Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-12-09

The message of the Governor of
Virginia semitic the General Assem-
bly,, which convened fin the city of
Richmond, op last Wednesday, is a
lengthy ana comprehensive docu-
ment and generally regarded as an
able State paper. Various subjects
are treated by him and the most of
them in manner which will be sat
isfactory to the people of the State
generally. He begins with the graft
flying statement that the financial
condition of the State is better than
1t has been for years and is steadily
Improving. That it is ample to pay
regular expenses of government, sus-
tain the asylum and schools, pay
interest on the public debts and pro-
vide for our Confederate veterans.
He states that the penitentiary. has
been made self supporting, recon-
mends legislation looking to the cur
tailment of the criminal expenses,
suggests that the insane and idiots
be confined in different asylums,
earnestly deprecates lynch law and
approves the action of the mayor and
military in repelling the recent riot
at Roanoke. He calls attention to
the poor pay of circuit judges and
recommends that it be increased He
takes it for granted that better coun-
ty roads are necessary and outlines
a plan to improve them 1t is to be
regretted that the message cannot be
given in full to our readers. We en-
croach upon that portion of our space
usually given to editorial matters to
present his views in full only on the
oyster question, of so much interest
to our people. 1t will be noted,
strange as it may seem, considering
the Importance he attaches to the
oyster grounds, that no reference is
made by him to suit now pending in
the Supreme Court of the United
States, between Maryland and Vir-
ginia, as to their rights in Pocomoke
and Tangier Sounds, and that no
recommendation is made by him for
the employment Of counsel to assist
the Acknowledgement in so impor-
tant matter. He will doubtless ad-
wise an appropriation for that pur-
pose, when his attention is called to
it by our members of the Legislature.
OF our present oyster laws and the
changes necessary in same the Gov
ernor says.
He has carefully studied the same and
believes that the problem will be solved
if the present policy is pushed to it's
logical end. He holds that the oys-
ter grounds belong to the whole PEG.
pie and that they should get their
belongings. He insists also that
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
taxpayers, but tenants. The State
should give protection from mara
uders to those who pay rent, but if
would be misuse of the powers of
State to tax every kind of property
in the State and yet fail to utilize
such vast area of valuable proper
ty as her oyster grounds, and in adj.
dition thereto pay a large sum each
year to protect those who prey upon
the States resources without paying
revenue. The Legislature must, IN
justice to the people, use all ayaila-
BILE property and resources of the
State before it takes by taxation any
resources Of private citizens. The
Governors amazed that the people
of the State are so Indifferent to this
important question.
The following figures are given.
showing receipts and expenditures
OF the State in the oyster grounds
since 1884: