The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-02-27
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
To the General Assembly In Extra
Session.
He Recommends . liberal Apprepriatioa
for the State University. and Tells
b solons How to Do It
Other Work

e
the solons How to Do It
Other work.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, Feb. 1.-THE
following is Gov. Francis message to
the general assembly on converting in
extra session:
STATE OF MISSOURI,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Feb. II. 1s92
To THE THIRrY-sIxTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
The objects of this special session have been set
forth in the PROCLAMATION calling you together.
In my sIec.al message to you OF February Is.
ls9l. was incloseia copy Of the apportionment
bill OF the congress, approved February :. 1871,
giving to Missouri fftesn members in the house
OF representatives after March 3. lS9l That
message recommended that the Thirty sixth
general assembly redistrct the state into fifteen
congressional districts. am informed that the
late date at which details Of the eleventh census
were promulgated prevented you from perform
1851. The secretarv q fate is now IN pos s,a on
OF authentic information giving the population
Of each county in the state, and has prepared for
your use maps that will greatly facilitate the
At the regular session Of 1891 You failed 10
divide the state into legislative or representa-
constitution. That duty is made mandatory on
the general assembly by section !, article 4, Of
he constitution.
JUDICIAL CIRCUITS.
Ihave also thought advisable. in obedience to
an almost universal demand. to submit to y
the reforming Of the Judicial circuits of the
state and the adjusting Of the salaries of the
state Judiciary. There are. in addition to Grim
inal courts, thirty judicial circuits, one OF which
has five. one four and one two judges. the re-
mainder one judge each. Litigation in circuits
having but one judge is very unequal. as is the
iabcr performed by tho judges therein. The
terms Of all these judges will expire January 1,
lsS. and their Successors. for q term Of six
years, will be elected in November of the pres
statement Of the number Of days circuit courts
were in session during the year 1921. You will
observe that the time varies from 81 to 26
days The salaries Of the circuit judges are
fixed by statute. and in the twenty-seven cir
cuts are but 5000 per annum. In my opinion
that is not sufficient compensation for Judges
who hold court more than 200 days per year.
whose circuits extend over several counties, and
who are required to pay their own travelling ex-
penses, nor IS 1t equal to salaries paid by ether
states to judges Of like grade. Alabama. Flor
ida Indiana, Iowa. Kansas. Nebraska, Missis-
sippi and Texas pay $50 per annum; Califor-
MIA. Connecticut. Kentucky and Oregon paw
SOU per annum; Illinois. Minnesota and South
carolina pay $3.50 per annum: Wisconsin pays
SEQ per annum; Colorado. Ohio and Pennsyi-
vania pay 5000 per annum, and Massachu-
sets pays $500 per aunum. The judiciary of
our state is composed Of men Of ability. expert.
ence and character. They OCCUPY positions of
responsibility, dignity and importance. and
lntII SERVICES SQOulQ command better returns.
TIL inequality between the circuits. as at pres
ent constituted. should be corrected. the mum
Der Of circuits diminished, il practicable. and
the salaries Of judges increased. The wording
OF the call permits you to adjust, within thu
limits of the constitution. the salaries of all
state judiciary. You are hereby authorized to
leg1siate concerning the criminal courts of the
state and the courts Of common pleas. and to fix
the time fer holding courts in order that yOur
Judicial enactments may be systematic and com
plete and result in no incongruities.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The main building of the state university was
destroyed by fire on the night of January Q,
1897. The institution never was in SO flourish
ing n condition as when overtaken by this
calamity. Reassured and strengthened by the
Of SGi100 received through your
wise generosity, managed by a heard Of earnest
and capable %curators and a faculty Of able and
experienced professors. it has Just entered upon
4 career OF unprecedented prosperity and use
fitness. DR.. r. II. Jesse. the recently
elected president, had been installed in
opened in the following September with
an attendance of nearly roo. went to Column |
bia the day after the fire and found students
and professors resolute in their devotion and
determined to stand by the university in its
misfortune. Temporary class-rooms were |
promptly provided. and there was not a cassa-
At this time there is an enrolment Of 6I2 stu |
dents. twenty-five more than when the fire oc- |
CURED. TIL c%urators, who live in different sec |
tions of the state. and who serve without COM |
pensation. cheerfully responded to my summons |
TO meet me at the scene of the confagraton. |
They have ever been assiduous. at personal sac
rihce, IN their attention TO the affairs of the
university. |
There was an insurance on the building de-
stroyed of sls2 sa1, on the library OF sl go. on
the museum Of s.. OO0. on scientific apparatus OF
S.24O, on electric light plant of S1.3 on e'eva-
tor and steam heating of A.05, or a total
insurance on the buildings and contents of sl47,-
cd. The amounts in the policies Of insurance
were made payable. in case OF loss. to the board
OF %curators for the use Of the university. and all
part of the students. professors and %curators is
deserving Of recognition and encouragement by
the state.
