The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-02

surance companies, life and fire, char
tered ysthts State, and now doing
business in this Stnte, be required with
In q, reasonable time, to be fixed in the
act. to deposit with the Treasurer Of
the State bonds of the State, United
states. or such cities as you may desig-
nate, to amounts equal to five per cen
tum OF their respective capital stocks,
not to exceed In any case $4,000 nor
be less than $4,000, and that COM
panies, associations or societies doing
business on the mutual or assessment
plan be required to deposit the same
securities In such amount as you may
deem proper
The General Assembly at It's last
session We're impelled, In order to pro-
tect the public against imposition and
fraud. TO repeal twenty-five charters OF
iire Insurance companies which had
been granted by Circuit Courts In diff
ferent sections of the State, and which
companies were being operated with
out capital securing all the policies
possible and collecting the premiums
and paying no losses. They were. icl
fact, haldfaced frauds. and many
polioy-holders suffered by them.
OFFICERS OF sTArD GOVERN
MENT.
The Governor refers to the faithful
manner in which every officer Of the
State government has discharged his
trust during his incumbency Init
mately associated, he remarks, as OIL
cially as l have been with each OF
them. I can say, without reservation,
that they have diligently performed
their exacting duties and guarded well
the interests of the Commonwealth.
NO State can boast OF better public
officers. l feel, too. that ! should eN-
press my thanks to each and all of
them for their uniform kindness and
courtesy towards ME. Abiding to the
death OF Attorney-General Scott, he
feelingly says ~ few months since
the whole Commonwealth was shocked
by the announcement of the death of
Hon. r.. Taylor Scott, the Attorney
General. AS IL lawyer he ranked among
the ahlest. as citizen he was sans
pcur ct rcproche, and as an official in
his devotion to duty, he has had no
superior in the history of the State"
CONCLUSION.
Concluding, he says: 81 have now
concluded my last regular executive
message. On the 1st day Of January
next my administration of affairs OF
this State will close. and the dIstin-
guished citizen whom the people have
chosen as my successor will enter upon
the functions Of his high office. l am
glad that l can surrender the rens Of
State government into the hands of
gentleman SO worthy and one who will
guard jealousy the interest. welfare
and honor OF this historic Common
wealth.
II shall retire from Official life with n
heart full Of gratitude for the many
honors that have been bestowed upon
me. and with the pleasant reflection
that during my long period or public
serVice-longer, l think, than any living
citizen of the State-even the tongue of
my most bitter and vindictive personal
or political enemy, every ready to cen
sure. has Lever charged me with derc-
LECTION of duty or improper conduct
In any position l have held.
And now. that the labors OF my
Gubernatorial term are nearly ended
deem it due to the people who elected
me to the d!gnined station ! have oc-
cupied for nearly four years. to render,
through the medium of this message,
d brief account of my stewardship.
From the hour of my induction into
office have had constantly before me
the constitutional injunction. He Uhe
GovernOr) shull take care that the laws
be faithfully executed In the dis
charge of this trust have struck hard
at every crime. every tendency to evil
doing, every menace to the public
peace and every danger to the public
morals, with the following results:
y. The destruction Of gambling sa-
looms that had been Haunting their
brazen fronts and snecrng ut moral
sentiment and bidding defiance to law
full authority for years.
-. The stamping out of horse race
gambling and fighting, which
were bringing rcproach upon our Com
munwealth
80 The capture and extradition OF
nearly every fugitive from justice.
H. The entire exemption OF Virginia
in the years of 1891 and 1898 from mob
Violence of every description, and the
trials of all offenders by courts and
Jurors.
80. The reduction or the number of
lynchings during my administration
from an average OF about nine every
two years from 1SS 10 1894, to three
during my term of four years. and of
which I had TO notice of impending
danger.
"6. The preservation of the right of
all men to pursue their daily labor
without mOlestation and to work when
they wished to work without interfer-
ence from individuals OF organized
bodies.
az. The maintenance of the liberties
Of our citizens engaged in our mining
districts guaranteeing to them perfect
freedom Of action in either continuing
or withdra wing from their employment.
IS. The exclusion of non-residents
from our oyster beds and the preser-
walton of the States properties that
had been suffering long from the pcrsls-
tent dcpredatlocls OF people who pay no
taxes in Virginia and are entitled to
none of the privileges of citizens.
10. The enforcement Of respect for
the law and State authority from the
hordes OF moral lepers who had infest-
ed the Virginia bank OF the Potomac
river opposite Washington city for
decade or more, making that part of
our territory q verttabie pest spot
Il have also had constantly in mind