The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-03
lemy c. Stuart Reads Inaugural Address to General Assem-
left TO tho action OF tho local authori-

executed as I have Indicated would. in
my opinion. reduce to q minimum and
necessary burdens on 10 ali pof tsNpeye sne
Tho ratio OF taxation on all ciasses OF
ssttyfv woHld shen Pc ley
recognizes the fact that one dollar In
every seven we collect goes to the dis
emptlons and abnormally low rates are
only possible In States which are not
AMY nsy, out sd, of debt but which have large
Of that derived by direct taxation OF
the citizen.
square Deal for Corporations.
Commission. whose duty it is to assess
the property Of public service corpora
c Lions Is; of course: essential to the nc
! may ns we'll shy I'm this connection
that. in dealing with public service cor
vigorous and unyieldins In the enforce
ment OF the rights OF the public as to
service. facilities and charges therefor,
the corporations from undue burdens
and cxRctions.
devise any effective plan of tax reform
| involving equalization and Mt the same
time guarding the owners OF the sew
ernl classes OF property against dis
examination. there should be legisla-
| ton providing for such segregation OF
the subjects Of taxation as the Consti-
| tuition contempiates, so framed as to
give compensation to counties and
: cities cities, surrenderine an undue share Of
subsist, and upon which have been
predioated their obligations Segrega-
! ton is the only alternative to the plan
tentatively suggested. and of which /
have undertaken to give only the bar
est outline
Some Other Legislation.
Besldes taxation. there are other
! matters which must receive attention
If n truly progressive policy is to be
~
principles of the new freedom declared
in the early days in the political char
and now being rediscovered and re-
| established under the wise and patriotic
leadership or another great Virginian.
some OF these matters may now DO
There should DO legislation which
Will provide a uniform system of ac-
counting and require itemizcd state
Inents OF all receipts and disbursement
OF public funds, supported by vouchers,
20 be used In every department Of tho
state government, including bureaus
lnstitntions and boards and by state
which should not be delayed. will be
IN IN line with the practice of many OF the
States. and will assimilate the methods
OF conducting. tho business of our gov
eminent to the methods employed by
prndent and experienced men In their
private n,a business. That there will be
furnishes no valid objection to n de-
narrture which is fully justified as pro-
against dishonesty and extravaganza
The Fee System.
mere should he n modification of tho
present fee system applicable to cases
where the fees now collected yield an
amount In excess Of u liberal compen-
bllity incurred and service performed
by himself and by his necessary depu-
ties and assistants. The excess, less
or course, be paid into the treasury
No plan should BIO thought of which
Woulm threaten Injustice TO any class
class. .-'"'
Purity of Elections.
1t goes without saying that the law
should guarantee the absolute purity
OF all elections. The primary plan OF
nominating, candidates for office Is now
true. legislation should be promptly
enacted which viii throw around II tho
same safeguards that are designed to
tons; thus relieving 1t OF the defects
which now limit its efficiency and piac-
just controversy and suspicion. In his
connection. think that among OTHER
things: provision should he made for
any expense incident to the primary
plan In any of its features should be
borne by the public to the extent nccea-
sary to enable men OF small means to
become candidates ior ofiice without
making undue sacrifices. and thus ar
ford the widest range In the selection
of eur officials
Schools and ColIcEer
beEause OF its supreme Importance
cation should continue to have wntci-
c coi car, care and generous support. The
gpndeS an sSch w6isi through all tho
lies arc sim most insuniciently de-
veloped. should be the object of first
concern. Tor they constitute the source
from which the great majority of the
people derive their educa tional equip
ment' 1t should be the duty and the
! tanning and advancing our higher In
stltutions of learning, and TO add to
their number an institution for the edu-
cation or women, in such manner ana
~ such time as may be practicable.
IL is my view that In much Of the bust
ness OF government recurring the ser
vices of trained men, the valuable as-
| siStance which the University and the
, ether higher institutions could furnish
Of In offering this suggestion, l have
In IN mind the example OF other states
wnerc II Is FOUND that there are always.
among the able and jealous teachers
IN their educa tionnl institutions those
%ho are thoroughly qualified to rem
ner material aid In dealing with tho
P'oplcins or government.
Abolish One the Other
mere should be Indication, I'm spirit
nrnarfincn and the agricultural col
| IeEe at BlncksburE for the advance
mcnt of agricultural knowledge and
training, TO the end that by Joint nnd
harmonious efforts In their respcctlyc
nhh agreed spheres of notion they mny
oTihS themselves md NIL that they
.rhch more cioScly to the soil and to
/ 'he needs of the man who lives ON II
an" from IL. j am satisfied TINT the
asricuitnrnl interests of the State rep
| resented by the thousands who nre
occupied In the cultivation and use OF
! the SOL nrc I'm sympathy with this view
ma would prefer the abolition OF either
'hr department or the college, If IL TX
NOT possible to eliminate discord and
nr'nE nbnHt wise and fruitful co-opcru-
non FAVOR vigorous and business
hkc administration of the lime grind
: ing act, and the ultimate utilization OF
az convicts In this work. road work
HHnu other similar or related work. so
uence and safety In dealing with the
various classes Of convicts. favor
or he pure food department. SO as ia
give IT power 10 protect the public
rom spurious articles Of mcrchandise
Of this hover - ~