AN AcKNowLEpdED OBLIGATION.
By the set of admission of the federal con-
gress. rendering to Missouri the right Of state
hood. and by the ordinance of her people accept- /
ing the provisions thereof. We are enjoined and
in honor bound to establish and foster a sem
sembly. approved February s, 1ss9. the univer-
sity was established. and our present constitu- |
vested its government in a board Of c%urators. |
and imposed upon the general assembly the
obligation TO aid and maintain the state uni
versity now established with its present DEPART /
ments.- There can be no question therefore but |
that It is our duty to provide n habitation
for this ward of the state, whether we
consider it from the standpoint Of an honorable
pledge or an accepted and acknowledged obli-
CATION to the interests Of the youth Of the COM /!
monwealth. The resources. wealth. popula-
ton and dignity Of Missouri impel us to erect
such structures as will meet the uses to which
they are adapted. comport with the advance
ment and growth Of the state. and he a source
Of pride to her people. Liberal and superior
educational advantages are not only a great
boon to the youth Of a state and contribute ma
terially toward its development. but is often
the standard by which a commonwealth is
classed or stimate by the outside world. No
act of the Thirty sixth general assembly has at
tracted more widespread attention or received
more favorable comment and none will endure
longer THAT that by which you devoted to the
promotion of higher education in Missouri the
direct tax OF s6i7 900 refunded to the state by
the federal government. It stands as a monu-
ment to your sagacity and progressive public
spirit
TIL alumni of the State university, repre-
sentative leading citizens Of their respective To-
%calities. prominent in the professions. in com
merce and agriculture, have organized without
the state, and with one voice are asking that
their Alma Mater be not ignored or neglected in
record of more than half a century. attended as
it has been by struggles and yicissitudes, the
hallowed memories of those true men who de-
voted years of effort to the interest of the uni
versity, cry out against any policy that will
sacrifice or jeopardize what has cost so much.
Any, step. backward or hating at this time
the stability and future Of the institution with
which your generosity has inspired the people.
PLANS OF THE cURAToRs.
The board Of c%urators. aided by the sugges-
lated a plan for the construction of a building
will meet the requirements of the UNIVERSE
ty In that line for ten years to come. The |
scheme is elaborate, but not unduiy expensive.
II c~outemplates the expenditure Of about $780,
600, which sum will be sufficient to complete a
main building of imposing elevation and ample
TO erect five department buildings.
and to furnish and equip all with library and
apparatus adequate to answer the de-
mands of the immediate future. OF the amount
desired, the board will receive about sl47.0 900
from insurance. The state will owe to the uni
versity by January l, 1873, 81, sos. ~, being
twenty-one months interest on the certificate
Of indebtedness for $50, 9Js.35, bearing 5 per
cent; interest, payable fifty years after date.
April l. 1891. and issued in favor Of the state
fund. in accordance with the bill
passed by your honorable body, and approved
81. 1881. Said sum can, with propriety
and safety, be appropriated from the interest
fund. On that interest one fifth. or 20 Per
cent. belongs to the school Of mines at
the remainder, Sf5.3s7.0s, can he
used for buildings and equipments. l can
see no objection to your appropriating
the balance Of the sum desired. or about $780, !
out of any moneys in the state revenue fund
not otherwise appropriated. An appropriation
SO conditioned would not involve the state in
any obligation beyond her capacity to liquidate.
1t would not necessitate the floating of any war.
rants or the mourning of any Indebtedness. If
the revenue of the state should permit its pay