The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-09
GOV. TgleT'S neSSage.
A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT RECON-
MENDATIoNs MADE.
Favors Senatorial Primary and Honest
Elections

Favors Senatorial Primary and Honest
Elections
The message OF Governor Ty Ter. which
was sent in 10 the General Assembly Of
Virginia Wednesday. is lengthy doc
ument.
In opening he refers to the Spanish.
American war and the call on the State
for troops and the fact that 1870 men
were promptly furnished declares that
" there were no better troops offered
the Federal Government than the Vir-
ginia soldiers. and yet the entire ex-
| psnse to the State incident 10 all the
work Will not amount TO over 81 200 -
The services OF Adjutant General Male.
Cols. 10. Lane Stern, o o. b. Cow.
ardin. W. y SHELTON. W. b Tenant
and w. NJ Coullng. Of his staff are spe.
| cially acknowledged
In regard to the State militia. the
Chief Executive says: " In case our
country IS ever 50 unfortunate as TO be
menaced by foreign foe, the volunteers
the trained soldiers of the State mil
| itia-is the great reserve force upon
which our country must call and upon
which 1t must depend. To this end |
would take this occasion TO suggest
that il wOnld be a Wise expenditure on
the part Of our State government to
| provide means for the drilling and dis
cipline Of bodies Of State troops. about
which, as a nucleus, sufficient numbers
OF men may form whenever the need
and cause may arise. "
FISH COMMISSION.
In reference to the Fish Commission
provided for by the last Legislature,
the Governor says: Il refer with
pleasure to the report of this board and
| 10 the fact that instead Of being bur-
den TO the State the oyster fields yield
| ed the first year under this new system
the handsome sum Of $14. 900, more
| than $34 600 Of which was clear profit,
aud for the first Is months, ended Sep
TENDER 81, 1899 There should be en-.
| couragement in such a showing. The
great aim Of the State should be to pre-
serve the natural beds whence comes
our supply OF seed oysters and TO en-
courage planting.
" | am Of the opinion that any dis.
| turbance OF the basis upon which the
| present law rests would be harmful In
the highest degree to the State, IS well
as TO those who are directly interested
10 the cultivation and marketing OF
oysters. Peace and security are what
the oyster interests need, and with
them will come, | am sure. a gradual
! but certain increase in the State 8 rev.
| enue. II Virginia can be fortunate
enough TO always keep the positions on
such boards from being the rewards Of
partisan political lsbors. we will have
the pleasure in the future. as at pres.
ent, in receiving sucn gratifying re-
| turns
| FINANCIAL CONDITION.
- beg to call attention to the very
| flatteriug financial condition Of the
| State. as shown in the report OF the
| Auditor Of Public Accounts The
State will have to make provision after
| January /, 1902 TO meet the per cent
additional interest charges on Its bond
ed debt This will impose an increased
burden upon the State Of $3.50 900 per
annum Though the report shows q
| handsome surplus in the treasury, II
would be a risk and perhaps irreparable
| mistake for the Legislature to conclude
that there is less need for the exercise
| of economy than there has been in past
| years BY all means We should await
| the next assessment Of lands before we
fix upon the treasury any permanent
increase in expenditures further than
is absolutely necessary.
IF the assessed value OF property re-
mains as it Is, some other source of
| revenue will have to be devised II Is
hoped, however, the assessment will in
crease rather than diminish. l do not
| feel, however, that the lands Of the
| Commonwealth could, in the continued
low price Of products, stand greater
burden than now exists. II it should
| become necessary that any existing
property should have an increased as
sessment. l believe that the railroad
assessment should be increased | yield
| to no man in my State in the desire to
see our railroads AMI all other indus
| tries prosper. Ia this connection l
| would recommend, in order to relieve
| the railroads Of burden, for which no
! ore gets any corresponding benefit. the
| abolition of the off 70 Of State Railroad
| Commissioner and II, in the wisdom
| Of the Legislature any such commission
| is desirable, that its object and pur-
poses be clearly defined and that its
officers be paid out Of the treasury OF
| the State.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
1.-THE General Assembly at it's last
session for the third time opened the
door for the funding Of the old securi
ties which had not been funded under
the act Of February IA, 1882, or Feb
ruary 20. 1892 The report of the Sec.
ond Auditor shows that under the pro.
visions OF this act the holders Of sl62,-
| 6l9. 81 Of old securities surrendered aud
| had them funded and received in lieu
| thereof $S4. 172 AZ Of new 2-3 bonds
| This increases the century debt to $lS.-
| OO2. O83 g. AS there is still outstand
| ing a small remnant Of bonds with tax
receivable coupons attached, which
may continue to annoy the collectors OF
the States revenue aud intercept por
ton of her taxes. l would suggest that
the opportunity be again given to fund
these under such conditions as In your
| Judgment you may think equitable. "
DELINQUENT LAND TAX.
"There has been widespread dis
cussion and dissatisfaction concerning
the act of the last Legislature provid-
| ing for the sale of the delinquent lands
of the State. The measure has been
found to work hardship in some OF lite
features and in that respect should be
amended, but at the same time suitable
provision should be maintained for COL
| iecting the taxes due the State. And
as under the harsh measure already
passed, whioh we must admit was bet.
ter than no law at all on the subject,
the greatest hsrdships have already
/ - Il. 4. h. al -