The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1897-01-20
The osovernor' Message.


The message of eiovernor MacCork-
le to the Legislature, is one of the
most interesting as we'll as one of the
most valuable state documents ever
prepared, and is worthy of the care
fnl perusal of every one, who, like our
chief executive, is Interested in the
development and growth of our vast
ly rich little Mountain State.
For several years Governor Mac
Corkle has devoted almost his entire
time and energies to investig cations
and researches looking to the deyel-
opment of our various natural resour
ces, and in directing the attention of
outside and local capital to the vast
fields for profitable investments we
have to offer.
The valuable Information found i'm
his message clearly dcmonstrat that
his labors have not been In vain and
the onderful increase In the prod
induced to come here as shown by the
statistics found In his valuable docu
ment, show that West Virginia Is to-
day the best place anywhere to be
found for the investment of money
for profitable returns.
The condition of our finances are
shown to be in excellent shape and
that our State ranks among the first
providing for public schools and in.
the educational work being done
here.
The Governor calls attention to the
continual increase in the expenditures
of moneys to defray the expenses of
criminal prosecutions aud urges upon
the legislature the Importance of
retrench1nent in this line He says
that the payment of criminal charges
ssis becoming the great question so
far as the expenditure of the States
money is concerned.
He calls attention to the efficient
management and healthy condition
of all of our State institutions and
congratulates the people upon the
fact that all the public moneys APP
propriated therefor have been props
erly expended, but makes some ex-
celIent suggestions as to the purchase
of supplies for these institutions and
commends the non+partisan board
system now in vogue. The Governor
very properly recommends the estab-
lishment of Reform School for Girls
and says: I'm my opinion; il possi-
BILE, this is more important than the
Reform School for Boys The State
should give special attention to the
care and attention of girls who have
not that attention and protection ut
home.''
He recommends the abolftiono the
days of grace at banks. and favoss
compulsory education law.
In referring to the school book
question, the Governor condemns the
present depository system for text
books and recommends that the pres.
ent contract system by the Legislae
ture be abolished and that the mat
ter of selecting and contracting for
books be left to the several counties.
He also recommends that the mem
bers of the National Guard receive
better pay while In active service and
favors the passage of the bill which
has been proposed by the officers Of
the organization.
The Governor also recommends the
creation OF a separate insurance de-
partment and the appointment OF an
insurance commissioners and asks leg
islatfon which win control secret in-
surance societies and require build
ing and loan associations THAT pay no
taxes topay thesame. ISanawha Ga
zette-
West Virginia, Illinois. Indiana,
New York and North Carolina
have the lowest places ON the
record Of lynchings for 1896, hay
ing only one a piece Louisiana
heads the list with %, Alabama
coming next with 10 There were
131 lynchings last year and 235 in
1892. showing gratifying de
crease. Let us hope that West
Virginia win have none to blast
her fair name this year.
1T is remarkable fact that
Grover Cleveland is the only
President of the United States,
who, on March 4th next, will
have driven to the Capitol with
two different successors All
previous occupants of the White
House first succeeded themselves.
The latest Version of the story Of
Mary and her little lamb is to the
effect that she was am Ohio girl
and the sheep wanted protection
That is adj right, as far as it goes.
but the whole country seems doom