Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-17
GOVERNOR REVIEWS
STATE DEPARTMENTS
Sends Second Section of His Message General Assembly
Wants Law Compelling Every Able
Bodied Man to Work

| necessary to enlarge tho military estab
lishment.
| desire to place on public record tho
thoroughly efficient. loyal and patriotic
way in which tho Adult ant General and
ms assistants have fulfilled every func-
ton ~ the military arm of the State
government. and particularly for the
aighiy successful manner in which
they hnve co-operated with mo In the
administration OF tho selective service
act OF Congress
Capitalization OF Penal and Refornaa-
tory INSTITUTIONS.
commend 10 your careful considera-
ton the advisability OF coordination
! as far as possible OF our penal and
Tetormatory institutions, with Wow
to location of such institutions on
large bodies OF tillable land to be ac-
CURED by purchase or by rental con-
| tract carrying option to buy at end
oil term OF years. Such policy
would In my opinion, afford employ
ineat TO many inmates of such institu-
lions who are now in comparative idle
ness, and would yield the advantages
of healthy employment and self-Support
and convert them eventually into pro-
duccrs instead OF consumers, assets
rather than liabilities. This policy is
NIL the more practical during period
when the products OF the soil upon
which they and similar State charges
suosist are costing from two to three
times the normal price. BY way Of
inauEurhting this policy, I recommend
the purchase OF tract OF land adjoin-
ing the State farm, which Is now rented
by the State with the option OF pur-
chase The limited acreage Of tillable
land in the State farm and It's eI-
hauSted condition would seem to make
ii imperative to increase the States
holdings In order to obtain results in
keeping with the expensive plant al
ready provided for convic.s not suited
to road work and for largo number
of invalids and semi-invalids who are
not Selr-supportinE- In this connection
call your attention to the report Of
committee created by \ resolution OF
tho last General Assembly. which will
deal at length with the question of CO.
ordination and will propose some m eas-
ures looking to moro economical man
aSement OF tho class OF institutions to
which ] have referred.
Economy nnd Efficiency.
Commission on Economy and Eff
fciency was created by chapter I'll Of
the Acts of Assembly in 1916. composed
OF one Senator, two members of tho
House OF Delegates and two citizens
appointed by the Governor. which was
charged with the duty OF making a
careful! and detailed study of the or
Eanization and methods OF the State
and local governments Of the Co<2non-
wealth OF Virginia, and with reporting
to the next General Assembly OF Viz
giTsia in what way the State and local
government can be more efficiently and
economically organized and aduinis-
tered"
This commission has labored faith
fully, and it's members have devoted
much OF their valuable timc to this
task without compensation, and have
secured surprising amount of infor-
nation. considering the very limited
sum or money placed at their disposal
for this purpose. While my knowl-
edge OF the details Of their report Is
general and limited. 1 know that the
commission will present to your honor
able body many suggestions OF great
interest and value. which ! commend to
your careful consideration.
Utilization of IdIers.
Since so many men are being called
from their usual occupations to engage
in war activities. our civilization has
less use than ever for droncs, and
cannot longer tolerate them. favor
tho enactment Of adequate laws which
will provide that every able bodied man
must work: il he does not work for
himself and family and to this extent
for tho common veal. he should be
made to work for the furtherance OF
the great task OF feeding. clothing
and equiDpinG the men both in the field
and camp and the millions OF American
citizens and European allies who are
facing shortage in the necessaries of
life.
Respectfully submitted.
HENRY C. STUART,
ISoyerpoy