Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-12-13
GOV. TYLER'S MESSAGE.

$4,000 words.
The Governor opens with a pleasant
word of welcome for the members of tn,
general assembly, and says:
This is the last legislature elected in
the State of Virginia during the nine
teenth century. and il is i'm your hands
to close for this great century. so full OF
giant progress and mighty meaning. the
legislative history of the Commonwealth
And while IL is thus in your power to
impose fitting finish and adornment TO
the structure of civil government so
wisely planned by our fathers. il is also
IN your power toprovide for laying anew
the constitutional foundations of YOUR
state government, on which those who
are to come after US may build and find
room for their best labors and most ex-
tended growth
As hitting preparation for the pres
ent duties, it may not be Inappropriate
10 take a backward glance over the CEN
fury now closing-surely the most in
/ spring century in the life of our English
/ speaking race. Its beginning saw I'M
turled in the West the flag of our new
republic confined to the thirteen colonies
along the Atlantic sea coast shut in by
foreign foes and threatened by lurking
savages Its close sees q mighty scroll
of States unrolled from ocean 10 ocean
and seventy-fve million people dwelling
in security and conscious power beneath
the flag of our common country. Rem
resentative government, as prophesied
by Nirginia's Henry, as planned by Vir-
ginia's Jefferson, as achieved by Virgin
las Washington, has vindicated itself
and today our country is leading the
nations of the world in thought. action.
] and freedom. Then he refers to the Span
ish-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 expense
TO the State incident TO all the work will
not amount to over 81 200" In regard
10 the State militia. Governor TYLER
says: In case our country is ever so
unfortunate as TO be menaced by foreign
Toe, the volunteers-the trained soldiers
OF the State militia-is the great reserve
force upon which our country must call
and upon which ii must depend To
this end would take this occasion To
suggest that il would be a wise expendi-
ture on the part of our State government
TO provide means for the drilling and
discipline of bodies of State troops
about which. as nucleus. sufficient
numbers of men may form whenever the
need and cause may arise"
In regard to the FishlC pro-
vided for by the last Legislature. the
Governor says Il refer with pleasure
TO the report of this board and to the
fact that instead of being a burden 10
the State the oyster fields yielded the
first year under this new system the
handsome sum of $4,000. more than
$4,000 of which was clear profit. and for
the first Is months, ended September 81.
1899. There should be announcement
in such showing. The great aim OF the
state should be TO preserve the natural
beds whence comes our supply of seed
oysters and to encourage planting.
am of the opinion that any disturb
ance of the basis upon which the present
law rests would be harmful in the high
est degree to the State. as we'll as tn
those who are directly interested in the
cultivation and marketing of oysters.
Peace and security are what the oyster
interests need, and with them will come
am sure, gradual but certain increase
IN the States revenue. If Virginia can
be fortunate enough to always keep the
positions on such boards from being the
rewards of partisan political labors. we
Will have the pleasure in the future as
at present, in receiving such gratifying
returns
II beg to call attention to the very flat
tering financial condition of the State. as
shown in the report of the Auditor of
Public Accounts. The State will have
10 make provision after January /, 1902
TO meet the per cent. additional inter
est charges on its bonded debt. This
VIII impose an increated burden upon
'iio DtdtS ol SicO,OOO per annum. Though
the report shows handsome surplus in
the treasury, it would be risk and per
haps irreparable mistake for the Lepis-
lature 10 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 il is, some other source of rev
enue will have to be devised. 1t is hon
ed, however, the assessment will increase
rather than diminish l do 10 feel. how
ever, that the lands of the common. |
wealth could, in the continued low price
OF products, stand a greater burden than
now exists. If it should become neces. |
sary that any existing property should |
have an increased assessment. I believe |
that the railroad and some other cornora-