The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-15
THE oovERNoRs MrssAaE.

| to be congratulated on the plain. straight ! forward. business-Iike message which the former has presented for the considers ton of the latter. There is no effort at self1exaltation, no comparisons intended to create the impression that this is the only administration in the history of the State worthy of the name. The Governor pays to the Legislators the compliment of treating them as wide awake citizens, who know what Is hap pening around them, the conditions that exist and the duties that are devolved upon them.
 l Very properly he expresses qualification at the better methods which now prevail in our elections and on the better cleo toral constituency. The State win more and more come to realize these two great blessings as the years roll by. 1t is gen. orally recognized that the problem of ar ranging for local legislation is a very great one. The Governor well says that local legislation has heretofore had tendency to dwarf our legislative stature. | Under new conditions. the largest per- sonality. and the strongest, will take his | easy place at the head This is one of the blessinbs which the new Constitution brings us for which we should not be un- l thankful"
 He expresses the hope that when the work Is properly divided among compe- tent committees that the difficulties will grow less serious and will adjust them selves"
 The enactment of an election law that will bring absolutely fair results is earn estly urged, and in connection herewith the need of a better primary law is strongly presented. He refers in gen. eral way to redistricting the State and says that the arrangement of the judicial system is open to serious criticism. He treats Of the financial condition at con siderable length and especially calls at- tention to the fact that the tax limitation at 65 cents makes it necessary for the l greatest economy to be practiced. He says on this line:
 We were fortunate in getting through the past two years without disaster. The demands upon the treasury were the most 1 notable in the States history. So appre- hensive were the law makers that they in the last session, passed an act provid- Ing that if lack of money appeared quite probable the several appropriations l were to be diminished In proportion to their interests to meet any exigency of l the treasury. This law was not invoked. The assessments grew handsomely under an insistent administration and the reve- nues were so carefully husbanded that we find the treasury, after two years, in a somewhat stronger position. The re- ceipts (see latest Auditors report, page 2O) were for the two years, S,751, 1500, and I the disbursements (see same page) were | $5,671, 29, leaving a net balance of re- ceipts over disbursements of $7S2s1.72. Efe'enters quite largely Into statement of what has been done toward taking up present bonded debt with new bonds at a reduced rate of interest, He says:
 have been negotiating for the sale of | new bonds to take up the first three classes They are in great demand. but have not had an offer that seemed fair to the State. Several proposals have been made for a contract with the, State look ing to the Issuance of a 1-2 per cent l bond, the buyer paying the difference in interest until l906 the time of maturity, between the 1-2 per cent rate and the and 5 per cent rates, the bonds now de- mand. This difference in interest amounts to about $16000 year.
 It Is very evident that the interest bur dens of the State will be very greatly de- creased. The Governor says he. did be- Heve the offers made were sufficiently at tractive and he felt constrained to de- cline them all. In the meantime he im- presses upon the law makers the fact that for several years to come 1t will require $449,OO to meet the States annual inter est account.
 The educational outlook is shown to be very encouraging. The receipts for the system for 1901 was $s52,719 and for 1902 $965 6S5 and for 1908 it will be S9Sl679. As the new Constitution fixes the amount for schools at mills of the 1-2 taxation allowed, the amount is likely to be more hereafter than has yet been realized He urges that special care be taken in the making of special appropriations. He makes some special recommendations as to the Girls School at Montevallo.
 The State University at Tuscaloosa and the Polytechnic at Auburn are both shown to be in fine condition. the attendance at the latter being the largest in it's history.
 On the subject of lynching the Governor uses language which cannot be misunder- stood. His utterances are worthy of our Chief Executive and ought to be read and re-read by every citizen of the State. There is absolutely no excuse for mob violence. When one pretext for its invo- cation Is exhausted, it is easy to create another. The Governor cites instances where the usual crime for which lynch ing is resorted to, was not the one that led breakers to take the law in their own hands.
 The convict system of the State is fully and intelhgently treated and it Is plain
 to the dullest comprehension that it is on
 the best basis that has eAlsted in the hls- tory of the State. Both from the point of humanity and financial result it is ex- ceedingly creoltaole 10 all concerned, He thinks 1t advisable to seek to at- tract immigrants to our State and his views are well worthy of the favorable consideration of the Legislature.
 The Governor calls attention to the
 great need for repairs on the Capitol, and
 well says that the economy practiced on 1t for the past six years has been sav- age. Not only this but he shows the need e for enlargement nearly every depart = unant heinz crowded fnr room loh.,na