The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-01-11

the people; the primary election laws,
providing for honest and fair prima-
ries In st. Lonis and Kansas CITY;
the law providing that nine of the
twelve grand jurors may report
legal indictment; the law limiting the
hours OF labor in mines to eight
hours; the congressional, legislative
and judicial apportionment laws, and
the constitutional amendment sub
mitting to the peopIeon the question Of
continuing the present investment Of
the school money.
"All of these measures we're ap-
proved by me then, and have my
endorsement now notably, the fran
chise law, the beer inspection law
and the law creating the state board
of arbitration. The franchise law
served to remove all doubts as to the
power of the state board Of equali-
zation to assess franchises, and
although franchises have heretofore
been taken into account, the total as
sessment of corporate property was
increased in our last valuation more
than ten millions Of dollars over any
previous year; and, with the aid Of
the arbitration law, several serious
strikes have already been satisfac-
torlly adjusted
Continuing the Governor said
81 do not care at this time to enter
into elaborate detail as to the record
of the first twelve months Of this adj
ministration. / have only hastily
outlined some of its salient features.
The record speaks for itself.
"In my opinion, the laws enacted
by the last legislature, to which l
have adyerted, have the approval Of
the people. The record Of the last
general assembly may possibly not
have been entirely faultless, but it
was one Of the cleanest legislative
bodies which has assembled at the
state capitol in recent years.
| Concluding, the Governor said;
'The laws have been rigidly en-
forced. Crime has been punished.
Life and property have been fully pro-
tected. The costs In criminal cases
have been greatly reduced by whole
some legislation. Every interest Of
the state has been Justly and fairly
treated. Our eleemosynary, educa-
tional, retormatory and penal institu-
tions have been generously fostered.
Honesty and frugality have been
observed in the expenditure OF
the peoples money The books Of the
state are correctly kept and the
accounting is honest. The bonded
debt has been reduced and will be
fully paid during the coming year
The tax levy for state purposes
proper is the lowest of any state Of the
} Union, and the levy to meet the
} requirements Of the public debt will
} be greatly reduced If the existing
! system Of the school certificates ii
] continued by the people.
"The largest apportionment o.
school moneys in the history Of Mis-
souri, has been made. Our casf
capital school fund, invested in oul
own securities, is the largest Of any
] state of the republic. One-third 0.
: the states revenue fund has beer
disbursed to maintain the public
schools. Our splendid educationa
system is unsurpassed. Capital ant
| labor are associated in the bonds oi
mutual and reciprocal advantage
! The credit If tie state is unsurpassed
} by the credit Of the national gov
! erment itself Our mining industries
] lare self-reliant and remunerative.
The interests Of horticulture have
been promoted. Our agricultural
! interests, despite the blight Of
) drought, are fairly conteated Our
} manufacturing and other business
+ interests are prosperous. Enterpris
r ing cities and beautiful towns anc
villages dot this fair state. A vasi
] railway system, together with oul
! great waterways, carry our product!
Z to the markets Of the world
r "All Of the varied interests Of thii
wonderful commonwealth have CLOSED
' the first year Of the new century
! confident and aggressive, and w
E begin the second year imbued Will
E the public spirit, courage and deter
.Ia