Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-15
not start early enough, and his defeat does
not mean that the cause for which he stands
will meet with similar reverse
The Goxcrnor,s Message


WHEN Governor Davis, reading his ben-
w NAL message to the joint session OF
the General Assembly yesterday, said, II
recommend the adjustment OF the State Pro-
hibition Department" and there was whip
to his words, the august assemblage forgot
its decorum and fairly overwhelmed the
Governor with storm of approval. Digni-
fled Senators and their brethren OF the House
yelled, clapped their hands and stamped their
feet in approval, and the gallery, Joining in,
helped to keep up the prolonged approval
Perhaps it is not even straw ito show the
direction of the legislative wind, but II the
tumultuous favor with which the recommen-
dation was received means anything it means
that the expensive luxury Of a special de-
partment for the enforcement OF the prohibit
tion law. with its train Of agents and detec-
tves, is doomed. The Governor buttressed
his recommendation with an imposing array
OF facts gathered from other States which
show Virginia the only State supporting a
separate department for this purpose, one OF
the few States making special appropria
ton for prohibition enforcement, and the
only one with an appropriation OF any con-
siderable amount. However, he assured the
Assembly If it thought best to make "rea-
sonablc" appropriation it would not be
vetoed for him. That the Assembly was
with him was evinced by the frequent ap-
pausc that punctuated the reading OF his
address. II there has been any GOODNESS to-
ward the Chief Executive on the part Of the
Assembly, and rumor says there has, it van
shed long before he reached his peroration in
which he pleaded for united effort in these
trying days Of reconstruction.
In his message, the first since the coming
Of peace, with exception OF his special good
roads message, he covered wide range OF
subjects of importance to the State. As it
was expected he would do, he laid special
stress on the primary schools, pleading that
they not be sacrificed in the interests OF the
higher institutions, and that the teachers
might be fairly paid, recommending for them
an appropriation Of S1,00O.000, while for
the advanced schools he asked 100000. He
also recommended that commission be
named to study the medical needs OF the
State, with view 10 the amalgamation OF
the two State supported institutions, move
which he strongly favors.
On the subject OF roads he was emphatic
inshs assertion that the Federal aid system
is Fundamentally wrong, that it is tho con-
stitutional duty Of the Federal government
to build the post roads, leaving 10 the State
thu subsidiary highways, and making no de-
mand for dollar-for-dollar contribution.
Among other recommendations were, in
creased pensions for Confederate soldiers,
strengthening OF the antitrust and cold-stor-
age laws, with Jail for the proftecr, better
living conditions for farmers, and the erec-
ton Of another lime-grindins plant for the
rebuilding OF the soil, creation of purchas
ing commission, strengthening OF the work
mems compensation law, fair assessment
OF real estate, improved conditions for con-
ricts in the road camps, steps toward the
erection OF permanent memorial to vir-
ginia's soldiers in the great war, and the
immediate reorganization OF the National
Guard.
Explaining the workings OF the budget,
the Governor was at pains TO remove all
doubt from the minds OF the lawmakers, set
ting forth that no constitutional privilege OF
the Assembly was usurped, and that the bud
get was merely luminatire and persuasive
II there has been lukewarmness toward the
Governors budget, then this straightforward
statement should dspel it.
In brief, the message was comprehensive,
concise and TO the point, lucid III it's treat
ment OF i wide variety Of subjects, and it
should prove profitable guide to the labors
OF the Assembly during the next sixty days.