The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-03
THOUSANDS CHEER
ASNEW EXECUTIVE
ASSUMES OFFICE
CONTINUED From Tenth Pnge)

Continued From Tenth Pnge)
ne said, as the Governor OF Virginia,
TO give the people his views on tho
greater Issues under discussion, and to
make some recommendations to the
General Assembly now In session.
First. and above all. he wished to re-
iterate the statement made In his
original announcements of candidacy
when he said: "I am not the candidate
OF any clique or faction, but ask the
for good government, firmly and reso-
lutely administered I'm the paramount
interest of tho State
Not for Clique or Faction.
Having taken the oath of Office" he
said. after recalling this clause of his
initial announcement of candidacy. II
promise that my course as Governor
shall be controlled by tho principle
thus announced. and that in that spirit
my strength and energy shall be stead
'ly and earnestly devoted to the ser
rice of the State"
Having thus clearly at the outset
declined to allow himself to be aligned
With any OF the factions of Virginia
politics. but to be in office. as he was
in the election. the Governor OF the
whole Democracy of the State, Mr..
Stuart turned his attention to the Is
sues of state Importance on which he
wished to define his position. The first
the Governor gave the greatest space
In his address was the matter of tax
ation--the issue on which the present
General Assembly was to large eN-
tent elected. He announced himself
as firmly In favor OF equality in the
distribution Of the burdens and bene-
fits OF government and said that It
was obvious to all that there was no
such equality Incident TO tho present
system of taxation.
Equality of Taxation.
Existing Determinations arise from
unequal assessment, or. In tho case or
intanglbles. OF nonassessment The
initial step. he assorted. was to put
under actual contribution every kind
and description OF property not exempt
by law. and thus SO broaden tho basis
of taxation that the common burden
may rest lightly on all. There is at
present he said. no adequate provision
for local equalization. and gross in
equaltties frequently Obtain both as TO
real estate and personal property.
With the assessments made by hun
dreds of individuals who do not act
In concert, AMI who have no other
guide than their own Judgment, this
condition. he said, was not surprising.
To meet this condition, the Governor
suggested local boards OF equalization
for counties and cities, to insure uni
II
board of equalization, made up OF e.
representative of each grand division
Of the State. TO supervise the work OF
the local boards.
Fair Treatment for Corporations.
Having served as a member OF the
Constitutional Convention and OF the
States first Corporation Commission,
the declaration OF the new Governor
with regard to public service corpora
tions is OF especial interest be said:
I'm dealing with public service cor
porations l favor policy which, while
vigorous and unyielding In the en-
forcement OF tho rights OF the public rs
TO service. facilities and charges there
for, VIII be equally so in the protection
OF the corporations from undue bur-
dens and eXactions."
lie addressed himself at some length
To the necessity Of q uniform system
of accounting for. State officers re-
curing itemized statements of all re-
ceipts and Disbursements OF public
funds. to apply to all departments of
the State. including bureaus. instltu
tions and boards, and to State and
local officials. as an essential means OF
protection against extravaganza and
dishonesty. The Governor declared
himself for 4 modification of the pres
ent lee system. applicable to cases
where the fees now collected yield an
sation for the responsibility Incurred
and the services performed.
Primary Laws.
The primary plan OF nominating can
didates for office, Mr. Stuart said was
now n settled institution, and legisla-
ton should be promptly enacted. which
will thrown around Il safeguards TO
prevent Irregularities. He advocated
provision for party registration, and
that the expense OF party primaries be
borne by the public, IN order that men
of small means may be in a position
TO aspire TO office. In discussing the
subject of education, he took the
ground that the common schools. which
in many communities are still Insult
hciently developed, should be the OBJ
1ect OF first concern. He recommended
adding to the number of higher insti-
tutions of the State q college for the
education OF women. In such manner
and at such time as may be practicable.
Elimination of discord between tho
agricultural college at Blacksburg and
the State Department of Agriculture
was announced ms a necessity. 81 am
satisfied that the agricultural interests
of the State" he said, ARE in SYM
pathy with this view, and would prefer
to see the abolition of either the de-
partment or the college, If IT Is not
possible to eliminate discord and bring
about wise and fruitful cooperation"
Sounds Note of Warning.
The matter of road building, the
new Governor said. would be the sub
ject OF special message to the Gen
eral Assembly. In this connection he
wished to sound note OF warning
against the spirit OF enthusiasm SO Of
ten limited to the raising OF money for
road building by sale OF bonds. with
little account OF the great care needed
to prevent its wasteful expenditure or
loss of investment through failure to
keep the roads In repair.
a rigid requirement as to the regis
tration OF lawyers and others appear
ing as lobbyists in connection with the
enactment OF legislation was recon-
mended, as was constitutional
amendment, making the session OF the
General Assembly ninety days Legis-
lation limiting snd conditioning the
employment OF any child under four
teen years Of age In factories and
workshops, and fair and reasonable