Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-13
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF VIRGINIA OPENS

material either free or at cost Rail
roads will transport this material eth
er free or at very low rate. Many
convicts could thus be utilized for
read purposes, which cannot now be
used On account Of their dangerous
character, CT because of the long
terms for which they are sentenced.
which greatly increase the temptation
TO escape. The cost to the State of
guarding those engaged in this char
acter of work would also be far less
than the cost of guarding those en-
gagged directly in read construction.
Il wish TO renew to the general as
sembly the recommendations | made
upon this matter in my inaugural ad-
dress.
New Office Proposed.
Il desire also 20 present to your
consideration the recommendation OF
the board of directors Of the peniten-
tiary, that there be created in addi-
ton to the office of superintendent
of the penitentiary, a new Office of
superintendent of the convict road
force. concur in the necessity for
this suggested change
The last general assembly ap-
propriated for this year s250,000 for
State aid to the improvement OF pub
lie highways. to be expended in those
counties that had not enjoyed the
benefits of the convict road force dur
ing the year, and conditioned upon
the counties furnishing an amount
equal to that provided by the State.
All the counties of the State except
ten have availed themselves of the
provisions Of this law The enact
ment of this law marked in this State
the beginning Of broad, progressive
and far-reaching policy Of road i'm
provement. ."
When it is remembered that this
act furnishing State aid has been
operative less than one year, the re-
suits achieved are indeed WOE erful.
=
This general assembly should
make State aid 10 road improvement
a permanent policy. 1t should set
aside FOR this purpose definite reve-
nue. derived from specific sources, to
be available to the counties which
comply with the conditions contained
in the present law, which have proven
effective 1t should Indicate, as far as
it possesses power to do so. that this
fund is for the future dedicated to
this purpose. The benefits that would
accrue would be immense.
Il would suggest that the general
assembly set aside to be used under
the provisions of the present law for
State aid to read improvement one
half of the revenue derived from the
franchise tax upon the gross earnings
Of the steam and electric railways or
the State Under this proposed
measure the amount available next
year for this purpose would be S241,-
7O1 .25. The revenue from this source
greatly increases each year. The
state would thus inaugurate contin
nous AID progressive policy OF road
Improvement Each recediuS yea !
would witness greater aid, greater
achievement. Our financial condition
fully justities this expenditure. The
-uture material development and pros
perity of Virginia are inseparably in
,erwoven with the bettermcnt of her
pubic highways. Besides, the in
creased value of lands occasioDed by
road improvement ccickly retr-n~ to-
the treasury taxes n excess of the
amount appropriated
Il also p CONNIE I e. the gtheTa.
assembly the imposition of a reason
able annual license tax upon automo-
biles operating in this State. -"
State Banks.
In my inaugural aouftSS anu dASO
in my last message to the general
assembly earnestly recommended
the passage of legislation providing
reasonable regulations for the control
of State banks and thorough and fire.
quent examinations 10 insure that
these regulations are obeyed. that
the banks are solvent and that their
capital is unimpaired.
Il wish TO renew this recommended
lion with all e earnestness and vigor
of which tt capable. The many
losses. the treat distress and the
business disturbances occurring IN
many communities on account Of bank
failures. caused by reckless banking
fraud and defslcations. loudly pro