Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-12-07
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Both Branches Meet at NOOn-The
Governors Message.

60vernor's Message.
Richmond, Va, December 4.-Both
branches OF the Legislature met at
noon. The Democratic nominees
were all chosen for offices in the two
bodies. John f. Ryan, of Loudoun,
was elected Speaker, and John W.
Williams, of Giles, Clerk.
A committee was appointed to wait
on the Governor and his message was
presented by Private Secretary
Owen. The message was read by the
Clerk.
The joint use of the hall of the
House of Delegates has been arrang
ed. The Convention is to meet at 10
o'clock and to remain in session I'M
til 2. and the House will meet at 3
O'Clock.
The message sent by Governor
Tyler TO the General Assembly to-
day made forty-one pamphlet pages.
and was, therefore, very little
shorter than that of President Roose-
velt's which was read before Con-
gress yesterday. A condensation of
it Is all that we can give the readers
of the Enterprise.
Governor Tyler, in welcoming the
members OF the Legislature, express
es keen satisfaction in bis ability to
report "a most gratifying and health
| ful Improvement In the affairs aud
condition of the people OF the State,
especially as shown in the various
| departments OF the State govern
ment during his administration"
He is glad Ito be able to state that
the financial affairs OF the State show
most gratifying Improvement DUR
| ing the last four years, and are now
on q sound and healthful basis" The
States income the past year, as
shown by the Auditors report, was
| So, 445, sos 70, as against $2,99S, 939.S9
| in 1S97-an increase in four years OF
| S446, 56S. SO The expenses for 1897
we're g., $50, 441.79, leaving that year
4 surplus of only SIS, 49S.1O, whereas
the expenses the last year, which
which were $3,O24, 597 81, left a sur
plus tor the year of 1920, 9l5.05.
The question of taxation Is dis
cussed by the Governor at consider
able length and is accompanied by
| tables, one of which shows that the
net receipts of the railroads have ln-
;reased from 1884, 00S Is in 1897 to
$2,517 ,267 .3S in 1901.
The total outstanding debt OF the
State is given by the Governor as
follows:
Century bonds. ....... $lS,OSO,270 10
Riddleberger bonds.... 6,329, 554 16
Schools and colleges. 1855, 455 SO
Total. ................$ 500, S36.2S0 10
The Governor shows that the oys-
ter law has produced a net revenue
Of $103, 272 70 for the past three and
a half years-an average of 29,506 per
! year, a great Improvement over the
old law.
Considerable space is devoted to
the States educational institu-
tions, the public school system,
be states, showing a larger enroll
ment than in 1897 and increased rev.
enue. About three hundred new
schools have been opened during his
administration and the value OF
| school property has increased more
than half million dollars.
Much space is devoted to the sub
ject, "Order in the State" a history
Of the lyDching occurrence in Green's
Vile county being under this head
1.-The Virginia Volunteers" also re-
ceived large share of attention, as
does the subject OF agriculture.
The Governor expresses gratifica-
ton at the manner in which the Bu-
reau of Labor has been conducted
and recommends the enactment OF
general primary election law, to en-
brace such officers as may be deemed
expedient, so that the people can
have every safeguard in order to in-
sure an honest count of their votes.
The Governor urges the Legisla-
ture to make an appropriation for
the display of Virginia's resources at
the st. Louis Exposition in 1908
Relative to the jamestown celebra
ton the Governor says in part:
"ln 1907 Virginia, and America for
that matter, will desire to celebrate
the three hundredth anniversary Of
the settlement at jamestown, Va, OF
the English-speaking race on this
continent. 1t will be the time OF all
times for the vindication of Virginia's
part in creating this great Govern
ment and developing this great con.
tinent. 1t will be the time OF all
times for showing the world our
beautiful and even tempered climate,
our harbors, rivers and inlets; our
prodigal gifts of mountain, stream
and sky, and our great resources and
manufacturing plants, and, above
all, our happy Virginia homes and
neonle 7 trnst that Virginia will
rise to the height OF this great OPP
portuDity, and that it will mark In
the present generation OF Virginians
the dawning of a great, progressive
and industrial era that will forever
close the mouth of detraction and
place us in the forefront of American
States.