The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-05

This may be true In many Instances.
but no effort is made to reduce the ex-
pense OF hauling TO the railroads by
my opinion that nothing improves
country more than good roads, and 10
Investment yields the farmer more than
the money lie pays as road tax, If It is
judiciously used. Ever, since entered
upon the discharge of the duties of NV
present position have taken q pecu-
liar interest in the subject am now
presenting. I have found difficulties in
the way To an enactment of such laws
rs VIII insure the. result desired, but
they are not insurmountablc,
DurinE your session plans to secure
better roadways will be laid before you
learn. by a committee appointed by Il
roads convention which met recently I'm
the city OF Richmond, and trust YOU
VIII give the committee patient hear
ing, ana be able to evolve some meas
nrc which will rebound to the advan-
.age or every section of our State. by
securing better ways for getting from
bHH4nt 70 point and conveying our pro
ducts TO the railroads and markets.
Public Health.
submit that the laws bearing upon
vision.
Within the last year various localities
III the State have had visitations of
smallpox and other dangerous don-
taSlous diseases, and so vague and In
, uefnite was the statute that the author
nles were I'm doubt as to the course to
pursue 70 protect the communities
against the spread OF the maladies and
at the same time infringe upon no per-
sonar or public right In some locali-
Ties proper precautions We're taken and
| no wrong done: in others, extreme
| measures were adopted. resulting from
unreasonable alarm. which worked IN
jury to business interests
| ihe iovcrnor. under section lTl4 OF
| the the Code Is required To appoint
u state Board of Health and Vital Sta
tlsticS. The duties and powers of this
board are too limited, in my opinion, to
effect any practical results. 1t should
be abolished. az its title is misleading
or It's duties and powers enlarged. |
think the latter would be wise
| The prime object Of the State Board
of Health should be the saving of hu-
man lives, and to that end the prevcn-
tor and spread of diseases. The board
should have advisory and supervisory
| powers, and police power where no
local board exists. AS the law stands
n community for want of skilled advice
may he lax or extreme in precautionary
measures One city or town may. for
fear of injury to it's business or com
mcrcial interests, delay too long or
guard impcrfectly, while another city
or town may become panic-strickcn
and act too hastily or radically.
Very many. perhaps ALL of the States
ltaSluSiNt VI NlISlnu. nave boards OF
health. clothed with powers of Il prac-
teal character, and they are supported
by appropriations. Massachusetts APP
lproprtates about 100000: Illinois about
$4,000; Alabama. $4,000; Maryland,
Si3, On0: North Carolina $500: South
Carolina, $4,000; Tennessee. $4,000. Our
statute provides expressly that our
board shall not in any way be q charge
upon the State"
Elections.
The act approved March G. 1894. en-
titled IAN act to provide for the method
OF voting by ballot" and known as the
Walton law" has been vigorously as
sailed and earnestly defended.
| have given the act careful conside-
ration, and, In the performance OF my
duty. | shall express my views plainly
lad Family.
The object of all election laws should
be the securemcnt of order at the polls
ana free and untrammelled, pure and
unpurchased expression of the will
OF the people through the medium OF the
ballot box.
II must be conceded that the system
! which had prcailed in Virginia for
years prior to 1894 had utterly failed
to accomplish the object just stated.
II cannot be denied that there had
been much confusion and disorder at
the various voting places. and that
large sums of money had been used in
every election To corrupt voters by all
political parties. and mems ballots had
been purchased like stocks I'm the mar
iket. 1t cannot be denied that the weak
IN will have been controlled by the
strong. that they had been unduly in
nuenced and compelled for fear OF
class or race ostracism or persecution
TO reflect the will of others. not thci,
own. and deprived of the free exercise
of the right of suffrage
That this condition of affairs shunld
cease in the interests of our institutions
had long been apparent TO every honest
and right thinking citizen. The Gene
raj Assembly. fully appreciating tho
danger To our institutions, which had
been increasing year by year, undertook
the task of reforming our laws in the
interest of pure elections, and the
Walton act was the result OF the com
bined effort and wisdom of q majority
of the representatives
Has the act accomplished the purpose
FOR which IL was intended? 1t has sure
Is secured quiet, pcaceablc. and or
derby elections. The excitement. confu-
sion. and disorder and the badgcring,
pulling and hauling Of Voters. that
prevailed 10 such n disgusting extent.
have ceased. Ii has rendered the use
of money impossible for the vcnal voter
can no longer be led to the polls by
him who has contracted for his vote II
has certainly secured the free. untram-
melted. and Impoverished ballot of every
voter Of ordinary intelligence. for when
he enters the booth he is exempt from