The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-06
The Message TO the E-egis-
Iature.
(Continued from Page Six

Continued from PAGE Six
dcned criminals TO be converted into
use in the saving of the youthful who
have been tempted intt committing
crime. The sentiment is fine one
and / am certain that you will appre-
ciate the action Of this board and
recommend this course. / concur
most earnestly in their recommends
lions and seize this occasion to eX-
press my deep appreciation of the
wise management which the directors
and the SUPERINTENDENT one and all,
have given TO the pcnitentiary. there
by enabling them to make this gen.
arous suggestion to your honorable
body.
LyncningS.
1t is gratifying TO be able to report
to you that lynchings during the past
two years have been far less frequent
in this State tnan during the prcced-
ing two years. / am led to hope that
we are close to the time when lawless-
ness shall go from among us. The
hest way TO safeguard society is for
good people themselves TO obey the
law. | know of no teaching SO elfcc
live with the lawless as the ready sub
mission 10 law By the best people.
We cannot stop crime by committing
IL: we cannot teach obedience to law
by disobeying it; we cannot preserve
order by the means of mob.
We disfranchsed the negro on the
distinct ground that With him as a
voter We could not preserve peace,
quiet and order. In doing this we
bound ourselves when the government
was put in our hands TO preserve all
these things through the means of the
law. If there ever was people any
where. solemnly pledged to the MAIN
tenance of law and order. ii is the
people of North Carolina. The Great
ing of better public opinion, the pass
age of laws making more effective the
means of ascertaining and Furnishing
all those participating In lynchngs,
speedy trial and prompt punishment
Of the criminals, should all be invok-
ed until we shall secure for ourselves
the absolute and unouestoned reign
Of the law.
Public Rods.
Much progress has been made in
the building and Improvement of our
nunlc roads during the past two
ears. All legislation LOOKING TO the
furthering of this good work should
lave your hearty approval
state Treasury Department.
In my message to the last Lcgisla
t,.4t- / recommended that State Treas
-. u.
$314.S4 embezzled by Mir. Martin, who
was Institutional clerk under forraer
Treasurer Worth. Ii is Impossible
for any treasurer To take chage of his
office and conduct il for the first few
days 81 his term with new clerks.
Wedding 10 the necessity of the Sijua
tioa when Treasurer Lacy first enter
ed the office he retained in the office
The clerks OF his predecessor for few
DAYS until the clerks Of his own selec-
Ton could learn the routine Of the off,
fee During these few days Mr.. Mar
Tin enlbezzled $314.S4 from the funds
belonging To the State netitentiarY
state Treasurer Lacy Almost imme-
diatelv detected the embeZzlement and
bgan q search Which showed that Mr.
Martin had embeZz'cd under former
Treasurer Worth'S administration
$l6060.04. IT Mr.. I.acy's instanccl
Mr.. Martin was thereuDon arrested
tried aad convicted and sentenced tot
the penitent'ary end former Treasur-
er Worth PAID into the state Treas
urv the amount OF said ontbexzlement
The service rendered to the State by
Mr.. Lacy in this matter. his entire
freedom from fault in connection with
it, he fact that he could not nave
avoided by any diligence or foresight
the wrongful act OF Mr.. Martin. en-
titled him TO generous consideration
at the hands Of the Legislature. |
again renew my recommendation that's
he be reimbursed the amount which
he has paid to-wit: $374.S4. ! am
aware that objection is raised 10 re-
lieving Mr.. Lacy on the ground that
IL will establish a precedent, but ii
can establish no precedent which lsl
not proper. and that is that where
the officer is in no way 10 blame Tor
a default he should not be made to
Y1rf
excuse one whose bad Judgment caus-
ed him 70 appoint incompetent on
dishonest clerks or who failed to keep
proper supervision over his clerks.
Department. Of state.
| transmit herewith the report of
the Secretary of State and concur IN
the recommendations made by him.
cannot too strongl: urge upon you
ne needs for a Hall Of Records. The
State is paving out now annually
more than $500 for remit
Of buildings In Which TO store books, |
documents and records and even then
they are poorly preserved and are
subject to L@ destroyed. at any time
ny fire. The State OWNS u lot on the |
nol invest corner Of Salisbury and
Morgan streets - y by los feet. upon
which q suitable building for the
purpose indicated, and for the furth- |
for the Attorney General Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction and the
Commissioners of Labor and Printing, /
could be erected at cost which |
would not exceed the sum upon which |
the State now pays interest in the way
Of rents. We have Il great number of
most valuable historical documents |
which are being daily menaced by fire
and which cannot be restored if once
destroyed. ! urge upon you there |
fore provision for the immediate cree
ton Of the necessary building for the
purposes indicated. 1T seems to me
IL would be proper 10 authorize the |
Secretary of State to employ some !
suitable person whose duty it shall be
10 put in disable form all the various
documents in the different depart |
ments of the government, and to gath
az from the various parts of the State t
letters and public documents and pa
per writing of importance bearing |
upon the history of the State. Many |
of the most valuable papers relating
ia the early history of this State are
mixed with worthless matter ana
packed away in boxes and drawers
in the different rooms in the capitol |
building and elsewhere.
Matthew Whitaker Ransom. |