Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-12
THE MESSAGE.
Gist of the Recommendations Pre-
scented by the Governor to the Leg,
islature---An Unusually Long Doc
umont.

| Special to the Register.
Charleston, w. Va, January IL
The Governors message, present
ed to-day, is remarkable for its
length. 1t opens with the usual
excuse that the Constitution de-
mands that it be written, and proceeds
to the extent of $4,000 words, enough
to fill nearly 20 columns of the Reg
lister.
The financial condition of the State
is declared to be good. The treasury
balances October 81, are given as fol-
lows:
State fund............. ............s 42t641 i
General School fund. aol,O2j 10
School fund (unlnvested)) ...... III, I55 Il
Making a total balance IN the ..... 49,,
treasury of Observation-Disclosures. 1,062, $50 4S
In addition $656,800 is invested for
the school fund, while the eXpendi-
lures during the year were 100000
greater than in any previous year.
Concerning the war with Spain, the
Governor says:
Since your honorable body last as
sembled, cur country has been thrust
into-a war with Spain. Spain is one Of
the Oldest of the existing monarchies.
Her age made her arrogant. She
seemed to believe that she could do as
she pleased. For many years past she
has been engaged in different wars to
subjugate any tryanniZe her subjects
on the island of Cuba. The Cubans,
like all other people, felt that they
ought to be free and be allowed to rule
themselves and shape their own des-
TIMES. Spain, the mother country,
| thought otherwise. Il + 3 8 Mean
time our country was patient, forbear-
| ing and conservative. At last one of
our battleships-the Maine--was sunk
by q submarine mine in Havana har-
Dor by a Spanish assassin, and two
hundred and siXty-siX of our marines
went down to watery graves. This
was the tCcsin of war. Our people rose
as one man, and demanded the freedom
of the struggling Cubans +
God Almighty was behind the scene.
In this conflict, brief as it was, hu-
manity received the greatest uplift
that the world has experienced since
the Christ was born. The human fam
lily were intended originally to be free
Slavery crept in. The world moved
on. 1t was never intended that one
man should own another. But never
theless men were made slaves. Cod
never intended it to be so, but it has
been thus for six thousand years. 1t
will not be thus much longer. There
comes a time, and it is not far distant,
when all men will own themselves.
The war with Spain proves the correct
ness of this statement The decree is
q al oa+
must go. They are creatures of the
past. The new dispensation' under
which we live is forever against such
barbarity. Spain has gone, and the
civilized world would repoice all the
more if she were wiped forever Off the
map of modern civilization and the
world. AS an uplift to humanity
throughout the earth, the value to
mankind cannot be estimated of the
defeat of Spain by the United States.
a government by the people, CT the
people and for the people" etc, etc.
He then tells Of borrowing $4,000 to
equip the militia, $4,000 for the Insane
Asylum, and $4,000 for the peniten-
tiary, and asks that $4,000 be appro-
priated TO be spent at the direction of
the Governor in case troops are need
ed for riot, or war
He says the State University is a
good school, Dr. Raymond a good
teacher, and that he should be encour-
aged. The public schools. normal
schools, colored institute and deaf and
blind schools are touched briefly. A
public library system. and commits
sion to conduct it are. suggested. The
reform schools, insane asylums and
asylum for incurables are mentioned
as being in Furnishing condition. The
board Of agriculture occupies several
pages Of laudatOry comments, with
only one practical suggestion: the ne
cessity for more wisdom in road build
ing and maintenance Much space is
devoted to the condition of labor and
laws regulating the employment of
minors and females are recommended.
State examiners for stationary engines
are recommended. as is an eight-hour
labor law.
Several pages are devoted to the min
ing industry. Statistics of growth. ac-
oidents. inspection, etc, are given and
more liberal appropriations for in
spection are recommended.
Changes in the game and fish laws. toI
make them more effective, are suggest
ed. ~ fire-proof building in which toI
keep State records is asked for.
One fof the Governors really wise
sugge{ ions is for State Board of Par
dons. He says the population has
groN too large for one man to bold