The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1895.
rur GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

THE GOV
The Governors message, published else
whore this morning, treats OF many su'
,ec,s Of interest TO the people.
Nc aro clad 70 see that he takes erouno
ut the outset against CONSTITUTIONS
convention. lie well says that a conNe"
,,on would be impolitic and involve an
unnecessary expenditure OF money.
I, viii be both surprising and gra'hE-
ing to the people to learn from 'he n''
sare that our real estate valuations III
creased under the recent assessment DS
sn.e;s.79e over what they were III l''0'
The pub,ic had been led to believe there
would be a decease.
The Governor gives gratifying ac-
count of the condition OF the pupic
free schools, and he declares that On
exhaustive examination disproVes the
charge that the patrons Of Virginia pup
lie schools pay more for their sOhooi
books than the patrons OF the puDnc
schools in other States.
He impresses upon the attention ci
me LEGISLATURE. we are glad TO see l's
duty TO provide for improving the ground
around the monument to General Lee
and he urges the utmost liberality posi-
ble in appropriations FOR old Conied-
crate soldiers.
The Governor devotes n surprising
amount of his message 10 the Walton
law. We says surprising. because we can
not see why he should have discussed IL
at all, unless TO point out TO the Legs
lature that IL was an evil OF which great
complaint was made II 1t had proved
blessing to the State, and had ended all
election troubles and disputes, u would
have been in order for him TO congratu-
late the people on it. lie begins what
he has TO say Of II thus;
.The object of all election laws should
he the securement OF order at the polls
and a free and untrammelled. pure ana
unpurchased expression of the will of
the people through the medium of the
balot-box."
with that very clear and very correct
motive of the true object of all cleo
lions, we did not expect TO find him
arguing that we should hold on 10 the
single constable. His assigned reasons
are far from being satisfactory.
We have already pointed out that
voter does not necessarily disclose his
vote by calling for a constable of a
particular party, because a Democratic
constable may mark a ballot according 10
a Republican voters wishes, and Re-
publican constable may mark 1t according
10 a Democrats wishes. The Governor
evidently missed our article on this point.
That being so, we suggest to him to give
the matter further thought
The Governor thinks there Is nothing
I'm the illterate voter having 90 put him
self into the hands Of a constable, he
cause he has always had to trust TO some
one But there is the greatest difference
In the world between trusting ones Sc
lected friend and trusting to stranger,
who may be an enemy. And we are per-
suaded that much the greater part Of the
illiterato white voters in Virginia re-
sent being obliged to disclose their dis
ability to come one appointed for the
purpose while they might readily seek
the aid of some friend OF their own choice
When the Governor thinks there is as
much ground for suspecting Judge CT
witness in contested election case.
as our election constable. he ignores the
difference between secret proceeding
and one i'm open court, with the eyes of
the world upon the participants.
We are really surprised at he Gov
ernor laying stress upon the fact that no
special ccEstables have been indicted.
How can an illiterate man know whether
he has been swindled or not? Finally.
we must call the Governors most point
cd attention TO the fact that an illiterate
man is not necessarily one OF less than
Ordinary intelligence" lie will find
many ilIiterate men OF much greater
intelligence than many college graduates.
The Governors recommendation about
the restora,i Ion of the University of Vir-
xfnia, we hope and believe. will meet with
prompt end liberal response from the
Legislature.
ton 10 the wisdom and justice of, es-
tabiishlng a board OF equalization OF the
assessed values OF real estate through
out the Commonwealth.
We think. too. this Legislature should
cegin at once the consideration OF some
plan for the reformation and punish
uent OF young Offenders. without the
sresent necessity OF sending most OF them
,,,her 10 the county jail or TO the state
penitentiary.
The excellent reformatory for boys. at
Laurel. is far from equalling the demands
II tho whole state. This institution
,hould be enlarged. An additional one
,hould be established elsewhere.
There is no provision OF any such sort
for young negro criminals: and. above
NJ things. in crimonology. an ounce OF
prevention IL worth q pound OF cure,
h,afc,ous expenditure for dealing wisely