occasioned by the danger OF an
! invasion by cholera from some foreign
| mort. The gentlemen composing the board
/ accepted the trust and promptly met IN
| the city OF Richmond, organized, ana
made all arrangements necessary under
| the circumstances TO protect the state
against the fearful epidemic. Active et-
| forts were fnaugurated by the General
Government and the health officers IN
| the various cities, and we have so far
escaped from the dreadful scourge.
On examination OF our Statutes, section
17l4 to section l722, of the Code OF Nir-
i .s-fff 10
| given this board are limited and defective
The first section provides that the board
shall not in any way be charge upon
the state. yet to be effective in case OF
trouble there must necessarily D. an
expenditure Of some money. Is SIDES
cannot be expected that businessmen can
give their time and talent TO the state.
paw their travelling expenses ana h0tei
hills. without reimbursement not 10 speak
OF compensation for work done and re-
sponsibilty incurred. In view OF the tact
that We have so many ways OF quick
communication with all parts OF the
world, and our cOast-line 50 EXTENSIVE
that we cannot hope to escape for an
time these epidemic diseases, 1t IS both
wise and prudent that the statute should
be revised and the Board OF Health put
uyon a better basis, both as 10 us powers
and CONDENSATION Of its members IL ~
medical science i'm preventing disease IMAM
I'm curing those who have been stricken
II seems To be wiser, therefore, 10 en-
deayor 10 prevent the invasion than 10
relv upon the skill Of our physicians 10
cure those afflicted
SOME THINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE
PRESENT ADMINISTRATIONS.
I. We have settled the public debt Of
the state.
.. We have increased the revenues
nearly half a million OF dollars WITHOUT
chagning the rate Of taxation.
We have saved TO the State the ex-
reuses OF two Legislatures by not calling
extra sessions, which can scarcely be- less
than $4,000.
4 we have had the oyster grounds ~
the STATE surveyed, and while the plats
have not been completed. alre2dy lhoI-
sands Of dollars from rental OF the SAID
grounds has been added to the revenue
We have enlarged the asyums and
have taken the unfortunate lunatcs from
TN, tails and given them comfortable
homes. where they can be- properly cared
for. -.
Agricultural and Mechanical College AT
Blacksburg.
We have increased the pensions OF the
poor old veterans from $3,ioO TO N"'VV'
We have increased the annuity u the
Soldiers Home from 10000 TO $4,000.
q We have assessed for taxation all OF
the property upon the military reserVa-
ton at Ola Point amounting TO S-Si"V
I'm value. which has never been taACu
before.
10. We have made a written contract
for building a library and place OF saIe
deposit Of the valuable records OF tAe
State: the building to be hre-proot' ana
TO cost SiGl.2B.4O. The money appropr'-
ated FOR its payments was $4,000. \ want
long felt. but the State could not consider
n while the public debt was unsettled.
Il. The penitentiary, which has been
a most onerous burden. Is now a source
OF revenue 70 the State. and mas paid
during the present administration net
sum OF Sll5.OV.
10 We collected in 1892 from the United
States Government ASlA.jS Of direct
tax fora portion OF the people OF Virginia
ma have paid It over for distribution u
those entitled.
n. The public schools were never 50
efficient in instruction nor 50 largely az
tended before. and the colleges OF inc
State have not shown such prosperity
since the war.
"a our financial condition has been such
as TO enable US 10 return the arrearages
due TO the public schools. occasioned by
the operation Of the funding bill or SH,
with interest. and the appropriations u
them have besn increased by the sum OF
$1,000 annually.
Is without appropriation, We nave
saved sufficient money from the clVu
contingent fund 20 put in thorough re-
pair the mansion and the Capitol We
have taken w the old wooden floors and
wainscoting and have replaced them with
marble We have painted the entire build
ing and refurnished the public halls with
carpets. &C.. and We have turned INTO
the Treasury OF the State more than
$500. being the balance OF the contingent
fund still TO our credit for the fiscal year
ending September 90. 1898.
Amid the financial storm which Is rag
ing i'm the general government, l may
point with pardonable pride TO these
evidences Of Virginia's prosperity as
some things which have been accom-
plished during my administration.
STATE OFFICERS AND ASSISTANTS.
cannot close this message without
bearing testimony to the efficiency AMI
devotion OF the heads OF the various
Departments of the government and their
assistants to the interest of the state,
and 10 acknowledge their uniform cour-
tesy and kindness 10 me. If there Is
anything creditable in the management
OF the affairs OF the Commonwealth du-