Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-01-16
SYNOPSIS OF GOVERNOR
KITCHENS MESSAGE.

The feature of the second days SeS-
sion of the General Assembly was the
biennial message of Governor Kitch-
in, which breathed a spirit of progress
and development throughout the state
and contained what is considered a
number of excellent recommendations
some of which will most likely be en-
acted into law during the present ses-
sion of the legislature.
In face of a large state debt the
governor recommended economy and
warned the legislators of the danger
CT making appropriations In excess OF
the probable revenues of the common
wealth.
Asserting that North Carolina is the
only state in the union that has not
placed the responsibility of approx
ing or-disapproving acts of the leg1s-
lature upon the executive head, Gov
ernor Kitchin recommends that con-
stitutional amendment be submitted,
giving the governor the veto power,
and in the case of all appropriation
bills give him the power to approve
them with amendments reducing but
not increasing the appropriations.
The passage of a complete primary
system for the nomination of all can
didates for all state Offices, including
United States senators, is recommend
ed.
A general search and seizure law is
recommended for the better enforce
ment of the prohibition law of the
state
A liberal policy toward the public
schools is recommended.
The governor recommends that the
same Communication be allowed for
good behavior to all convicts on the
county roads as to those in the states
prison and the establishment of a par
don board to hear all applications for
cIemency and make recommendations
to the governor. 1t is recommended
that the present penitentiary be vaca-
ted by the states prison and that the
entire states prison headquarters,
Offices, electrocution plant, ETC., be
moved to the state farm. In cases
where county or state convicts have
families depending upon them for
support, it is recommended that the
county or state pay one-third of the
value of such convict's work to the
support of such dependents.
vile people is the recommendation
that all water power plants selling
power and light and all power and
light plants serving the public be
placed under the jurisdiction and made
subject to the control of the corpora
ton commission in all respects as are
railroad companies.
Other recommendations follow: The
pulling of mileage on trains from mile
age books; the increase in judicial dis
tricts from sixteen to twenty; in
creased pensions for confederate vet
Grams; factory inspection and the pro-
hibition of night labor by boys under
sixteen and by women of age: the
creation of a highway and drainage
commission; the employment of coun-
sci to assist the corporation commits
sion to obtain justice for cities and
towns in interstate commerce fretghG
rates to the end that all unjust dis
elimination be abolished: an increase
in appropriation for the health de-
partment of the state and the author
iZation of county commissioners in
their discretion to establish county
hospitals; that railroad property be
physically valued by an expert or ex-
perts under the corporation commits
sion; that the number of peremptory
challenges in criminal cases be made
the same for state and prisoner; that
the Torren's land title system be au-
thorized on a voluntary basis; the APP
pointment of a special COMMITTEES to
investigate fire insurance conditions
and rates, more stringent antitrust
legislation; that local and private leg
islation be handled by courts or local
organizations so as to relieve the leg
isIature of matters of minor import
ance in order that it's attention NAV
be directed to matters of statewide
signi6canee; the creation Of COM
miftee to study the question of rural
credits: the appointment of township
fire wardens to assist in the enforce
ment of fire laws relating to forests.
Governor Kitchin also recommends
the ratification of the proposed amend
nent to the United States constitution
for the election of United States SEN
ators by the people.