The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-17
PENAL INSTITUTIONS
ON FARMS SAYS STUART
Governor in Second Part of Message Urges Reform Of Prison
Methods-Urges That Law Shall Require That Every
Able Bodied Man Shall Work-Adequate Funds fol-
States Military.


veyor on whom both sides could unite.
but the man has now been secured and
is ait work 1t 10 to be regretted that
hiss report is not available for action
at this time, but will. no doubt, be
presented to the West Virginia legis-
lhture next winter.
INVESTMENT IN FARM LOAN
RONDs.
urge, for obvious reasons, the pas
sage OF an act permitting fiduciaries
to invest trust funds in federal farm
| loan bonds.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
sincerely trust that the fact that
the former national guard units In the
state of Virginia have been called into
the military service of the United
States because Of the exigencies of war
will not lead your honorable body to
conclude that there should be any re-
duction in the statutory appropriation
to the military fund. 1t Ia even more
important now than before that there
should be adequate provision for the
organization and maintenance of a
sufficient military force to guarantee
the preserva ton of law and order in
Virginia. The Office Of the adjutsnt-
general has been for months past and
liz now engaged in the formation OF
Virginia volunteers and home guards.
and we are euuipptng them as rapidly
As possible. The present military fund
VIII probably not cover the necessary
expenses In this connection and for
this reason / recommend-an additional
appropriation of $50, 600 10 he subject
TO the use of the governor for military
purposes in case II should become
necessary to enlarge the military es-
adjustment.
! desire to place on public recorf
the thoroughly efficient, loyal ana
patriotic wav in which the adtutant-
general and his assistants have full
allied every function as the military
arm of the state government, and par
ticularly for the highly successful
manner in which thew have co-operat.
ed with me In the administration or
the selective service act Of congress
OF PENAL. AND
REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS.
commend to your careful consid-
Grafton thu adv'sahility ~ co-ordina-
ton as far az possible OF our penal and
reformatory institutions. with a view
to location OF such institutions on
large bodies OF tillabie land TO be
acquired by purchase or by rental con-
tract CARRYING option to buy at end
of a term OF ears. Such a policy
would In my opinion afford emoloy-
ment to many inmates OF such In
stitutions who are now in comparative
idleness and would GELD the advant-
ages OF healthy employment and self
support and convert them eventually
Into producers instead of consumers,
assets rather than liabilities. This
policy is all the more practical dur
ing a period when the products OF the
soil upon which they and similar state
charges sebsist are costing from two
20 three times the normal price. BY
way OF inauEurating this policy re-
commend the purchase of tract
Of land adjoining the state farm,
which is now rented by the state with
the option OF purchase. The limited
acreage of tillabie land in the state
farm and fir exhausted condition
would seem to make imperative to In
crease the states holdings In order
TO obtain results In keeping with tSs
expensive plant already provided for
convicts not suited TO road work and
for a large number OF invaHds and
semi inyaiids who are not self sup
porting. In this connection I call
your attention to the report of COM
mittee created by a resolution OF the
last general assembly which will deal
at length with the question OF CO.
ordination and will propose some
measures looking TO a more econom!-
cal management OF the class o. M
stitutions TO which ] have referred.
ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY
A commission on economy and eff
cheney was created by chapter Ill OF
the acts of assembly in 1915. compos-
ed of one senator. two mem hers OF
the 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
organization and methods of the state
and local governments Of the common
wealth OF Virginia. and witA report
ing TO the next general assembly OF
Virginia in what way the state and
local government can be more eff :
GENTLY and> economically organized
and administered"
This commission has Iabored faith
fully. and it's members have devoted
much of their valuable time to this
task without COMPENSATION. and have
secured a surprising amount of infor-
nation considering the very limited
sum of money placed at their dis
nosai for this purpose. While my
knowledge OF the details OF their re-
port ts general and limited. know
that the commission viii present to
your honorable body many suggestions
of great interest and value, which
I commend to your careful considera-
ton.
UTILIZATION OF OILERS.
Since so many men are being called
from their usual occupations to en-
gage In war activities. our civilization
has less use than ever for drones.
and cannot longer tolerate them.
favor the enactment of adequate laws
which will provide that every able
bodied man must work; II he does
not work for himself and family and
to this extent for the common veal.
he should be made to work for the
furtherance of the great task of feed
ing. clothing and eauipping the men
both In the field and camp and the
millions of American citizens and Eu-
ropean allies who are IN cling short
ere In the necessaries of life.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY c. STUART,
Governor.