Mexico Missouri message., 1903-01-15

ana Keep II iully IN harmony Win Lne
advancement of the marvellous century
in which we live While it is true
that much has already been accom-
plished In the development of our re-
sources, yet much remains to be done.
We have not yet fully measured the
extent of our ever-expanding re-
sources, and the zenith of wealth and
power backons us to still greater con-
quests. We must continue to go for
ward.
DEPARTMENTS.
The Departments Of Insurance, La
Dor, Building and Loan, Mines and
Mining, Factory and Beer Inspection,
and the office of the Adiutant General,
which are branches Of the Executive
Department. are all in charge of ca
pable officials who have faithfully per-
formed their duties as required by
law. All OF these branches of the
State Government are important, but
inasmuch as these officials will sub
NIT reports shall not in detail re-
view their lcbors.
The Insurance Department has
grown in recent years TO be a very
important executive office. It is one
of the larger revenue producing
branches of the State Government,
annually paying into the State Treas
ury several hundred thousand dollars
more than the cost of it's mainten-
ance. The receipts from fees paid by
fVse4V .frs 80 -
SS3,06G.64 during the biennial period
ending the first of the present year.
The Insurance Department is required
annually to assess against every in
5urance company no. organized under
the laws of Missouri q tax of two per
cont upon all premiums collected in
this State. During the last two years
1924, 05S.0S have been collected under
the provisions of this law. Inasmuch
as a number of insurance companies
retired from business in the United
States during this period, IL was feared
that the two per cent tax for the
past two years would bring very much
less to the Treasury than for the two
years preceding. But it seems that
this apprehension was groundless, the
income during the last two years be-
ing greater by $107 SAL 90 than during
the years 1899 and 1900. The finan-
cial exhibit of this Department shows
that it has been faithfully and eco
aomically managed, and it's widely ex-
tended business carefully admins
tered.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
Missouri has twenty-one WELL
equipped institutions, fully the equals
of their kind in any State of the
Union. The State University, School
of Mines and Metallurgy, three Nor
nal Schools, Lincoln Institute, four
Hospitals for the Insane, School for
the Deaf and Dumb, School for the
Blind, Colony for the Feeble-Minded
AMI Epileptic, Confederate Home, Fed
cral Home, Reform School for Boys,
Industrial Home for Girls, State Fair,
Fruit Experiment Station, and our
State Penitentiary are all under ca
pable, economic and humane manage
ment. The reports of the Managers
Of these various institutions will be
submitted to the Legislature, and
shall not, therefore, weary you with
voluminous citations from such reports
affecting the scope and extent Of their
work.
Missouri appropriated, for the BIZ
ennial period just closed, nearly $780,
10000 to construct and equip build
lugs for State institutions. These APP
preparations were all charge upon
he State Revenue Fund, except those
FOR the buildings of the State Univer-
sity and the Rolla School of Mines,
which were paid out of the Collateral
Inheritance Tax.
l earnestly urge that provision be
made for adequate insurance upon all
State buildings. But few of these
structures carry sufficient insurance,
and most of them are wholly unin-
sured.
STATE BOARDS.
The State Boards of Health, Agricul-
ture, Pharmacy, Dental Examiners,
Embalming, Barber Examiners, Fish
| Commission, Charities and CORRECTION,
Geology and Mediation and Arbitra-
tlon are all actively and efficiently at
work in the various fields of labor
assigned them by the laws under
which they were created.
Where all have done so we'll 1t is
perhaps invidious to discriminate. And
yet / feel constrained to especially
commend to your favorable notice the
achievements of the State Board Of
Mediation and Arbitration. Since its
establishment this Board has over and
over again successfully adjusted diff
Ierences between employers and en-
ployes. With ability and tact it has
discharged the important duties com.
= mitted to It. However, the law Great
| Ing this Board requires amendment to
make it still more effective. and be
speak for this recommendation the
earnest and thoughtful consideration