Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13
GOVERNOR ASKS
POWER TO ENFORCE:
PROHIBITION LAWS
Says Strengthening of Ex-
ecutive's Hands Necessary
by Adequate Legislation.
CANNOT ALWAYS DEPEND
ON LOCAL AUTHORITIES
General Disregard of Law and
Courts as Great an Evil
as Intemperancc.
SESSION OF 1916 IS OPENED
Preliminaries OF Organization Are
Gone Through With in
Both Houses.
SESSION OF 1916 is OPENED
Preliminaries OF Organization Are
Gone Through With I'm
Both Houses.

OvershadowinE In Significance the
more or less perfunctory ceremonial
incident TO the convenlng OF the Cen
eral Assembly OF 1916 Yesterday was
Governor Stuart's first message TO the
new Legislature--a document which
addressed itself I'm clear-cut language
and without compromise to two great
, questions with which the lawmaker
VIII deal at this session: taxation and
prohibition.
Significant in the extreme was the
Governors warning that = supine as
sumption on the part OF the LeEisla-
turc that the officers of each local com
munity viii in all cases perform their
duty with respect to the enforcem
OF prohibition laws would lead 10 dis
astrous consequences.
Having declared that prohibition shall
prevail throughout the State in every
community. regardless of the will Of
that community. the State. said the
Governor. must step in and enforce the
law where the local communities fail
TO do 80. This. he believes. can be ac-
complshcd oni. hy strengthening the
central power OF tho cStatc-specifcally
by ves,inS the chief executive with
language. intended. but which actually
is. in large measure withheld
WANTS AUTHORITY TO
DEAL WITH LAWLEssNEsS
There Is an almost unmistakable ref
ercnce to the situation at Hopewell in
that passage Of the Governors message
which draws attention to the central
authority's handicap in dealing with
a " los narG nf
ter. The success OF the Governor in
Law enforcement. he points out, Is
largely dependent upon the ability and
willingness to cooperate on the part
OF local officers over whom the Cover
nor is given no expressed authority.
This condition. said the Governor
brings the central authority OF the
State and its chief executive in a posi-
tion Of dependency. renders the local
government superior to the State gov
ernnent and makes Virginia. so far
az the enforcement Of the criminal laws
is concerned. helpless aggregation Of
independent counties and cities instead
or sovereign State responsible for the
| execution OF her laws throughout her
borders.
Such a policy" concludes the Gov
ernor. rs totally unified for the en-
forccment Of Il law in which the habits
and customs of our people are in
VOWED and concerning which there
was such marked and recen; division
Of sentiment among our people. espe-
cially in our large centcrs Of popuia-
ton
WANTS PLAIN. STRONG.
ENFORCEABLE LAWS
The Governor summarizes his posi-
tion by advising the Legislature to
translate the prohibition sentiment OF
the State into plain, strong and en-
forceable laws.
With reference 10 taxation. the Gov
ernor expresses the belief that the sur
u plus In the Treasury, together with the
large amount already collected and
collectihle from omitted assessments of
4 previous years. will provide an ample
reserve fund TO carry the new plan OF
| taxation TO point where the increns-
- ing revenue arising from natural
I causes from year 20 year will give TO
! the State revenue sufficient for al! pur-
poses
Tho Governor addresses himself
/ pointedly to the tendency in some
b quarters 10 discredit the tax on in,angi-
blcs-now the States chief source of
income--hy enlarging upon its inqusi-
torial character. Having inaugurated
n new system which has brought under
!, taxation large sums of hitherto untaxed
property TO the great relief OF the
average taxpayer, shall the people of
the state. the Governor asks, "be
!, cheated out OF their ng-delayed adj
vantage by the hue and cry raised by
| Interested parties against the methods
necessary 10 reach and maintain sub
~ stantial results?"
u MUST DISCOVER
| OMITTED INTA NGIBLES
1t is essential, thinks Governor
/ Stuart. if the States interests are to
be protected, that the means of dis
covering undeclared intangible prop
erty shall be maintained and. if need
he, supplemented and strengthened
Failure or the part of the State to
collect this revenue from these sources
hitherto untaxed he points out. must
result In reimposing Il large part. or
all, OF the State tax OF 35 cents on
the 800 formerly applying to real
thus placing additional burdens on
property already taxed because of the
failure OF the State to provide and
maintain ways and means TO discover
untaxed property.
= The message was read at length in
the House OF Delegates, and was heard
with close attention by the members
In the Senate 1T was ordered print cd
for distribution TO the members. The
message is the first OF n series Of three
\ that will lie sent TO tho General Assem-
4 tS,pntinuad Third "a