The age-herald., 1898-11-17

7 z[ %5f A.S N ~ lL U 4 u - patriotic consideration the selection of the wisest course to pursue, but 1 must insist that we shall be reereant to our duty if we temporize with conditions that are preg- nant with evil.
 Roads
 Except education, no more important sub Jeet can engage your careful consideration than the improvement of our public roads. Tine tendency of our people to leave the rural districts and gather in the towns and cities is alarming to thoughtful men oil over the contry. Unless arrested fruitful nelds will be abandoned population con- gested in the cities and towns and the very spirit Of independence be impaired. It is hardly surprising that the citizens who are largely denied church, school and social privileges by the miserable condition of their roads, should seek these elsewhere. Some wise and efficient plan should be adopted permitting counties to levy special ldAeS or to borrow money, that permanent betterments of our roads may be accom- plished in place of the shiftless pretense or work now done. Citizens might be al- lowed to contribute labor instead of pay ing money, but the main thing Is to have the roads and grades established by com petent persons, and the work so done that It will be of lasting value. Several of our counties have special road laws that have been of great advantage and wherever good roads have been constructed the people would rebel against a return to the ola system.
 Examinations
 The examinations of the accounts of off, cials handling the public revenues have not only brought money into the state and county treasuries largely beyond the ex- pense, but has been most productive in in- forming officials of their duties, securing tf,p fk.v all oHctals more careful and accurate in their dealings with the state. I advise the passage of an act that will remove any doubt whatever that official copies of these sworn reports shall be received by all courts as prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein, and permitting all officials receiv- ing the states money to be sued at the capital. l recommend also that authority De given the governor to appoint special or temporary examiners having the power and authority or the present regular examiners. In case Of sickness of regular examiners, or of any urgent necessity this would be found most beneficial. I have had many requests to have the books of county offl- cials examined, but the pressure of the work necessary to be done for the state has prevented me from complying with these requests. The counties should pay their fair share of all the expense of this work.
 recommend also that the scope of ex- animation be extended to state banks and bankers Enlightened public sentiment re- quires that all such semi-public institu- tions, inviting the trust of the people. should have the supervision of the state.
 Public Health
 Our people have enjoyed good health. An epidemic of smallpox has prevailed in some parts or the state and during the year 1897 we had some yellow fever In a few locali- ties. The death rate, from both causes. has been quite insignificant, so little as to be scarcely perceptible in our mortality sta us'cs' Ihis year rigid quarantine by .ne state under our own laws and admin istereds by our own officials, and at com paratNeiy small expense, has kept out any yenoW IeVer infection, although we were more or less in contact with disease along me whole western border of the state and iau no assistance whatever from any for eign source. Our health organization is ad mirable, entirely removed from politicaI in Huences and under the control of those most capable of dealing with such mat terS. It Is being better understoo,, overv year that thorough sanitary conditions are the price of immunity from epidemics invite your attention to the report of inc sta{s health officer who has been most dili- gon and capable in the discharee of his outles and whose recommenda tions as well as those Of the State Medical association are worthy of your earnest consideration.
 Ihere should be a revision of our ouaran e,ne iaWs 50 as to make them more effi- eient' increase the penalties for violation and prevent improper restrictions mon tIade and travel by local communities.
 The clamor for national quarantine to protect our citizens seems to me to be with out .hat que reflection upon the already aeeressiVe encroachment of the federal power by legislation and far reaching de- cfsions of its courts, upon the rights of the states and the liberties of the people. Every inch of ground yielded in this d. rection Is one that history teaches us is never regained, and the wise restraints in- tended by our fathers to preserve us from centralized despotism are yielding to the temptation to have the expenses footed bv the federal government.
 Primary Law
 earnestly urge the passage of a primary election law under which each voter can express his choice and have it honestly declared, and each candidate secure fair and impartial treatment When nomina- tions are practically equivalent to an elec- ton the real contest takes place over them. and the necessity of guarding them from fraud, trades, bribery or other corrupt practices become more imperative. A man who sells his vote, and the purchaser, and all who engage in any fraudulent conduct should not only be severely punished but be forever disfranchised. Party primaries under our form of government are the sources of administration, and if these sources are polluted, the poison will flow down the stream, spreading corruption and disaster.
 Lobby
 The general assembly of Alabama has a most enviable record in the fact that, ex- cept during the carpet-bag regime, no leg isation has ever been procured by the cor rupt use of money. That measures have been secured by the persuasive and per- sistent efforts of lobbyists seems probable Let us take step forward and by appro- prate legislation give the public to under stand that in Alabama no legislation can be secured by importantly, persuasion, com- binations, or even party demand, that does not represent the deliberate judgment and