Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-07
IAIEsH1Z ZIEIEGRAPH CONTINUED FROM PAGE HONEI

lVl Il.
ton Of the world 3; our unidevelo,pet
mines OF wealth. The State should
not longer delay this important work
Of ordering a. full and COMPREHENSIVE
geological survey Of her mineral inter
ests. No land under the sun with an
equal amount Of @territory. can boast
of greater advantages than Virginia.
in soil, climate and minerals. IT
s. LABOR BUREAU. e; El
The work of s Labor Commissions
Montague is praised. The utility Of
this department has been demon
strated. the Governor declares He
says: q 4. sl & w 80.
Your attention Is respectfully invited
to- the able and full report he has made
OF our industrial conditions, and I hope
favorable consideration may be given
the changes and improvements he eug-
gests in the law. Most of them strike
me as being wholesome and necessary.
BOUNDARY LINE DIsPUTHs.
The Virginia and Maryland boundary
line dispute Is reviewed at length. In
closing this portion of his message, he
says: ~ Il,
If the oystermen of Maryland, who
were In the habit of coming TO vlr-
ginia to fish and oyster, could be made
to feel that they were In danger Of
! detection and surrender they would,
Of course, not be so bold in theid dep
relations. I regret to say that the
plan did not work to full fruition as
the Governor of Maryland failed to
honor the first requiSition 1 made upon
him under agreement; but whole
some influence has been exerted on ac-
nj M NJ oil In
annoyance has almost ceased and but
little complaint has been heard since
this trouble.
YELLOW FEVER.
Yellow fever made its appearance
among the inmates of the Soldiers
Home, at Hampton, on the 3lst OF July.
l was notified by DIR. s. w. Hobson
quarantine officer at Newport News, as
soon as the disease was discovered. I
at once called uo the Mayors Of this
and other contiguous cities, and noti-
fled the Secretary of the State Board
Of Health. Prompt steps were taken
to prevent the spread of the disease,
and by proper precautions it was kept
confped to the locality in which it
originated. In obedience to the request
of the Mayor of Norfolk I ordered the
State Naval Reserves and Tie State
oyster police boats to assist that officer
In preserving u strict quarantine
around the city. The Mayor of Ports
mouth summoned Grimes Battery to
assist him In helping to form Il quaran-
tine line 10 protect that city. The. com
mandant of this battery wired to know
IL he should obey the summons, and
was answered at once In tho affirmative,
but with caution To be sure that the
summons was in order and from the
proper authority, and was requested.
in the interest OF economy. to have his
command relieved from duty as soon as
possible. The troops were posted be-
yond the limits of the city In Norfolk
county; and, owing To this fact and that
the Sheriff of Norfolk county did not
unite in the summons, and the further
fact that the Governor did not give
direct order TO his command MS was
done in regard to those in Norfolk city,
the Auditor declined to pay the claims
for their services. The Attorney Gene
raj sustained the contention of the
Auditor. but the objections were only
technical. The officers or men could
not have refused to have obeycd the
been expected to decide the question of
tcchnicalities even if they had been
raised at the time. Quick action was
necessary, and the true spirit of SOL
diery obedience was manifested, and
arduous duties performed at great per-
Sonpl Sacrlilce ana inconvenience. If
the dread disease had been allowed TO
spread. great loss of life and damage 10
industrial interest might have occurred,
and the severest consurc would have
bee nheaped upon the authorities who
failed to do their duty. l therefore
hope the Legislature Will waive all
questions of technicality and promptly
order the payment of the claim.
THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
In conclusion, ! would invite your
attention to q subject which, in my
Judgment is the most important one
that can engage your attention ut this
session, and which deserves some action
at your hands.
Virginians can surely lay claim to
being makers of constitutions, and in
these weighty matters, able to give the
world a product of enduring strength
and simplicity. The present Constitu-
ton. foisted upon a conquered people
at the conclusion of our Civil war by
an alien government, is expensive and
cumbersome. 1T should be amended
and rewritten. I will not take up your
time by going into a detailed eXposi-
tion OF the present Constitution, or
in extended arguments in. behalf of the
changes desired. We should meet tire
question courageously, like Virgnians
should, and meet 1t for all time. There
are several plans open for your consid
eration-onc is to submit call for a
constitutional convention to the people
another 10 amend the present Consti-
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