Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-16
GOVERNOR sHAW's MESSAGE.

The message of Governor Leslie M.
Shaw, to the state legislature, is, a
business-lile document that reflects
credit both upon the governor and the
state of Iowa. The message is very
long and if published in full would oc-
cupy over three pages of the Courier.
We published last Thursday an
outline of the message, containing all
the essential facts, and we asksfor it a
careful reading.
Certainly there is occasion for gener-
al congratulation upon the fact that
by the judicious provisions made by
the twenty sixth and twenty seventh
general assemblies for the increase of
public revenues on the one hand, and
the reduction Of expenditures on the
other, the state has met all it's obliga-
tions; has paid off an Indebtedness of
SAL, S20.53 which existed on December
81 1897, and has accumulated sur
plus Of 1851, 259. e7. It will thus. be
seen that tho treasury;is in better con-
dition today thah Twas two years
ago BY zoos, $50 80. This is most
satisfactory as well as remarkable A.
nancial showing and demonstrates not
only wise and careful action on the
part ct our legislators, and the admin
financial resources Of the great COM
monwealth Of Iowa. The governors
srecommendatipn that the annual levy
for general be reduced to two
and half mills, will be received with
special pleasure by the people. The
governor estimates that this will be
ample even to provide for the con-
HtantAy increasing expenses of the
state, incident to rapidly growing
population, and the ever multiplying
wards Of the state.
The governor endorses the board of
control and states that the policy thus
1naNgurated has resulted in a very
considerable saving to the state, while
the service at most of the institutions
has been improved. The governor adds:
TO justify the board Of control sys-
tenn, It is not necessary to defend each
separate act, or to indorse the policy
of the board in every particular. If
errors have been committed, the les
sons taught thereby will not need re-
peating. Time will strengthen that
which is weak, and experience will sup
ply what may be wanting
Certainly this will strike everyone as
"a common sense view of this matter.
The governors recommendation for
four additional state normal schools,
one to be located on each Of the great
trunk lines OF railway crossing the
state, is in accordance with the general
accepted idea of educators and all who
are posted ia school matters as to the
4 necessities Of the state.
Governor Shaw does himself, and she
state which he represents, credit, BY
recommending liberal treatment Of The
state university, and the other educa-
tipnal institutions OF hhe state. Iowa
I Is great enough and rich enough, and
Y progressive enough to have one of
the best state universities in the world.
The niggardly policy heretofore pur-
4 sued towards the state university, cam
not be continued without storm of
\ protest going up from all parts of the
state. Whereas the annual income Of
the Iowa State University is only
$150,000, Nebraska expends annually
! over $3.50, 600 in support Of its univer-
4 1ity; Minnesota and Illinois each ex-
Ponds over $35o,ooo; Wisconsin over
"A 100000, and Michigan over 100000.
Il her proper place with her sister states
upon this vitality Important matter of
higher educational facilities.
$utiops of the state, the governor
makes Q Recommendation that should
+ not go unheeded, and that is that the
three educational institutions, viz: the
university, the college Of agriculture
and mechanic arts, and the state normal
school should be in no sense rivals.
There should be no unnecessary dup
Heating of the department.. The uni
versity should be in fact university
The normal schools, assuming we
must have more than one, should not
be colleges Of liberal arts, and neither
the university nor the college of agri-
culture and mechanic arts has place OF
room for chairs of pedagogy. Let the
special field of each be kept distinct,
and each perfected by liberal appro-
priations. Then all shall know where
the object of their quest can be OBJ
\ tanned, and the state will be able to
furnish as good as the market affords .
The governors recommendation that
in case Of war the position Of colonel
s. the Iowa regiments should be filed