Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-09

all IN good condition and that during
the past year scandal has not 6mirch.
ed the reputation of any of them
| Taking up the financial condition OF
the State. he shows by figures thu,
II Ii In splendid shape. but takes the
opportunity to warn the Legislature
that II should exercise every precau-
ton TO prevent the treasury from be.
not to be extrayagant while making
appropl iations. and very sensibly
points out the folly of listening to
every clamor for public funds. While
discussing tho financial condition OF
the commonwealth, ana the necessity
of paying off the public debt. he says:
ia wise debtor In times OF
plenty. prepares for an extingulsh-
ment of n part of his outstanding oh
| legations" The governors cpisram
is strictly true In the commercial
world, and there Is no reason why a..
| should not be applied TO the business
of conducting the State of Virginia.
AS q good friend of the good roais
question the governor comes out with
an earnest plea for tho betterment Of
the highways OF the State. He re-
cognizes, us does everybody that has
made II study OF the question. that one
OF the great needs of the State Is bet.
ter roads. Too long have they bccn
the subject of rldiculc on the part OF
good roads writers. and too long have
they been living examples" In mag
azlne pictures of the before taking"
process. The governor puts himself
on record as Icing in favor of having
IL part of the expense OF the good
roads borne by the national govern
ment. That is the one question In the
message TINT Is open for dissent. II
can be dismissed at this time with the
remark that 1t Is hardly consistent 10
demand state rights end then turn
about aud approve and advocate any
plan that viii seek federal aid for an
Improvement that should be made by
|
the State alone. Ii Is not n question
OF the State doing It's share but of
the state and the counties within its
borders doing II all The governor
gives HIS unqualified approval TO the
plan of having prisoners In the jails
do work on the roads and OH this
question has taken most sensible
stand. The plan has been tried in
other states and has been found omi-
nently satisfactory. In one county In
New York state. which undertook to
macademize every road within It's
boundary about seven years ago tho
cost first along was about $4,000 n
mile After prison labor was put on the
work. tho cost was reduced to about
$4,000 a mile. The prosperity of the
cntirc state largely depends upon good
roads and the sooner the people realize
this foot. just az tho governor says In
his message. the better of they will bo
But 1t is an Improvement that should
be made without federal aid.
a large portion of the governor s
message Is devoted to the public
school system and IL the document is
TO be taken rs criterion the State
has much to do in this line. He re-
cognizes the efforts that have been
made to better the educational sys.
tenn, and regards the Improvement in
the past two years as phenomenal
but he expresses the belief that there
still remains much to do. His recon-.
mendat!on that the rural districts be
given more educational advantages is
certainly one that should be needed
Tho governor lays particular stress
upon the necessity for better train
Ing facilities for teachers. He adyo
Gates another normal school for WON
on, and from the statistics which have
been prepared on the subject. II would
seem rs IL the stand OF the governor
was one of sound Judgement.
After advocating more liberal aid
to the widows and children of Con
federate soldiers. measure that will
meet with the approval of ali. tho gov
crnor takes up the question OF adding
n department, of banking to the State
government. This question Is one
that should receive the careful atten
ton of the legislators. as it is vital
to the interests of the State. 1t is
true that during the financial furry
the banks OF this state composed fay
orably with any in the country, tut
thai Is no reason why Tho state should