The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-09

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What place will Richmond take in the
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THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Governor, Swanson's message to the
General Assembly is ssterse and nd
nlirably brief. Our only objection to
lit Is that 1t is too brief. 1t omits some
things which, in our opinion. 1t should
have contained. The message contains
no reference to the primary elections
law, and the Governors experience
should enable him to make valuable
recommendations on that important
subject. Nor does the Governor say
anything on the subject of State ac-
counting, or the subject of inequality
Of assessments, or on the subject of
Our penal laws. which arc In need Of
revision In at least one direction We
hope that the Governor may see fit to
communicate with the General Assem-
Lily by special message, or messages. on
these subjects before the session shall
have ended. But the message, as far
as it goes, Is able and practical. The
Governor reports that the finances of
the state are In a healthy condition,
with surplus OF s7e6,14s in the treas
ury. and every promise of continuing
income for the next two years In eS-
cess Of the needs Of government. Ha
also expresses the conviction that there
,tote 90
scientious body of public officials than
those who administer the affairs of our
State departments and institutions.
In this day Of extravaganza and
graft this is q most gratifying report
from our chief executive officer. But
the Governor wisely counsels continued
economy In the administration Of pub
lie affairs. He warns the General
Assembly against anything like raid
on the treasury" and urges the body
to appropriate annually out of the
surplus the sum Of $4,000 required
for the extingushment of the public
debt. according to the terms Of settles
ment, and that the dividends of the
States holdings in the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac Railroad be
devoted also to this purpose.
Our revenues" says the Governor
on this point. are amply sufficient to
do this without impairing our ability
to provide properly for the many in
forests and needs of the state. After
making this wise and prudent provision
for the annual reduction of our bonded
Indebtedness and for n safe working
balance in the treasury, the residue OF
our surplus should be used for the
progress, improvement, and betterment
of the state
There should be no two opinions in
the General Assembly as to the wisdom
of this recommendation We should
ray off this debt as rapidly as we are
able. regardless OF the Limitations OF
the contract.
The Governors Improvement
plan is sensible and practicable He
proposes that the State appropriate
S:50.00O annually for ad-improve-
ment and construction, the amount to
be used first to pay the expenses Of
the Highway Commissioner and the
operation OF the State road force and
that the residue be divided among the
several counties In proportion to the
taxes paid by them into the State
treasury, charging each county with
the expense incurred in the county for
working the convict road force prior
to the date fixed for distribution. But
I, f,,rft ar
preparation be available only to those
counties or communities which will,
ia addition to the road tax now paid.
raise an amount at least equal to that
appropriated by the State. Thus would
the State help the counties to help
themselves, and that Is always the
best and most stimulating help posi-
BILE.
We shall defer our comments on that
part OF the message relating to public
education.
The Governor recommends liberal
pensions to needy Confederates and
more liberal treatment OF tho Virginia
volunteers, both Of which rccommen-
dations should be needed by the Gem
eral Assembly.
The Governor we'll says that the
jails prisons and reformatorles OF the
State should be frequently and thor
oughly examined by a capable and eff
cient State officer. Undoubtedly, and
the almshouses also. The Governor
believes that this work could be done
better by a commissioner than BY a
board. Probably so, but we incline to
the opinion that there should be both
and that the commissioner should be
the field agent of the board. The Con,