The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-01-14

~ ohOsS odh. I'LL
message of Gov. Lon V. Stephens was
sead in both houses of the general as
seIRbly yesterday and referred to the
proper committees 1t was a very
Aengthy document, comprising nearly
$4,000 words, and reviewed with care
Sal detail the administration of the
aHou departments of the state gov
eminent during the past two years
and made numerous recommendations.
The following is a synopsis:
As your chief executive it becomes my
pleasure as we'll as my duty, in comply
ing with the requirements of the consti-
tuition of Missouri, to submit to you fer
your consideration, a statement of the
affairs of our state and the va
l-E0uS operations of the state government,
z9gether with such recommendations as
existing conditions in my judgment JUS
efy: While there are evidences. of pros
Dcrity all around US, the labOrs OF our peo-
2le generally have not received that re-
ward in the past TO which their energy
and enterprise entitle them, owing to well
known national laws which discriminate
AGAINST them; still We have been blessed
where many have not and have no reason
CD feel discouraged. In the development
of oTr resources there has been rapid and
uninterrupted progress. We review two
gears of plenty. in mine. forest, pasture
ard field. We have been graciously pre-
~ ~ tIOIl III Glllu BtSlIitIStr "
tire and tornado. from lawlessness and
civil strife, and in war with a foreign foe,
which has been brought to a speedy ter
zSnation, We have won honor and sue
-ess. Our people reverence their conSti-
ElItion and rejoice in good and just state
laws, which are executed with honesty
and fidelity. Conscious of our greatness
and of our yet undeveloped natural re-
sources. we are building for the future.
Believing it to be full of promise and re-
ward
EINtNf ES
On January 1, 1897. we had a cash bal
7zCe in the state treasury of 5u.i63-O5
receipts from January l, 1897, to January
: 1888. $500, 1866: disbursements from
!.nnary l. 1857. to January !; 1879, s,.sSU:.
lands on anuary /. 1889, of S>yI, lc9.iS. The
assessment upon which taxes were col
Sy:ted in 1896, including real and personal,
-af}road. bridge and telegraph property,
wis $l.02l. 9!c5. 62S: assessed valuation for
ctsS was 81. G50. $50. SUI. an increase of S2S,-
E[,fz3. State revenues are derived from
IA .aN of % cents on the 500 valuaston,
tS.ied upon real and personal property,
II individuals and corporations, from Ii
a-s;>se taxes. tax on premiums received
S-rFsn foreign Insurance companies, on
az9%rChantS and manufacturers, and eX-
er-zSS companies. interest on balances
wiki our state repositories. an lncorpor-
saisn LAX. Iotarial fees. and from Sundry
Ezdaor sources. The governor estimates
zart Si,G66, ii6 will be required to meet the
sIgSinary expenses of the state govern
-.atcas for 1S99-l9OO. and says the legitimate
trEr.ands against the state in 1SyJ-l9O cam
zier be met by the revenue under exist
spG laws, and hat it is imperatively nee
==Ssaary that provision be made by the For
&k=th general assembly to increase the
-rScnue, or decrease the expenditures To
TSset the emergency he recommends that
sfla state receive a larger proportion of
Ire dramshop license. Unless that, or
NSOfe other method equally effective be
5olnd for augmenting the states revenue,
Il will be necessary to reduce all appro-
2-Istions and cripple the state inStitu-
E,ns.
STATE DEBT.
Tha state bonded debt January 1. 1897.
aggregated S. OOO. 600 and state certificates
aggregated Sf,369, S39. AZ, a total debt of
S.%69. AZ. During 1898 the total reduc-
zion of the state debt was Sl.3S4.0W; On
january 1. 1881. with a bonded indebted
charge at 3l2 per cent was $4,000. On
january l of the present year, with a
bonded Indebtedness of $.Gi2.0O0: bearing
BIZ per cent interest, the annual interest
Is Sl27. 47o. a saving within two years to
the taxpayers of the state on account
III interest alone OF $i''5$e annually: IheTe
IL a sufficient amount of money now idle
in the Sinking fund" in the state treas
ury to justify payment of $5O0,0O more
bonds. which amount recommend the
legislature appropriate with the emergen-
~ clause attached. While in estimating
our indebtedness we must take into con-
ness. a~ggregating Si.393. S39.4 AZ, drawing 5
per cent. and 6 per cent. inter
est. it must at the same time
De remembered that they are also assets
IF the state-that the principal is not to
be paid, and the interest which accrueS
thereon can be used for the sole purpose
If assisting in the support of our public
schools and state university. The real
5ebt of the state is. therefore, insignifi-
1ant. in proportion to our assessed valua-
ton. and while it may not be entirely ex-
tiRguished during the present administra-
ton. ] see no reason why 1t cannot be
paid off within the early days of the sue
ceedinE one. My own Judgment is the
until we have seen every dollar of our
Intcrest-bearing debt paid off and can
ccilad.
MISSOURI IN THE SPANISH WAR.
Prior TO the late war with Spain, SAYS
the governor, the people of Missouri cared
800 little for the national guard organ
izatiOn. and the members of the legiSla-
tCrr Were not inclined, as a rule. TO give
IL hearty support. With an annual fund
IF about SlO,0GJ appropriated by the state,
che militia. composed OF four regiments
and one battery. managed, with the aid
of private subscriptions from the cities.
20 keep intact its organization. and when
the call to arms was sounded last April.
these men left their places of business
and offered themselves in defense of their
country. Many left lucrative positions
and vocationS. others were the support
Of aged parents and poor relatives, but
4iI alike responded to the presidents first
cali. and Missouri, among the first, sent
rs the field five regiments and one bat
tfTN OF men AS SlTDES ana Drive us ever I
wore soldiers uniforms. AS the war pro-
crossed the president deemed it necessary
40 issue another call for volunteers, and
by order of the secretary of war. l gave
notice through the Acknowledgement that
100 more enlisted men to increase regi-
ments were required. also one more regi-
-nent, to complete the quota of men Mis-
souri, was expected to furnish the govern
ment. Patriotic citizens from every por-
ton Of the state responded, and from the
spirit in which these brave men offered
their services for the cause of humanity,
vt demonstrated that grand old Missouri
was ready for the battle and would send
20 the front a hundred regiments instead
Of six, if necessary. Our troops, number
ing in all 1888 infantry and Ia artillery
r.en, modified at Jefferson barracks,
where they were mustered in the regular
volunteer service. and subsequently
equipped with clothing and arms by the
government To all OF these brave SOL
dierS who have been mustered out of the
United States service l would say that,
although they did not reach the front,
their anxiety to do SO was not lost sight
Of and in facing the n~ardships and sick
--eSs of the southern camps, they certain
II shared with their brothers at the front
the glorieS of our late war. The relatives
OF those who died in the service of their
country have our most tender mpa
and l beg to assure those of our brave
boys who are still bearing arms for their
country, that the citizens of our state
are proud of their achievements Now, I
desire to call YOU attention to the imam
Eilt part of the organization. When the I