Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-13
yernor Asks for Authority to Enforce Neu Prohibition Lalus

taxpayers. but by bringing into contri-
button new taxable subjects; more es-
peciaily. however, by the natural and
gratifying growth In taxable value OF
old subjects TO which was applied a
state rate substantially reduced by the
express terms OF the Constitution OF
190l-l9O2
AS our income has increased wear by
year the state has spread gradually and
most literally the blessings of public
education. extending from the one room
school through all the grades. including
schools for the normal training of men
aud women. to the State university
The acconmo da lions and facilities or
state institutions OF all kinds have been
greatly enlarged. new and nuch-needcd
spheres of usefulness have been added
to some of our departments: large an
nual appropriations have been made
to the supervision and construction of
public highways. and substantial
though tardy, recognition has been
given TO the sacred claims of Confed-
crate veterans in the form Of pensions
state. Notwithstanding the fact that one
dollar in every seven OF our State reve-
nu"s goes to the payment Of an ante
bcllum debt.
MUST MEASURE EXPENSES
ny INCREASE IN INCOME
From this experience we may be
sure that with Il wise and economical
administration OF our financial affairs,
including continued policy Of dis
covery of property hitherto untaxed
our annual tax receipts under the new
law VIII he increased gradually year
by year by reason of the natural
growth Of subjects of taxation segre-
gated TO the State, thus providing AN
annually Increasing income without
imposing new burdens upon taxpayers
Applying further the lessons OF ex
rcricnce TO the facts before US. we cen
well afford to measure the increase Of
our expenses by the natural increase
IL our income.
Considering the fact that the present
tax law has been In force less than a
year. and that It's operations have been
hindcreG by circumstances already
mentioned. ! deem 1t unwise and in
deed hazardous in the extreme to in
crease Mt this session the annual APP
those Of the last two years
FOR STRICT ENFORCEMENT
OF PROHIBITION
ton for discussion in this MESA re
Under the provisions OF the enabling
Pct. passed by the last General AS
Ser1hly At its regular session, an cleo
tion was called and held upon the
question of prohibiting ,ne manufac-
r.,e fcr sale ana the sale Of in'oxicat-
ing liquors in the State of Virginia
The people. by an overwhelming ma
iority. voted for Statewide prohipi-
ton and thereby committed the State
20 this policy. No adequate legiSla-
lion. however. has been enacted for
putting into effect the will of the peo-
rle IS thus expressed. 1t remains.
= Nor f.Ats Co.
draft and enact such Legislation AZ
may be responsive in the highest de
gree to the declared sentiment of the
Virginia people, and thus translate
that sentiment into definite, vigorous
and unmistakable action.
The Constitution under which we
live declares In express terms. tho
shall be vested In n Governor
me Governor shall take care that the
laws arc faithfully executed"
CHIEF EXECUTIVE POWER
IS VESTED IN GOVERNOR
Here we fnd the chief executive
powers OF the State vested in the Gov
ernor, and coupled with II the com
mand that this power shall he usnd
to the end that the laws be faithfully
executed.
Two years Of my term of Office have
time. IN seeking To obey this mandate
or the Constitution, | have been i'm
pressed with the absence OF lerisl,
ton furnishing means for the effec
tive performance of the duty thus I'M
posed. The absence OF such mears
viii become more apparent when ,,ro-
hibition goes into effect. The neonle
or Virginia having declared that pro-
hibition shall prevail throughout the
state in every community, regardless
OF the Will OF that community, it fol-
lows. rs matter OF necessity thar
the state must step in and enforce
the law where the local authorities
fail To DO so. To assupe that the To-
cal officers can and WILL in all cases
perform their duties in this respe,t
is to shut our eyes To the experience
OF all other States where prohibition
laws have been enacted, and. to AFRO
gate - ourselves virtues superior to
those possessed by the people or orr
sister States
DISREGARD OF LAW As
BAD As INVERTEBRATES
General disregard OF the law, lack
of respect for the courts, and for pub
lie officials Is an evil as great as in
Temperance Itself. and If we increase
the former evil Without decreasing the
latter prohibition will prove n caIam-
y.
cal Your attention 10 the fact that the
strengthening of the central executive
power OF the state is absolutely es-
scntial TO the ?roper enforcement of
prohibition. 1t is true that the Civ
ernor may now furnish funds. in very
limited amounts. to he used In the de-
lection of crime and arrest OF GRIM
inals. yet his representatives cannot
even so much as make an arrest with
out first having been authorized to do
50 by the local courts. application to
which in times OF emergency is i'm
practicable. to say nothing OF the fact
that the publicity which must. more
or less. attend the applica tion for such
authority often defeats the very pur-
pose for which the authority is sought.
Furthermore. the success of the cf-
forts OF the Governor in law enforce
mcut is largely dependent upon the
ability and willingness to cooperate
on the part Of local officers over whom
the Governor IS given no expressed
authority.
HAS RESPONSIBILITY
WITHOUT Authority
The Governor. is. therefore, put In
the position of T"ving responsibility