The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-02
GOV. 0FERRALLS MESSAGE TO IH[ Legislature
Various Matters Affecting the Welfare Of the
State Discussed Clearly and Exhaustively.
HOW TO MAKE OYSTER INDUSTRY PRODUCE REVENUE
State Revenue and Expenses Schoo1s-Eecons-
s Confederate Veterans -Pententiary, Etc.

various organizations we'll filed by en-
listmerts, when they meet with so little
encourl lgement. The entire force con-
sists of two hundred and twenty-scven
officers and two thousand, five hundred
and eighteen men, comprising forty-six
companies of infantry, two troops of
cavalry, and three batteries of artillery.
or the infantry eight companies are
colorcl.
HORSE RACE GAMBLING AND
PRIZE ZIG HTING
He states with pleasure that the Iegis-
lation OF the General Assembly in re-
terence to horse-race gambling and
prize lighting has practically driven the
one, and absolutely the other. from Vir-
gin!a, except when engaged In under
the cloak Of "a friendly boxing contest. /"
~ 1t was recently near Newport News.
y base subterfuge to escape the tolls of
the state prison. No more salutary
laws could have been enacted The
moral sentiment of the Commonwealth
Is no longer shocked by the assembling
OF hordcs Of gamblers within her bor-
ders ON race tracks, fleccing the unwarv
ana uebauching the young, nor by the
p!lze-ring, attracting the worst element
or society from every quarter and entic-
ing TO the disgusting scenes those of our
own citizens who delight in brutality
and rufffanism
lie would recommend that the act be
amended so as to prohibit all teiegrl nh
ana telephone companies from receiving
anu transmitting at their Offices or anv
other place messages laying bets or va
gels On the result OF any trial of speed
or power OF endurance or skill of ami
InalH, beasts or man which is to take
place beyond the limits of this Common
wdlith. and afliXing severe penalties
FOR violations
NO LABOR DISTURBANCES.
Ihe Governor considers II a source Of
sincere conEratulation that while many
sister states have had serious conten-
ions between employees and emplov-
erS. Virginia has been exempt. Tn no
instance during his administration has
lhere been the slightest trouble, but the
utmost harmony and best feeling in all
ot our Industries have prevailed. This
Is as l. should be. and is exceedingly
gratifying.
iie would be glad TO see some lcrislo-
ton by which differences that sprinr un
III matters OF wages in our great works
ct industry could be speedily settled
by an impartial tribunal. If there
could be a Board Of Arbitra lion cstab
ilSAed by statute, 10 which all questions
rs To the reduction Or increase of wages
could he submitted, it seems the inter-
cStS and welfare OF all concerned would
De promoted. OF course there could be
no compulsory submission, nor could
the board be clothed with power.to On
force It's award. but in his opinion it's
awa:d's would be accepted in d vast
number OF cases, and when not accepted
thcy would carry with ii n force which
would place the parties declining in
the attitude of making an unjust. de-
mlnd or adhering 10. an unrigh:e eous: 10.
sition. and arouse moral sentiment
against thehi., '., -.
C1lMrNAL. L.ASSAULTS.
The Observation-Disclosures that :he ran
idi:y with wltfoifth;s number OF Grimm n
assaults have g9own in, the Southern
states, and in fact in the country at
large recently, should stimulate the leg
islature oC.every State to take the most
vigorous sieps to stamp out The horrible
came Murder Is shocking indeed. and
every murderer who goes unpunishcd
lessons the. security of every mans life,
but The E2ckestihnd foulcEt crime that
Gan be perretratcd Is the violation of
a,woman,s person. and the perpetra Tor
Is 50 Vile TO deserve to forfeit a hun
lftlred lives If he had them; and when.
+ "by. hook and crook" he escapes the
seVSrest penalty the gallows is cheated
out of"1ts own, and the safety If wo-
| man is pu. in greater peril.
|. During the last four years the juries
in Virginia have done their full duty.
and served society we'll in eight cases,
by condemnations to death, but he re-
grets 10 end that in eigh ty-scven cases.
there were vcrd:c,s consigning the cul-
| DritS to the penitentiary for various
tcrmsl OF these. twshty-four were
white and siXty-threc were colored:
twenty-nine of them succeeded in their
flcndish purpose and nfty-eight of them
failed. He assumes that in all these
eiEhty-seVcn cases the tures were salts
fed beyond reasonable doubt" of the
Euilt OF the accused; then why did they
not impose the penalty which the helm
ousne:ss of the crime, the welI-being of
society. and the sanctlty of woman de-
manded? Why temper the offence ?
Why modify the extreme penalty? Was
death too much in their opinion for the
| VileSt crime man can commit?
In his judgment the way to arrest the
tendency of this crime, which is growing
among certain cllsses daily and most
aiarmngly, is for the law to follow
swiftly, like Nemesis, in the wake of
every perpetrator, and mete out to him
The rctribu:iTe justice of hanging by the
neck until dead
nlIE T'FINITENTIARY.
The Governor considers with regret
mat the penitcntiary is 4 disgrace and
rcrroach TO The State, not in liz manage
mehi, which has been all that could
He reasonably desired, but in the charac-
icr OF the buildings and the inhuman
manner In whirh the convicts ara. neces-
Hariiy crowded in The cells. The pres