The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-11
SAYERS'S MESSAGE
TO LEGISLATURE.
Texas Governor Declares Lone
Star State Is in Exception
ally Good Shape.
MILLIONS OF PUBLIC LANDS.
One of States Chief Resources Is
Vast Amount of Real Estate
From Which School Fund
Is Raised.
REpT-DTJc

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Austin. Tex, Jan. 10.-Governor Sayers to-
day delivered his annual message TO the
General Assembly Of Texas. The Governor
touched upon all matters Of interest to the
State and suggested certain legislation. In
part tho message was as follows:
ITO the Senate and House OF Representa-
tives: 1t is indeed gratifying that you
have convened under circumstances so aus
picious.
Excepting not more than fifteen OF the
go counties-organized and un~organized-
into which the state is divided. prosperity
prevails in them all to an extent not ex-
ceeded in any year OF their history.
1T will also be gratifying TO know that
the administration OF the State government
has. during the past two years. given to
the people the best service possible, and II
is confidently believed that a thorough and
searching inquiry into the several branches
OF the Executive Department will show
them TO have been carefully, economically
and efficiently conducted.
The aggregate Of the estimates by the
several departments and branches OF the
public service appears to b. unduly large
and much beyond the probable receipts I'M
der the revenue-prOducing laws now in
force, and 1t is recommended, with en-
phasis. that they be carefully and
that appropriations be made for such pur-
poses only as are essential TO an efficient
administration economically conducted and
within the limit designated.
The Permanent Free school Fund.
o September /. 1885. there belonged to
this fund -. 720.3S9 acres Of land. Since then
this acreage has been increased through
cancellation OF sales and forfeiture OF pur-
chases BY LOSSES acres. Under the acts OF
April 26. 1889. and February q. 1900, It re-
celved an additional increase OF 5.s79.1Id
acres. So that, after deducting 6.052.S73
acres sold during the previous two years,
there remained on September /, 1850, to the
permanent school fund a balance Of 20,6l3,-
Oh acres. Tn number Of acres stated may
not prove absolutely accurate upon actual
survey. but IT is sufficiently SO for all prac-
tical purposes.
The fund has been very materially i'm
paired through the legislation OF recent
years. According to the report of the Com
missioner OF the General Land Office Of
september q, lays, sales made under laws
previously enacted, and amounting to 8, AGO.
$50 acres Of school land, had been forfeited.
The much larger portion of this land had
been sold at - and s. per acre, and the
deferred payments bore from 5 to 5 and 10
per cent interest per annum On time from
ten TO thirty years.
From the report OF the Comptroller It
would seem that the counties are without
authority to fund their bonded indebted
ness incurred since 1895, Notwithstanding the
optional period for redemption may have
been reached. Quite a large portion of such
character OF Indebtedness bears a rate Of
interest much higher than that now pre-
Vailing. and the counties should be In a
position to reduce the interest charge when
practicable. 1t Is, therefore. recommended
whenever profitable to do SO, all interest
bearing Indebtedness that may have been
contracted prior to January. 1901.
The Railway Commission.
THE report Of the commission for the
past year is replete with data and sugges-
tlons that should receive the most careful
consideration.
cit contains a review OF the operations
OF the commission since its establishment
ten years ago-and gives the information
that for the year ending June 80. 1905. the
railroads of the State performed a service
equal to hauling S,5z2. 6o9.4 ALB tons of freight
one mile-an Increase BY l,S5l,ll0.S4 tons
over a like haul for the year ending June
I'VE are also Informed that the freight
revenue to the roads for the year ending
June 30, 1900. amounted 70 Si.is,SIl0.
which sum Is less by sl6,83,esO9 than what
the amount would have been had the
Notwithstanding this very large reduction
in charges, the net profits to the Toads
from their operation during the year, end
Ipcn the face value of the stock andNbonds
issued by them and outstanding.
The EIeemosynary Institutions
"The Insane A~sylums-On october 81.
1000, there were in the three institutions
2.5si patients. as against 1.9s6 on the same
date in 1883, an increase OF $40. OF the num-
Der first named ff were In tne oldle, 4sv'o
in the North Texas and T4 In the South
western Asylum Within two months from
this date the State asylum will be prepared
10 admit 800, and the North Texas 20 ad-
"Appropriations should be promptly made
for buildings and equipments for the ac-
State, and for 400 more white patients at
the Southwestern Asylum.
1.-THE Deaf and Dumb Asvlum-In this
institution there were 3H pupils In attend,
anca on November /, 1900, as against Z6
on November /. 1ses-an increase of IS.
The Blind AsylumCOne hundred and
this Institution on November ]. 1900. as
against I57 on the same date in 1seS-an
"The Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute for
Colored Youths-In this institution there
were in attendance II pupils on November
], 1900. as against 50 on November !. 1s9S-
a decrease OF Is.
THE State Orphan Home-There were. on
September /, 1900. at the home sef Children
A Libel LAW.
"a great necessity exists for legislation
regulating the adjudication of judicial con-
troversies touching matters OF a nbelous
character.
procedure in such cases and liability for
damages rests entirely upon the common
law as interpreted. from time to time. by
"Heretofore Il seems that the main in
centive in such litigation has been the re-
covery OF punitory damages.
The public, II is believed, is directly and
deeply interested IN the establishment of
plain and easily understood methods by
which suits Of this nature should be con-
Quoted
Taxation.
The tables accompanying the report of
the Comptroller supply overwhelming evi-
dence as to the inability of the laws in
force to secure a full. fair and honest rem
dition OF property for the purpose OF taxa
ton. Certain kinds Of property appear to
be almost exempt from contributing to the
support Of the government. notwithstand-
ing the constitutional declaration that all
property, whether owned by natural per-
sons, or corporations, other than munich
pal. shall be taxed In proportion to its
value. This is the language OF the Consti-
tuition and IS so plain and direct that there
can be no MISUNDERSTANDING whatever as to
its intent. II Is made the duty Of the law
This requirement into effect by appropriate
legislation"
F0RETOlO DAY OF HIS DEATH.