The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-01-09

lie was asked ON lne hepubilc cor
respondent To hrietlyreview the work
of the first year of the administra.
tiun.
States Revenues Ample
for all Expenses,
"Thc condition Of the treasury,
the governor said, lis exceedingly
satisfactory, cur revenues are am
pie to meet all toe current expenses
Of the state government and ut the
same time construct the new build
ings authorized by the legislature
for educational, eloemosynary, re-
formatory andpenal institutions.
The neutrality-suspicious.
$500, OOO for demonstration Of new
and the repair of Old buildings, The
income OF the treasury will he ample
to meet these increased demands.
due in large part To the modified
beer law passed at the last session.
The law has proven bea most sat
isiactory revenue producer,
SlbI,OlS.ol Derived
From The Beer Tax.
The state has already collected
from beerinspcction fees S46l ,6l3.O1
of which S20l ,3l1.S3 accrued prior
to the passage OF the modified law.
The so-callcd back tax on beer is II
clear gain To the treasury, as there
was no provision OF law under which
it could have been collected prior to
the enactment Of the modified law.
The beer law is an inspection meas
ure, and the fees imposed by it are in
spection fees. 1t was not, therefore,
possible to lawfully enforce the
collection of inspection fees after the
consumption OF the beer. The thanks
of the people are especially due to the
Legislature for the passage OF this
measure. because, without it. there
would have been an appeal to the
Supre.aa Court OF the United States
and veXing delay Of at least two
during which time The state
would have derived no revenue from
this source.
The settlement OF the contention
by the passage of the modified law
will enable the state to properly care
for the blind the deaf, the insane. the
feeble-minded and other unfortunate
classes Of our people.
State Revenue Fund
Shows Surplus.
All the demands upon the state
revenue fund have been fully and
promptly met, and there is now IA
surplus of about Sis, 900 in the
fund
1t is estimated that the income
from Inspection fees on beer during
the present fiscal year will not be less
than $3.50, 900; which, added to the
income to be derived from taxes on
real, personal, corporate and other
property, will enable the treasury to
pay all the obligations Of the state,
and greatl y augment the surplus in
the Revenue Fund at the beginning OF
the csmhg year.
Mlssofis Bonded Debt
Redu Jed to sI,sS7,OOO.
T1e interest and sinking funds
haje been disbursed to pay the in
yerest upon bonded obligations and
Certificates of Indebtedness; to meet
Z in part the appropriation made for
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
and to retire $500, 900 of the bonded
debt. The bonded debt, exclusive oI
the school certificates, has been re-
duced to 81 ,2S7, 900"
Important Laws
Recently Enacted.
among the important laws enact
ed by the General Assembly may b'
noted the following:
"The law providing for the taxa
ton of franchises; the law creating
the State Board of Arbitration; thu
law permitting the infection Of Thu
death penalty for kidnapping; the Law
prohibiting boards ofmanagersiron
being directly or indirectlyinteres