The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-01-14
GOVERNOR CRAIG
READS HIS MESSAGE
JOINT SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
HELD TO HEAR SUGGESTIONS
OF GOVERNOR.
LEADING SUBJECTS NAMED
Severe in His Arrangement Of lnsur-
ance Companies Doing Business
in North Carolina.

Ra1eigh-Following the custom in
his incumbency, and that of Presi-
dent Wilson in appearing before the
two Houses of Congress and reading
his messages, Governor Craig, by in
vitation of the General Assembly, ap-
peared be fore joint session OF the
two Houses in the hail of the House
of Representatives and read his bien-
NAL messages to the members.
At the noon hour, accompanied by
Lieutenant Governor Daughtridge, the
members of the Senate filed into the
House and were given seats.
Shortly after the governor appear"
ed, accompanied by the committee
from the two houses, and without any
further ado proceeded to deliver MS
message. AS the governor entered the
chamber, every man arose, and he
was greeted with a round of applause.
Handsome in appearance, faultaess-
.ly attired, the governor never appeared
to better advantage in his life. HIS
well-rounded voice carried to the ex-
IRENE comes of the hall, and he was
listened to with the closest attention.
The States Progress.
The governor in the beginning call
ed attention to the substantial prog
ress in evidence throughout the state,
both mater ally, industrially, and in
an educational way, lamented the
fact that the European war had
caused some depression in business,
but stated that it was his belief that
as we have been blessed with years OF
advantageous circumstances, that
the people of the state would triumph
antly overcome this reverse.
The governor paid a great deal or
attention to the work of the agricul-
tural department, praised the manage
ment of the state prison, made an ap-
peal for statewide primary law, and
urged that better laws be enacted for
the presentations of the forests OF
the state and for the building of better
roads.
Raps Insurance Companies.
The governor was plain spoken re-
garding insurance rates and urged the
legislature to enact laws that would
give the people cheaper fire protection.
He recommended the establishment
of a training school in the western
section of the state for teachers,
similar to that at Greenville, in the
east, and dealt fully with the tuber-
culosis situation, stating that he
thought it better to establish a bu-
reau for the prevention Of this plague
rather than keep the sanitorium at
Montrose in existence at the expense
of the state, where so few people
would derive any benefit from it.
The governor was outspoken as re-
earded child labor and went on re-
cord as being opposed to working
childrne of tedner years in the mills.
Taxation Problem.
He declared that the present sys-
tenn of taxation in the state was far
from what it should be, saying that
the fault with our present system Is
that our property is not assessed for
taxation as it should be, and that the
quadrennial assessment of property
will be for the purpose of lowering the
tax rate If a more equitable listing OF
taxable property can be secured.
The governor transmitted the re-
DOILS Ol LuC SCNcIdA uCPOA 1AAOASC va
the state reviewing their work in his
message and declaring that all these
and other state fnstitu-
lions had been administered with
economy, ability and honesty, and af-
ter being thoroughly audited by COM
petent experts.
The governor recommended that
the matter of aportioning convicts
to railroads and other public works
be given over to the board of direc-
tors of the state prison and this mat
ter be taken out of the hands of the
governor and the council of state as
is now the case.
Would Appoint State Officers.
The governor opened up a new line
of thought when he recommended
that the administrative officers of the
state, except those named in the con-
stitution, be appointed by the governor
instead of elected by the people. The
governor claimed that this would &C
complish a reform of immense bene-
fit and that the appointment Of these
officers by the Chief Executive Of the
state would unity the administration
and increase the efficiency of the gov
eminent.