Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-04
moEal and orderly masses of Virginia ex-

Grange Charter.
"Recurring to the subject just presented
I desire to refer to the gross perversion of
the charter of the Grange Camp Associa-
ton of Northern Virginia, granted by the
general assembly at its session of 1851
Is. Special attention is called to the
purposes of the charter, set forth i'll
the preamble: The fostering and
development of agriculture and its inter
ests, as well as the mutual care, aid and
protection of its members in time OF SICK
ress or distress, and the care OF the WHO"
and orphan. and other benevolent purposes;
for the purpose of holding fairs in the IN
tereSt of agriculture, and OF securing the
advantages of cooperation in all matters
affecting their interests and mutual I'M
provement agriculturists.' (See Acts
1SS5-S6 page 2ot)
Under this charter grounds We're pur-
chased in Fairfax county, and upon them
suitable buildings erected, and several fairs
conducted by the Grange Camp Association
OF Northern Virginia: but for two or three
years, or longer, prior to 1871, there We're
NJ exhibitions or fairs held, and l am in
formed the enterprise had been virtually
abandoned by the association In the
spring of 1894, or winter preceding, the
franchises of said charter We're in some
manner secured, as already stated, by GER
tain persons in the city of Washington, and
these persons, claiming the right to act
under said charter, established the park at
Alexander Island, heretofore mentioned,
many miles distant from the original loca-
ton in Fairfax county, and have, in a most
bold-faced manner, perverted the purposes
OF the charter ~ making their driving PARK
simply place, as stated before. Tor morse
race gambling, bookmakinS, pool selling,
ETC., at all seasons. They have done noth-
ing to foster and develop agriculture and
its interests. They have not given care.
aid and protection, in time of sickness or
distress. to the members of the Grange
Camp Association of Northern Virginia, nor
cared for the widow and orphan, nor pro-
NOTED other benevolent purposes. They
have not held fairs in the interest of agri-
culture, nor secured the advantages of CO.
or era ton in all matters affecting the IN
terests and mutual Improvement of the
members of said association as aSrlcultur-
lists; but. in word, the charter granted for
high and co,nmcndable objects has been,
ard is being, used for gambling and I'M
moral purposes only, and under the shield
OF 4 charter obtained by an honorable as
sCcia tion-a body of men engaged in a
calling the pureSt OF all cailinSs-gam-
biers are daily pursuing their nefarious
vocations debauching youth. corruptinG
early manhood and robb!ng all who come
within the reach of their fiichng fingers.
What more are they doing? Section .
of the charter act aforesaid reileNes the
Grange Camp Association of the payment
OF all state, county or corporation taEeS-a
concession in the interest Of agriculture
ard row these people, standing in the shoes
of the members of the Grange Camp Asso-
CiatLn, are claiming, or can claim, eXemp-
ton from all taxation.
IN view OF the facts have just given, 1t
is hardly necessary for ME to say that l
rec ommend- the prompt repeal Of the act
approved February %, 1856, entitled An
act TO incorporate the Grange Camp Asso-
alton Of Northern Virginia.
LavIcssness in Alexandria County.
"Your special attention is directed to the
condition of affairs along the Potomac
In Iria
son City to the line of Fairfax county, a
distarce of five miles, more or less, the
laws of this state have been for a long
period put at defiance, and that part of
VirginiaS territory made typical Botany
Bay for the criminal and degraded classes
of Washington city. There gambling sa-
Icons and disrcputaEle houses display their
braZen fronts day and night, and every
species Of crime is committed. The law Of
ficers are either powerless or they Wiilfully
neglect their duty. Something must be
done to relieve Virginia of the odium cast
upon her by the existence of such a place
on heI soil. The majesty of the law must
be asserted. AS the executive, l have no
authority. The judge of the county court
has been unable to suppress the lawless-
ress, because his authority under the stat
ute is inadequate.
II would recommend that a special act be
passed empowering the judge of said court
to suspend the sheriff, or any justice of the
peace, or constable of said county, when
ever, in his opinion, said officer has failed
to do his duty, such suspension to con-
time until hearing is had before jury
on motion to remove said officer; and
that said judge be further empowered to
appoint many special justices of the
peace and constables as he may see fit,
either in term time vacation. 1 further
recommend that said judge be authorized
to remove any criminal case pending in his
court to the county court of some adjoining
county for trial whenever, in his opinion,
the de mands of justice and the due enforce
ment of the laws require it. These pow
ers will, of course, be extraordinary, but
extreme remedies are very appropriate for
extreme diseases Radical measures must
be adopted to relieve the locality of its
morally leprous character, and of this you
Will be fully convinced when you come to
investigate the facts, for they could hardly
be exaggerated
Affairs in General.
The message discusses at length the
reasons advanced for holding a conven-
ton to frame new constitution, such as
returning to the old system of county courts,
reducing the number OF circuit judges and
superintendent of public schools, abolishing
the Office of county treasurer and imposing
the duties now performed by him upon the