The age-herald., 1898-11-17

 general and growing interest manifested in the state in behalf of education. and that substantial progress is being made. The most important legisiation needed at your hands is in regard to our public schools; many reforms are needed the whole sub Ject should be considered, and harmon :6us, systematic, economical and ef1tcieht system adopted We may boast Of our splendid resources, surpassing those of all other states in variety and abundance, of the glorious record of our men in war and in peace, and of the purity and loveliness of our daughters, of the fertility of our soil and the salubrity of our climate, but the glory Of a state proceeds from the in- telligence and virtue of it's people. Every dollar given to the cause of education be- comes invested capital that cannot be lost or destroyed, but will continue to pay divi- dends from one generation to another. More efficient supervision, more competent teachers, wiser regulations, will bring greatly increased results even without more money. Uniform examinations for licenses to teach should be had, county su- perintendents should be competent and efficient, the poll tax should apply to every voter and its collection should be placed in the hands of the school authorities. We have in Alabama approximately 350,000 men of the voting age. If all were required to pay the poll tax of s1.50, devoted by our constitution to the common schools, 1t would more than double our present ap- propriation from. that source. The report of the auditor shows that for the past two years the sum actually received from polls averaged about s150,000 Certainly efficient legislation and administration and the ex- tension of the poll age, will more than double the receipts from that source. It may be well, too, for you to consider why the tens of thousands of more or less worthless dogs in the state should not be taxed for this purpose.
 All sums, over and above those needed for the economical administration of the government, the preservation of peace and good order, and the maintenance of the public credit, should be devoted to the cause of education. I desire to warn every member of the general assembly that every vote cast for any other appropriation is one cast against the better education of our children. Within the past two years riged economy has given us a net income from our penitentiary of nearly $75,000 an- nually; the amount now on hand should be covered into the treasury to aid in extin- gushing our deficit. but see no reason why future earnings should not be devoted to education and the criminal classes them selves be compelled to aid in extermnating ignorance, one of the very roots of crime
 Our present appropriations for the com mon schools are:
 General appropriation ................. .$35o 700 Poll tax appropriation ................. J50 0o0 Sixteen section fund .................... 145 000
 
 Total of about ..............$e4 .$e45, 900
 I am strongly inclined to think 1t wiser policy. after this fiscal year. to supercede our general appropriation of s350.0 900 by leg islative provision devoting one-third of all the money received into the treasury from the tax on real and personal property to the cause of education This would make an increase of nearly $100.0O0 in the appropria- tion and at the same time assure the friends of education that as our values in- crease, as property is more fairly assessed, and those escaping and evading are compelled to contribute their share one dollar in every three that may be thus added to our income will go to our schools and the progress of the schools at least keep pace with the growth and development of our state. If these recommendations are adopted our appropriations for common schools instead of aggregating some $645,- 900 ought to show this:
 Sixteen section fund ...................$145.G0 GOO Poll tax ............ ...'................. aWoJO General appropriation ......... 435y00o A % sSin Of i nearly sss5.5 .tS'; annually. sa,sifi
 The Agricultural and Mechanical college continues to do good work; our State uni- versity Is making gratifying progress, and the Girls Industrial School has been mar velous in its growth. The normal schools, both white and colored, and the district aSTlCulluTdl SfHOOlSt WILL OuS UT iWO SA- captions, afe doing better work and better managed and taught than at any previous time I invite your attention in this con- nection to the valuable report of the su- perintendent of educaion and of the com missioher of agricultdfe It Is interesting to know that nearly one- half of all the receipts of our treasury are annually disbursed for education and benev- olent purposes. and these disbursements are steadily growing. The expenditures have been for the years: 1S95-6... ~ e26,Ss6 40 lS96-7.. $50 ,SSO "A 1S97-S.... ... 1,0lS,O56 98 or nearly $2OO,00O more than two years ago.
 Solicitors I respectfully invite your attention to the method of electing solicitors Our consti- tution places the election of judges in the hands of the people, and it is a gratifying fact that the decisions of our highest court command universal respect and rank among the ablest and most learned in the entire union; our judiciary is without reproach. If the people can be trusted to elect judges, I fail to see why they cannot be trusted to elect solicitors. The election by the general assembly takes up much of the time that should be given to the consideration of public business, and I fear sometimes selec- tions are made not altogether with regard to the fitness of the successful candidate. but as the result of some combination or trade. I trust that in the elections now pending not a-single member of your hon. orable body will be found willing to barter his vote, but that each will be cast under a solemn sense of the obligation resting upon the members to secure for the people capable and faithful officials. So far as the result is concerned I can see little differ ence in bartering one vote for another in- stead of for money.
 The same reasons should induce the elec- ton of railroad commissioners by the people.
 Military
 I invite your attention to the report of the adjutant-general showing the number, equipment and efficiency of our organized state troops, and the services they have rendered the state Whenever called into service to maintain the laws and protect prisoners from mob violence, they have re- sponded with alacrity, performed every duty with accomplishing fidelity, and in every instance their conduct has been ad- mirable. Nearly all our troops promptly volunteered their services when war was declared against Spain, were anxious to go