Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-15
POLLARD URGES
! SUPPORT OF LAWS
New Virginia Governor Dis
CuSseS Policies in Inau-
gural Speech.
BY the Associated Press.


RICHMOND, Va, January 15.-Con-
fining his inaugural address to compar-
atively brief discussion of State policies,
Gov. John Garland Pollard, chief execu-
tive of Virginia for the next four years,
today laid special emphasis on the need
of public support of laws, reforms In
county government and elections and
recommended additional State aid for
public education, health and unfortu-
mates.
Special messages are to come later on
agriculture and the Seafood industry,
Gov. Pollard said, touching generally on
these two important questions, and lndi-
Gated his support Of measures for their
protection and promotion.
He paid high tribute to Gov. Byrd,
whose record, said Gov. Pollard, has
attracted the attention of the entire
Nation. To be elected to succeed him is
q great compliment, yet I cannot be
overproud, for I know that you elected
me only because under the constitution
you could not re-elect him"
Specific recommendations outlined
by the new executive were:
A commission to study the needs OF
the State electoral system and re-
port in 1882. A commission 10
recommend reforms in county govern
Inent and report in 1882, then to be
continued for the purpose of studying
comparative government in the coun-
ties. Lower income tax. Increased
awards under the workmen's compensa-
ton act and legislation for better pro-
lection of lives, as pledged by the
Democratic party.
Election Proposals Aired.
Needs of the State electoral system,
which received thorough airing dur
ing Gov. Pollard's campaign, were out
lined as consisting principally Of a pri-
mary law applicable to both Democrats
and Republicans, correction Of the prac-
tice of wholesale payment Of poll taxes,
publicity, both before and after cleo
tons, as to contributions and the
amounts and how spent and general
revision Of election statutes loosely
drawn.
Another defect in the electoral stat
ute, said Gov. Pollard, is complication
in the process of voting, causing many
ballots to be rejected because improp-
erly marked. Laws should be so drawn,
he declared, that the election will at
all times accurately reflect the will OF
the majority, no matter how small that
majority may be-"
Gov. Pollard recommended creation
Of q fact-finding commission to secure
information as to the progress, effec-
tiveness and cost Of the various gov
ernmental activities in which the coun-
ties are engaged. reporting in 1882 to
the General Assembly. The commission
would be asked to draft and recon-
mend a general law setting forth OPP
tional forms of government to become
effective in any county when submit
ted to the voters and would be con-
tfnued for the study Of comparative
county government in the State. an
Aviation and Interpretation Of Stats
tics and comparative county costs.
During his campaign Gov. Pollard re-
called, he frequently declared, his sym
pathy with the position that education
should be the main business OF the
state To this end he urged the Cen
eral Assembly to adopt the recommen-
dation of Gov. Byrd for enlargement
OF the. education appropriation by $780,
600 annually. Education, said Gov.
Pollard, Is the function OF the whole
state. to be exercised for benef1t OF all
children within its borders.
School Board Appointments.
Gov. Pollard will appoint on the
state Board of Education five business
:rnen and two educators, he stated, be-
lieying that the duties OF the board re-
ouire a mixture of business and pro-
/. fessional knowledge in which the former
is predominant. It is his.id that they
will supplement each others counsel
sand together administer the school sys-
item on businesslike principles, main
tain high educational standards and
shape proper courses for students.
Unfortunate children, he said, are the
sacred wards Of the State and because
they are poor children should not be
separated from their mothers and
placed In public institutions. Appreci-
ating this fact; Gov. Pollard recon-
:mended that the General Assembly
order a survey by the Department OF
Public Welfare to determine the prob
able need of a mothers aid fund, what
,sums and machinery would be needed
land how to apportion the amount be-
tween local and State treasures.
While making no specific recommen-
cations in regard to public health, Gov.
Pollard said he realized that the pub
slic wealth is in a measure dependent on
the public health and urged sympa-
ithetic consideration OF all measures de-
Tgigned for its protection.
The state of the treasury justifies tax
reductions, said Gov. Pollard, but these
cannot be as great as had been hoped,
due to losses in taxable incomes suffered
in the recent stock market crash. He
income taxes, to which end several bills
have already been introduced in the
Assembly.
The pledge of the Democratic party
tat its State convention in 1928 favor
ing an increase in awards under the
workmen's compensation act and pro-
'tective legislation for such citizens
SHOULD be redeemed without delay, said
Gov. Pollard.
The laws Of Virginia must be upheld
If the State is to sand, Gov. Pollard
declared In a plea for law observance
which. he said, could be accomplished
only through voluntary action and not
through enforcement Lawlessness In
high places he termed the greatest men,
ace to institutions today.
II am assuming no superior virtue
when I appeal to the officers of Virginia
10 join me in setting an example Of
obedience to law. for all OF us have beer
more or less guilty of violating one OF
more of our many statutes" said Gov
Pollard. 1T is well to remember that tC
overlook one crime is to invite the COM
mission Of another. Lawlessness is the
lrnost contagious and deadly Of all the
diseases which afflict the body polite.