The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-02

commissions heretofore appointed OF l"
he appointed by other States TO cohsluer
and draft uniform laws to be suDfiilt'eu
for approval and adoption by the seVeral
STATES. and TO devise and recommend such
other courses or action as shall best ac-
complsh the purpose of the act
They will no doubt make their report
RECOVERY or VALUABLE HISTORIC
DOCUMENTS.
In March last ! received a cQmmunlca-
ton from MoOTchcld Storey, Esd "t,"I.
uey at law of Boston, Mass, stltlhE ihal
some wears ago hc WAS retained by the
State IJbrarian" OF Virginia u instiu,H
suit in behalf OF the Commonwealth
against an luctOneer IN Boston. VINO
was advertising for sale al auction 'a
tho propcrtv of Mrs Benson ;. l.osslnS'
csrtain doctimcuts which were believed 20
have been stolen from the Cautol ID
Richmond i'm 1863. He stated furtEci, mat
defence was made 80 me SUIT ~ MIS-
Losing. and that IL was found that no
evidence existed that these papers Wel.
ever on the files other than the lact thal
they were addressed to officers or lhe
State OF Virginia; that nnally ne WdS ln-
structed to abandon the sult. ne now
ever, continued the suit until he succeed
ed in effecting a settlement by the terms
Of which Oue-half Of the documents were
delivered 20 him. With ms letter ne ioi
Warded all of the papers ne hau itcoNti'"'
Z
manent resting place in the arcniNts ol
Virginia" As ] could find no record or any
authority to institute the SUIT LOT w
recovery of the documents. nor OF the
agreement with Mr. Storey. ana not
knowine what liability might DE incurred
if received the papers on Dehal or lhc
State, | wrote Mr.. Storey, requesting
COPY Of the agreement with the librarian.
He replied that he had no agreement III
writing. but for his services since MS IN
atructions he had no charge and propos'd
TO ask nothing save what was paid az
the time he was engaged, "hlch was
one hundred dollars. ana thereupOn ac-
cepted the documents. and have since
turned them over &c the Secretary OF the
commonwealth. 20 Doe placed IN the "
brary Copies OF his letters are appended
hereto.
uable and Il list OF them will also be
hope YOUR honorable bodies will adopt
a Joint resolution. expressing IN sultapie
terms Nirginia's appreciation of Mr.. ST.
rev's efforts in her behalf and her thanks
for his kindness and generosity
CATTLE QUARANTINE.
I recommend an amendment Of the ACT
entitled AN Act TO provide for the pro-
lection OF domestic animals ETC. cp-
proved February IL, 1895, 50 rs 10 de-
tine more clearly the duties and powers Of
the Board OF Control Of The Experiment
Station Of the Virginia Agricultural and
Mechanical College.
During the carly part o. the present
year he Board in the discharge of what
they conceived 10 be their duty ana un-
der the authority which they believed
was conferred by the said Act adopted
"A rule forbiddinc the importation OF all
cattle into this State for breeding or dairy
purposes until they had been declared
free of tuberculosis by some regularly
licensed veterinarian, AFTER applying the
tubcrculinc test. etc. and notified me Of
their action
After a careful consideration OF the
Act / had grave doubts ak 10 The power
% the Board 70 adopt rule so sweeping.
and also rs 10 their power TO place such
Il restriction upon the importation Of all
breeding and dairy cattle, simply upOn the
ground that tuberculosis existed TO some
extent In every section and some cattle
affected might be imported.
Believing that the rule would be i'm
practicable. ana that IL would be expen-
sive and embarrassing 10 shippers ana
buyers. / resolved my doubts as the con.
struction of the Act against the power or
the Board to adopt the rule, and declined
to make proclamation.
/ think IL is highly important for Jour
honorable bodies TO consider with care
the entire act for in my opinion. II Is
ambiguous and its provisions are inhar-
SUPERVISION or STATE RANKS. IN
SUI 'NCt COMPANIES. AND
BUILDING AND LOAN AS
SOCIATIONS.
In my message of 1886 said:
',rhe experience Of the last few years
has demonstrated the necessity OF super
vision OF State banks. The national gov
eminent has considered 1; wise-in fact,
necessary--to exercise supervisory power
over national banks. and like power
should be exercised by the State over
State banks. Various instances. of recent
dates. could be cited where heavy losses
have occurred through the purioinins OF
funds by bank officers. the making OF
false entries and the keeping OF false
accounts. or the gross mismanagement OF
said banks.
similar power should be conferred over
insurance companies and building and
loan associations. During my term frauds
have been committed by insurance CON-