The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-21

the entire tax on automo biles be used
In the maintenance and repair OF
| permanent highways, with a like
amount to be appropriated by the
counties. under the supervision of the
| State highway commissioner. We
have about fifty thousand miles of
| public roads In the State. and while
! II will require some time to put all
! In permanent improved conditions;
the work already done deserves COM
mendation, and with the enthusiasm
everywhere manifested. gives promise
of continuous and rapid progress until
completion is reached.
l am of opinion that Federal aid
for the building of permanent high
ways will soon be given, but In the
meantime we should show ourselves
worthy OF that aid by making every
possible effort to put our highways
in such condition that the products
OF our farms can be hauled In any
weather, and that our people living
IN rural communities can have those
privileges that contribute so much TO
the enjoyment of life, and to that
progress to which our people are en-
titled, and under reasonable condi-
tons will achieve.
Insurance.
II the act before the Legislature Of
1919 had become a law the State
would not have lost some thirty
thousand dollars by the destruction
Of the shops at the Virginia Agri-
cultural and Mechanical college and
Polytechnic institute at Blacksburg, as
all OF the States property would have
been adequately insured.
The duty of insuring this property
should belong to the insurance de-
partment, and ] recommend the pas
sage of an act authorizing and re-
curing that department to adequately
insure all of the buildings Of the
State, and In order to get the bene-
fits Of the rates offered by the Mutual
Insurance Company of Richmond, I
recommend that that company may
have the same lien on the property
and the same right to proceed against
the State for the collection OF its
premiums that 1t now has against
other insurers
In this connection. as soon as a
fund of five hundred thousand dol
lars can be set aside for that nur-
pose, ] think 1t will be wise for the
State to insure it's own property; that
Is, take it's risk OF loss. 1t would be
well, however. when this policy Is es-
I'tablshed, to require the institutions
TO pay to the insurance department
the regular premiums on the value
Of it's buildings. to be turned over to
the second auditor to be invested in
State bonds, which should be held
by him as special fund. and to be
sold whenever necessary for the re-
building or repairing Of any structure
belonging TO the State destroyed or
injured by fire, the bonds not to bear
interest, and when the fund from
premiums pail by the several insti-
tutions shall reach the sum Of five
hundred thousand dollars, ALI prem
iums to be dispensed with.
The State Department of Insurance.
! This department has kept in touch
with the needs of the people OF the
State. and kept out irresponsible com
| panies. 1t has given a great deal Of
useful information to insurers, has
protected their interests, and been
helpful and useful in many ways.
| Under the head of insurance In
another part of this message. I have
recommended that this department be
required to insure all tho buildings OF
the State for amounts adequate to IN
| demnify 1t against loss. The policies
! will then be in its office in Rich
mond, subject to the inspection and
advice OF the governor.
Primary and General Elections.
!
nay recommendations to the last gen.
eral assembly. Primary elections
should be optional with the political
parties Of the State. but no more than
one such election should precede the
regular election. The State or cities
and counties should pay the9expenses
of these primaries. They should be
guarded in all respects by laws gov
erning general elections and held by
the regular election officers. The
amount to he expended by a cand-
didAte should be limited to one-half
of the salary of the office to which
he aspires for one year. and the ex-
penditure OF a larger amount by the
candidate, or any one for him. and
with his knowledge. should disqualify
him from holding any office in the
State for five years.
The necessity for more stringent
| laws governing general elections must
be apparent to those at all conversant
| with the registration of voters and
the conduct Of such elections. Men
should be obliged. under heavy pen
alties, to discharge the duties of cleo
toral boards, registrars, judges and
clerks Of elections Judges who now
appoint electoral boards would then
be able to secure the service of good
men, and should be required to do so.
and a corresponding responsibility
should rest on the electoral boards
In the appointment OF registrars and
judges of elections. Registrars should
be made to respect and obey the con-
stitution and laws of the State.
Judges and clerks OF elections, and
persons who in any way assist IN the
registration OF an illegal voter should
be held to strict accountability and
under penalties which will not only
protect the sancity of the registration
lists and ballot boxes but will put
our election methods above suspicion
and give assurance that our election
returns properly record the win of
the people.
Fee System.
With two amendments. reiterate
my recommendation to the general
assembly of 1872.
Il am, and have been for years, In
favor. OF paying fair salaries to our
State officials. requiring them TO col
lect the fees now allowed by law. and
paying them into the treasury Of the
State on the first Of every month. I
think 1t wise, however, that this
change in the policy Of the State
should be made to apply at first only
to the cities, and to counties contain
ing more than twenty thousand in
habitants. OF which there are thirty
one In the STATE" with the proviso
that II In any case the salary allowed
an officer proved to be greater than
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