The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1899-01-18
THE MESSAGE
Makes Many Suggestions TO the
Lawmakers---A Very Lengthy
and Important Document.

The Governors message was laid
before the Legislature upon it's or
ganization to-day. The following
is brief synopsis of its main
points:
In his message the Governor
congratulates the people of the
state on their prosperity and re-
sources, stating that the popula-
tion has gone beyond the million
mark, that in resources West Yir-
ginia is first of all the states in the
Union in coal. gas and timber, and
in production first in oil and gas,
second in coke and third in coal.
The cash balance in the treasury is
$1,O62, 800 Is, to which must be adj
ded the invested school fund
amounting to $656,80O The Gov
ernor recommends among other
things liberal appropriations for
the National Guard and an appro-
priation of $4,000 to be held in
state repositories subject to the or
der of the Governor for the contin-
gonoies of war or riot; that the Adj
jutant General be made Major
General in rank, SO as to avoid in
future disputes between him and
Brigade Commander in rank and
such as there has been in
the past. He said tho State Uni
versity is perhaps the most promis-
ing institution in tho entire coun-
try, and praises the work of Presi-
dent Raymond. He says no Pro
fessor shall be dismissed from the
University because he is Demo-
crat, or one employed because he
is Republican if he can prevent
it. He recommends greater expen-
ditures For public schools; the con-
version of one of the normal schools
into training school for teachers,
larger appropriations for the @ olored
institute, and an enlargement of
the schools for tho Deaf, Dumb
and Blind which are already over
crowded.
He recommends the creation Of
State Public Library Commission
to encourage and supervise the es.
tablishment of free public Libraries
in all parts of the state. He re-
commends changes in the lunacy
laws to prevent the entrance of per-
sons not lunatics into the nsylums.
lie says the penitentiary is almost
self-supporting, but asks an appro-
priation of ten thousand dollars to
repay money thnt he borrowed last
year for current expenses at that
institution. He urges the prompt
completion of the Home for In
curables at Huntington, "owing to
the urgent existing need for it's con-
struotion." He urges upon the
Legislature some system of perma-
nent rond improvements for the
state, saying that nearly $4,000
is practically wasted each year up
on the public highways In regard
to labor and factories, he recon
mends laws prohibiting the labor
of children under fourteen years,
requiring employers to furnish
seats for female employees and suit
able rooms for their use, making
provision for the preventing of ac-
cidents by guarding dangerous ma
chinery, requiring engineers and
others in charge of steam apparatus
to be examined, requiring fire es-
capes on all buildings where labor
is employed two stories or more,
prohibiting the manufacture of Oh
gars, tobacco or clothing in any
room in tenement house in which
persons shall reside. He says the
State Board of Health has provided
for small pox scourge, and weeded
out the quack from the medical
profession. He recommends an
an eight hour law tor labor, and ar
bitration as a means of settling all
disputes between capital,and labor.
He Ieprecates the increase in the
number of large corporations and
trusts, and thinks that has much
to do with causing labor troubles.
He suggests many modern forms
in regard to the protection of mi
ners, and liberal appropriation to
properly execute the mining laws.
He recommends the passage of
more stringent laws for the protec-
tion of fish, prohibiting the pollu-
ton of the waters and dynamiting,
and recommends the protection of
quail during part of the year after
the present law expires in July