Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-01-13

The Governor III his message 10 Tue
Legislature, which is generally ac-
cepted as a very able one, discusses
MANY measures of interest to the peo-
ple of the State. He favors appro-
priations for various purposes but al
vises against extravaganza. he
strongly urges that some remeoy DC
found for corruption in politics ana
which will prevent corporation con-
tributions to campaign funds. He
calls for a legalized primary. He sug-
gests the enactment of legislation lot
the procurement of desirable emil
grants, "who can contribute 10 our
home building and development en-
ergies." He advises the creation OF
q State board of charities and correct
tions. increased provisions for the
care of the insane, better protection
of the working people and makes
many other suggestions worthy the
consideration of our Legislature, but
the schools and roads, in his opinion
are the first things entitled to It's
consideration. In the matter OF
schools, so strong is his conviction IN
regard to them, he urges law en-
forcing compulsory attendance upon
them, saying in part;
eve need longer terms, fewer
Int better schools and better teachers
and TO this end we must have an an
nual appropriation OF not less I'M. tnai
two hundred thousand dollars (S2OO'
O0O. OO) in addition to the special tuh'
of two hundred thousand dollars
5000. DOC. OO) now appropriated, Whlci
Would give four hundred thousah'
dollars $500 100000 annually, owe
and above the income derived IRON
the school tax. But this Increases
annropriation and these improvement
will ONLY partially relieve the system
of a fatal inertia. The remedy
deeper. for real educational vlgor an
nrogress now pleading await the hell
mo hand of law of compulsory a
tendance This change is necessary an
inevitable sooner or later. The ndlV
dnal rights of parents or guardians WI
ne deliberately and refinedly asserted
obscure the merits of the issue b'
our consideration should not be COZ
fned to the rights of parents or qua
dams. We must think of the rlgh
of the children themselves. Inc
RIGHTS are the necessities OF the Stat'
and who is to assert these rights II u
state does not? Children are TOO
norant to know or too weak to asse
themselves. Public education Is
nnbIic necessity. Only upon IN
ground can property be taken !
force of law to maintain PuOl
schools.
He is not less emphatic in his vle'
for better public roads as is shown
the following extract from his mi
sage:
Ny former Recommendations
specting the improvement OF our co
mon Dublic highways l renew. Ma
testify there should be a road comm
sioner. or. better, road commlssl'
composed of three engineers, one III
the University of Virginia ana 9
from either the Virginia Military
stifute or the Virginia POlytechl
Institute. to be designated by the
Mites Of these institutions and to SCI
in An advisory capacity and wlth'
oomnensation, and the third to be
lected bv the engineers of the instl
tions inst named, who shall be chi
man of the commission and be gl'
a fixed salary Unless we nave s.
an intellipent official body to lnltli
snpervise and direct road building
improvements, the money eXpen
will he chiefly wasted.
In 1904 there was spent upon
county roads, in round numbers nei
one million dollars (sl,OOO,OOO) J;
this wear the amount can be no
perhaps it is little III excess.
With few exceptions we look in
We should also adopt the Estate
nlan.', that is, that the State APP
pirate so much money to any g
county or district, upon condition
the county or district supplement
appropriation by an equal OF Id
sim. The State could well ven
mon this scheme, Safeguarding
interests by fixed appropriation,
making them available to those G
flies or districts in order of appllca
and fulfllment of conditions.
less than one hundred thousand
lars (S1OO,0OO per annum shoul'
appropriated for this purpose at
present SESSION.