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

Governor O'Forrall's message Is worth
,,uay,ng For four years the Governor
has given thoughtful and intelligent COLI
alteration TO the needs OF the slaie anu
the result is summed up in the message
.,,,,,t ba sent Yesterday 10 the General
Assembly.
A, Tho outset he speaks Of the great In
ducements that the state OF Nrsiiii"
oners to settlers. and very wisely sus-
COSTS that the time is now opportune 10
advertise these advantages ABROAD anu
90 make an effort 10 induce desirable
emigration from the West ana Nor'n-
west.
Governor O'Ferrall has the right TO
feel proud of tho record that he has Haue
4, unfolding the laws Of the state ana ="
A. O subject for congratuation that dur
ing his administration there nave pee"
lint three lynchings in Virginia. AS
further means of preventing mon Nio-
lence the Governor recommends an ACT
recurring every county or city 10 pay ln'V'
tho treasury of the State for the beneht
for each thousand Of its population hob
exceeding in amount $4,000 for every
lvnching that may occur within us nm
,ts the same to be provided for in IT'S
,,ext animal levy. lie believes that such
n law would have the effect of inducing
sberifs to call out the military wheh-
ever. In their judgment, there was dah-
ger of mob violence, but in order TO
prevent the sherins from calling out the
militia unnecessarily, he further recon-
mends that in all such cases the expense
Of the military be refunded to the state
by the county or city where the can Is
made lie recommends also that II any
officer having in custody prisoner. shall
hermit the prisoner to be taken rom MN
bv n mob without exerting all means III
his power to prevent it. such officer shan
be summarily suspended from Office by
The court in which he qualified, until
morton IN remove him shall be heard and
determined by jury.
IL is not necessary TO say mat INC
Times IS in hearty accord with the Gov
ernor in his effort TO prevent lynch Jaw
hut we seriously doubt If the measure
which he proposes could be made opera
tive. II seems to us a sort of contradlc-
ton to attempt TO prevent the VIOLATION
NJ the fundamental law of the land by the
enactment of specific statute against IT,
we do not mean. however. by inns 10
discredit in any way the Governors re-
commentators It should have the seri-
oug consideration OF the Legislature, and
If. In the estimation OF that body, the
nroposed measure Is not practicable, then
should the Legislature give us something
better. The main thins after ALL is rig
ldy 10 enforce the laws already IN eX-
istence against that crime which most
nften provokes mob violence, and where
cvor a man is found guilty OF criminal
assault or attempted criminal assault
The fun penalty OF the law should be-
meted out TO him. This the Governor
also recommends and TO this recommen-
dalton We respond with hearty amens
The recommendation that the Legisla-
ture make an appropriation for the BEN
eft Of the Negro Reformatory Associa~
ton whose object is to found near the
city OF Richmond reformatory for coll
ored youths commends itself to all people
who believe that the youth OF this State
regardless OF color when convicted for
crime, should be saved from the peniten-
tisry where they would necessarily be-
come hardened. and confined for time in
some Institution which has view TO their
moral reform.
Common humanity demands that the
accommodations at the State penitentiary
be enlarged so as TO prevent the budding
together OF many convicts in small cells
where. in the warm weather, they fight
with each other for the privilege of
standing at the grated door in order 10
Get a breath of fresh air. Attention has
been called time and again TO this condi-
ton OF affairs at the penitentiary and It
has become well nigh public scandal
The Governor recommends the erection
al once of q new and modern prison SUI
nciently commodious. not only for present
but for future demands. and we have 1T
tie doubt that the Legislature Will see