Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-01-31
RECOMMENDATIONS BY
GOV. To LEGISLATURE
CONTINUED from page two)

are tried to send them to jail for at
least six months. / am very much IN
favor of what ia known Hs our Pistol
Toting Law" but am just as much
opposed to sending boys to Jail If it
can possibly be avoided. If you send
a hoy of that age to Jail and keep him
there for six months. where he Of nee
essity associates with criminals, there
is much danger that he will come out
of the jail a criminal and probably
have lost all his fear of confinement
in the penitenitary, at least he will
not look upon the penitentiary with
the same awe that once disturbed his
mind when he thought of that prison.
In addition to that so many of our
jails are regular pest houses and I'M
TT for the habitation Of human beings
and to place young boy there and
probably cause him to contract some
disease from which he may never re-
cover is punishment which should
not be inflicted upon those who have
not given serious consideration to the
things which they ought or ought not
do. | believe that our present parole
law should be amended so that judges
of our courts in their discretion may
have the power and authority in prop
err cases to parole juvenile offenders;
and we ought TO have juvenile courts
in some of our cities with large dis
cretionary powers.
Semi-Centennia Commission.
The Semi-Centennsal Commission
appointed by me more than two years
ago, and of which Hon. Henry G. Da-
Wis is chairman, is making prepare
ton for the celebration of our liftieth
anniversary on the Goth of June next
The legislature OF 1911 appropriated
for the use of this commission So
900 for 1911 and IS 900 for 1912. Only
a small part of this money has been
expended. but it Is the opinion of the
commission that an additional sum
should be appropriated i'll order that
the celebration may be one BETTING
our state. !. therefore, recommend
that you appropriate an additional
$4,000 to be used by the commission
and believe that the aggregate of
these appropriations is modest sum
for great celebration such as we
propose to have The commission IS
composed of gentlemen OF the high
est character and ability and | am
sure will carefully guard these funds
and see that no part thereof is used
unless necessary to make the cele-
bration a success.
In this connection also recommend
that the resolution of February "a,
1905. adopting a state flag, which pro-
vides that the state coat of arms and
the motto shall be on the reverse side
of the field of the flag be amended or
changed so as to have the motto and
coat of arms on the same side as the
field. Under the resolutions above
referred TO an unnecessary expense
is occasioned in having to use both
sides of the flag and the object of this
recommendation is to make the flag
less expensive and so that it may be
of common use.
Gettysburg Commission
Preparation is being made to ceie-
brate the fiftieth anniversary CT the
battle of Gettysburg on the battlefield
July IA, 1913, and l hope you will
make an appropriation sufficient to
defray the expenses of Union and Con
federate veterans of this state who
participated in that memorable battle