The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-02
GOVERNOR DAVIS, IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
URGES BUS|NESS-uKE ADMINISTRATION
AND PLEDGES PROTECTION To PEOPLE
Popular Election Supreme Court Members of
Corporation Commission Advocated-Would Place Strict
Curb on Trusts-Reiterates Views in Favor Of
Budget System in Commonwealth Finances.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:

ginia for the great honor they have
conferred upon me. as well as 10 ex-
press the deep sense of responsible. ?.
ehat feel on assuming the duties of
enief executive of this commonwealth.
The world ~ R6ame with a great
war. Ia which the armies OF democracy
are mrrayed against the legions OF he
feditary right. There can be but one
so1tooms of such a conflict, but COM
~iets victory is to be had only by
aoncsrted action. united purpose, and
% great sacrifice.
Virginia gives. as she has always
rendered. her sons and her treasure
70 patriotic end without stint.
The stress of a war forced upon
ne By those who would destroy U.s.
coupled with the demands OF our al
Ness have called for speedy and I'M
deserved action on the part Of the
people as q nation. and the federal
government has been allowed by gem
sral consent without thought of con
gtftutional limitation. full ana unre-
stricted power 20 prosecute the war:
u has undertaken the administration
OF what are peculiarly state affairs
arc has assumed without question the
erection and practical ownership Of
The transportation system Of the coun
uy Tor an unlimited period.
While am Intense in the spirit Of
rational patriotism. 1t liz r uatfonalism
Nhat owes It's existence TO powers
delegated to the federal government
by sovereign states, and is rich IN the
reserved rights OF a people who direct
fhe!r own local affairs upon she lines
laid down by our forefathers. aior-
which we have grown great and proc
porous. shall await with potrloit~
expectation the SUCCESSFUL term .uation
OF the war by Us when the status auo
ANITA 10
and the states shall be restored The
checks and balances established bg
our constitution deleEsting powers TO
she federal government but rsservtng
fights to tho states. have provided
elasticity Of government for vast
Territory divided into great political
units which have different problems
60 solve. varied resources. and In many
cases have Heterogeneous population
10 absorb. Our form Of government
has differed little in principle from
that Of the kingdom whose yoke ws
cast or. save in the rights reserved
by the states Upou the formation Of
tho union, these rights are the basis
Of true democracy. under which op-
portunity for AL has iourished: life
liberty and property have been pro-
tected
German efficiency Is to be erruiated
In the commercial wnrld-indeed IN
tho affairs 81 government, save where
II logtcall5 leads to a central admin
irtration 20 the loss OF peoples
Fights. Care must he had lest with
hieh purpose and unsel7sh ambition
IN an effort to make the world safe
for democracy we SOW the seeds OF
autocracy that may In the future prove
pjague 10 us
These be thoughts for the ruture
"a the end OF the war; for the present
w. are tT this war to win and all
considerations fade into insiKnifcance
as we address ourselves in enthusiasts
support of the government in the Her
cu}ean task that. we have essaped -
the crushing OF kaiserism
In this connection II is proper that
should direcN your attention to the
Hct that tho taking over Of the trans
portation companies by the federal
government may deprive tho state Of
large part Of itT taxable values
suggest that the general assembly
wised necessary 70 protect the states
revenue under conditions now exist
snT or thai may arise.
BaSinems Aduaintwtrats cn.
The keynote of my administration
will be an efficient government eco
uomically administered. My pre-elsc- .
zion platform pledged me 10 an ad- /
sninistratiou Of state affairs chsrao-
serized by economy. to the end that
eur educational and tax systems may
be perfected. good roads butt. and
tho agricultural and Industrial re-
sources of the state be intelligently
conserved and developed. How. then.
"a this efficiency and economy 81 gov
ernmentai activity to be had. and how
are these pledges TO he fulhledF
These will he the problems Of my sd-
H. r
hope for that hearty cooperation be-
tween the executive and legislative
branches of our government that Is
expected by our people and Is ahso-
1uteiy necessary for the progress Of
cur state,
The report OF the auditor Of public
accounts estimates the balance in thu
state treasury February the LIST about
two million dollars. II, however, we
may Judge the balance available for
appropriation on March /. 1918, In the (
fight Of February expenses Of proceed /
ing years, we may expect TO have In 7
the treasury March J. 1918, si.1so,o0o
OF which $276ooo will he TO the credit :
OF special funds. leaving available for .
appropriation on that date about sa7s.
900. This balance in the treasury. II
II prove correct. would suggest "A most
critical scrutiny of all proposed Rp-
Large sums Of money
are being invested by the public In
on-taxabie securities. In response TO
the patriotic appeal to buy liberty
bonds The state win. therefore, be
deprived in the future OF large tax
abie Intangible values The treasury
will reflect this condition next year
rather than during the present year.
Uncertain conditions. increasing war
taxation. and high cost OF living rem
der economy In government AMI the
OF our agricultural and
Industrial resources imperative.
Executive Budget.
The burden of taxation upon our
people Is not TO be lightened by the
method of it's collection: uniformity
and efficiency Of administration are,
of course. necessary 10 the success
Of any tax system. II our govern
mental burdens ara TO he lAssened we
must have n scientific MANAGEMENT of
our state affairs. so that efficient gov
eminent may be had at less cost TO tha
taxpayers of the state. The genius
OF business successfully conducted is
the reduction of the cost of produc-
ton. ana the like rule applies to gov
eminent.
earnestly recommend the inaug
urstfon of what 10 known as an execu
tive budget. In my recent appeal to
the electorate OF Virginia the estab-