Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-12-13
O'FERRALL'S> MESSAGE.
The Governor Of Virginia to the
General Assembly.

AO44CA 81 ~AR-O@~ANAJ
RICHMOND, VA, Dec. An
opening be congratniaties the
General Assembly upon the re
cOvery, in great measure, of the
Commonwealth from the long fuan
clal depression under which she
has been suffering, the resumption
of work in many of her industries
so long closed and the prospect OF
business and trade. The Governor
iS opposed to a convention to
frame a new constitution, and
says, in his OiIuiOn, such a con-
ventiOn would he impOlitic and IN
VOlve an unnecessary expendituIe e
of money, That the criminal
expenses Of The State" says the
Governor, care too heavy must be
admitted: that they should be
clrefully considered and the prun-
ing knife applied whenever it can
be done with due regard to the en-
torcement Of the laws, the preServa
ton Of order aud the demands of
justice, caunot be question ed. But
this, as we'll as other changes sug-
geSted, eau be accomplished, il
desired, either by legislative enact
ment or by the people by amend
ment to the cOnstitutiOn-either a
safer and much less expensive
mode than Il constitutional con.
vention."
PENITENlIARY AND HOSPITALS.
The Governor says the manage
ment of the penltentiary during
the last two years has been most
satisfactory. For the fiscal yeaI
ending on the 30,h day Of Septem-
ten Der, 1894, the net revenue was
about $4,000; for the last fiscal
year about SOL 600, The health
of the prison has been good. The
discipline has becn rlged. but
merciful. There have been no
escapes.
All OF tue S ate;s hospitals are
reported by the Governor as beng
well conducted. The Superinten-
dents and their assistants are
faithful in their attentions, earnest
in tteir CtfOrts aud kind and gentle
in their treatment, while the
boards Of directors are constant in
their watchfulpesS and asslduOuS
in the discharge Of their duties,
taking nothing for granted, leay.
ing nothing to chance.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE UNI
VERSITY.
81, will lie 10 less pleasing to
you than 1t is to myself to know
that our pnbhc free schools are
doing well and the interest in
them is steadily increasing. The
school statistics for the year clos.
Ing July 81, 1895, will show that
there were 9.033 white aHd 2.245
colOrod schools opened, with 235,
j32 white and 120,553 colored
pupils enrolled, and 6.2l1 white
a.d 20S1 cOlOred teachers. The
revenues for the year were 81. .SR4,
2Sl aud expenses 81 ,S07.b
About year ago the charge was
made that patrons OF the Virginia
schools were paying more fol
sch Ol books than the patrons o
the schools If other States were
paying for the same books. A
careful and exhaustive lnves iga
ton was instituted, and the charge
was fouLd to be utterly grOundless
There Is no State which has more
favorable contracts than Virginia
The Governor refers to the re-
cent destruction by fire Of the
rOtnnda and annex of the Uni
versary of Virginia. 81 am sure
says the Governor, 81 state it not
t0O strongly when say that thI
people of Virginia will not be con
ent until they can again gaze
with fu'ness Of heart upon the
rOtnnda as Jefferson planned it,
and such additions As will make
the whole equal form and beaut,
to whatit was before the fire.
am not prepared, nor do ] think i
proper for me to suggest ways ant
means. l have the utmost con
fdence in your wisdom, as we'll a
your devotion to the object 81
warmiJ cherished throughout the
borders of our State, and l an
confident you will take such step
if within the scope of your ea,hor-
ity, as will result speedily IN the
full restoration of our beloved
uniYersity.'
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
"I recommend that the utmos
liberality BE shown to dependel
soldiers AID dependent widows Ol