Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-02-02
TIE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.

| As stated in the Gjzatte or inst Day
Judge W. II. Mann was inaugurased
governor in Richmond yesterday.
The Bible upon which Judge Mann
was sworE WAS furnished By himself and
hsd 8 book mark which designated the
one hundred and twensy-6tth psalm.
With his hsnds upon the words of the
! Paslmist, GAS the mountains ere around
about jerusalem, so the Lord ia round
about his people from hencefcsth and
| for ever" Gov. Mann took the oath to
faithfully discharge the duties and re-
apons.oilities of The Office of governor.
TIE Bible used in toe quslifics, ion OF
the lieutenant governor was The same as
that used and presented to bin four
years ego wien he first assumed bis
present office. Il, brough. it with him.
G1vernsr Mscn's inaugural message
10 tho general assembly YES seven news.
! paper ccluriDs in length and cnnteiaed
detailed reference to wide variety OF
| matters of public interest.
C0mmeuding his administration TO
| the tevar Of beaver. he offered as his
frat gslYico to The common wealth PLEA
| for ihe states tends,cst care for surViY-
iug Confederate veterans.
"Fami!iar with every section of the
stste, and With our present method 0!
assessing aud collecting taxes" the mes
ssge says,"I ventnre to ssy that no more
i'm pcrtaut question than the equslizs-
! ton OF taxes will come before our general
assembly"
Among The governors observations
are the following:
"J1s: now the important question to
be considered is how TO secUrs prope:
and oq1al assessment CT property as
bssis for .sxa:ion during 1911. VIZ
ought, fox The present, to adopt the best
available plan which will enable us to
sccomp lsh this result, aud then create
tax com mission, ii it shall be deemed
| necessary to study the system OF taxation
| ia this sud other ststea and permanently
| adopt that System which promises the
best results.
"Atter the assessment of this year,
| while depEscsting, unless absolutely
| necessary, tie creation Of new Offices,
| aud highly commencing our houofed
auditor for the admirable adDluisira
ton of his most important Office, ! think
commissioner OF taxes should bs ap-
pointed as permanent officer CT the
government, charged with the duty oil
| making himself familiar with every Sec
ton OF the stste, It's properly, RESOURCES
and interests, sud estabi.hfDg 10 every
county and city basis of assessments
| conforming to the requirements of The
| constitution, and also charged with the
supar7ision Of sll officers OF toe govern.
| meat ~hose dirty 1t is 10 assess and COL
Iect taxes, snd the establishment. Of +
uniform system OF accounting through.
| cat the stste.
~ respectfully suggest TO the general
assembly the necessity for change of the
laws controlling the cities of the atste, 20
d. to simplify and make more sftic.en;
| their government.
"Tne pvesen; system is couceded to be
cumbersome, ezpsasiTa, and In many
| respects ineG c'e3t. The functions OF
municipal government ere much more
lsrgelsesecutiCe and administrative !hss
| legislative. Practical experience hss
! demonstrated the difficulty, II not I'm.
| possibility, OF securing efi :cti7e, prompt
and economical administration of NUM-
cipal sfsirs by the means of numerically
large caurcils. The experience OF msny
cities OF the country seems to prove that
small governing bodies, giving prscti
| call7 al Of their tine to the affairs Of
The city, with direct and easily sscer
tsiEsd responsibility to tie people, fur.
ulsh The simplest sri Mcst satisfactory
forn of goreromsrt.
Governor Mann concludes bis mes
sage WITH reVisT OF what temperance
legislation has already done for Virgins
| under the Mann" and "B3rd" laws
and aida:
ri simply reiterate nay steBdfast OPP
position 10 the saloon aud my confidence
in the people of Virgins, who have the
right to settle this question, as to them
shall seem best"
He closeh with III sppral to the
legislature and the people to stand TO-
ge!her end all work for the progress and
glory OF the common wealth.
rnT ulJ2EV