Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-04
sheriff. and changing the existing criminal

sheriff, and changing the existing criminal
laws in many particulars
He gives it as his opinion that such a con-
ventlon would be impoltic and involve an
Unnecessary expenditure of money. He says
he lett great concern because Of his fear
that there would be decrease in the assess
nent of lands in the state, and says he is
pleased to learn that there Is an Increase in
zeal estate values of $l1, GIG. 1872 over the val
uation of 1890 Scarcely at any period in its
History We're the finances of Virginia in bet
ter condition, and the present fiscal year
promises we'll the last two.
The governor refers to the fact that the
convicts in the penitentiary have rapidly
increased from the beginning Of his admin
istratfon until the present time. On the 1st
day Of October 1891, there were 1880 con-
victs In October, 1885, there were 1,616
He speaks for larger appropriations for
the school system, holding that the term of
the country schools is too short and the
teachers salaries irsufficient5I In refer
ring to the charge that the state of Nir
Sinia paid more for school books than
other states We're paying for the same, he
says careful and exhaustive Investigation
was instituted, and the charge was found
to be utterly groundless.
His eXcellency reviews at length the oys-
ter industry and the oyster laws, and felici-
tateS himself and the state upon the sue
cess with which the oyster interests have
been protected during the last year. He
commends the bearing of the state militia,
and recommends more liberality than here
tofore shown them.
He also commends the good road move
ment, and bespeaks for the plan to be pre-
scented by the committee on legislation APP
pointed by the recent good roads conven-
ton held here, and commends the commit
tee to patient hearing at the hands of
the legislature. He recommends the abol-
iShment of the state board of health, or
enlargement of its duties ard powers.
The governor says, regarding the Walton
law: I'm my opinion the Walton act In its
general scope approximates the object de-
sred-of fair and honest elections, a free,
untrammeled and Impoverished expression
of the will of the people. l recommend
such amendments as may he necessary to
relieve the act of uncertainties in its con-
struction. 1 recommend that 1t be SO
amended as to require the ballots in each
county and city to be of uniform size and
style, printed in plain and uniform type.
On the question of lynching Gov. OFer-
rail- saws: with pain and modification I
bring to your attention the frequent TAX
ing of human life without due process of
law within the borders of our state In
Virginia lynching cannot be defended: it
must be reDrobated. The number who
have suffered death by the halter without
trials or sentences of the commemorative
tribunals of justice has created abroad the
impression that her judges and juries can
not be trusted, or that her people are
swayed by passion and uncontrolled by
reason; that her law is dethroned and
lawlesSnesS reignS."
The governor then a great length recalls
his Well-known action in sending the mill
tary to various counties in the state to pro-
tect prisoners and property owners from
violence. dwelling especially upon the Poca-
hontaS coal strike, in which he uses strong
argument in defense of his course