Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-15

is 10 say, WIFI the eAtlHSulSnlnenC OIL tne
bonded debt, all the requirements of the
constitution in respect to the public debt
will have been fully met when the legis-
lature provides a sufficient amount annu-
ally to pay the interest upon the school
certificates, which now constitute an en-
dowment fund for the benefit of Missou-
ri's magnificent educational system.
The interest charge upon the treasury
on account of the school certificates will
amount, in round numbers, to $250,00O an
nually. Upon the basis of the present as
sessment of the taxable property of the
state, a levy of two and one-half cents
on the one hundred dollars valuation will
be ample to meet this liability. However,
inasmuch as a fractional levy will lead
to annoyance and confusion, / recon-
mend that in lieu of the ten cents on the
one hundred dollars valuation heretofore
levied, a levy of three cents on the one
hundred dollars valuation be authorized
for the fiscal year of 1903, and a levy of
two cents on the one hundred dollars
valuation for the fiscal year Of 1904.
The complete payment of our outstand-
ing bonds, together with the reduction of
state interest taxation, will constitute a
chapter In our fiscal affairs most pleasing
for itself. 1t needs no encomium. 1t JUS
titles the wisdom and the economy which
have distinguished the management of
| our financial affairs during the last thirty
years, and is a high tribute to the hon
esty and business sagacity of Missouri's
officials, both living and dead.
Now that Missouri is soon to be freed
from the restraint of bonded obligations,
it should be our constant aim, by the
continuance of liberal and progressive
| policies, to promote every interest of this
great commonwealth, and keep it fully
In harmony with the advancement of the
marvellous century in which we live.
While it Is true that much has already
been accomplished in the development Of
our resources, yet much remains to be
done. We have not yet fully measured
the extent of our corresponding re-
sources, and the zenith of wealth and
power beckons us to still greater con-
| quests. We must continue to go forward.
Departments.
The departments of insurance, labor,
building and loan, mines and mining, fac
tory and beer inspection, and the office
of the Acknowledgement, which are
branches of the executive department,
are all In charge of capable officials who
have faithfully performed their duties as
required by law. All of these brances Of
inasmuch as these officials will submit
reports l shall not in detail review their
labors.
The insurance department has grown
in recent years to be a very important
executive office. 1t is one of the larger
revenue producing branches of the state
| government, annually paying into the state
treasury several hundred thousand dol
lars more than the cost OF its mainte-
nance. The receipts from fees paid by in
surance companies amounted to $50, O66. GA
during the biennial period ending the first
of the present year. The insurance de-
partment is required annually to assess
against every insurance company not or
ganized under the laws of Missouri a tax
OF two per cent upon all premiums col
lected In this state. During the last two
years 1924, O5S.OS have been collected under
the provisions of this law. Inasmuch as
IL number of insurance companies retired
from business in the United States dur
ing this period, it was feared that the
/ tNNn nor annt tay for thn n1gt turn uaD - G
would bring very much less to the treas
ury than for the two years preceding.
But 1t seems that his apprehension was
| groundless, the income during the last
two years being greater by So, SAL than
| during the years 1899 and 1900. The finan-
| cial exhibit of this department shows
that it has been faithfully and economic
| ally managed, and its widely extended
business carefully administered.
State Institutions.
Missouri has twenty-one well equipped
institutions, fully the equals of their
State university, school of mines and
metallurgy, three normal schools. Lin
coin institute, four hospitals for the in
sane, school for the deaf and dumb,
| school for the blind, colony for the feeble
minded and epileptic, confederate home,
federal home, reform school for boys, in
dustrial home for girls, state fair, fruit
experiment station, and our state peni-
Tertiary are all under capable, economic
and humane management. The reports of
| the managers of these various Institutions
| will be submitted to the legislature, and
l shall not, therefore, weary you with
voluminous citations from such reports
affecting the scope and extent of their
work.
Missouri appropriated for the biennial
period Just closed, nearly 100000 to con
struct and equip buildings for state in
stitutions. These appropriations were all
a charge upon the state revenue fund,
except those for the buildings of the State
university n the Rolla school of mines,
which were paid out of the collateral in
heritance 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 uninsured.
state Boards.
| The state boards of health, agriculture,
pharmacy, dental examiners, embalming,
barber examiners, fish commission, char
tiles and correction, geology and media
ton and arbitration 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 well 1t is per-
haps invidious to discriminate. And yet
| feel constrained to especially commend
to your favorable notice the achievements
of this state board of mediation and ar
bitration. Since It's establishment his
board has over and over again success
fully adjusted differences between en-
| PlOyGlo dlu tLlpIoyto "lln dpllllH anu
tact 1t has discharged the important du-
ties committed to it. However, the law
creating this board requires amendment
to make 1t still more effective, and l be-
speak for this recommendation the earn
est and thoughtful consideration of the
general assembly. Arbitration is the
most potent agency for the settlement Of
the oft-recurring differences between cap
ital and labor. These differences so vi
tally affect not only the parties to the
controversies, but the public interests as
well, that they call for the wisest legisla-
ton on the part of both the state and
the general government.
National Guard.
/ most earnestly recommend a liberal
appropriation for the support of the ma
tional guard. l believe with Thomas JEFF
ferson, in a well organized and wei
equipped militia. During the coming year
the Louisiana Purchase exposition is to
be held at st. Louis and our national
guard, will, of necessity, be called upon
to meet unusual expenditures. I respect
fully urge, therefore, that the approprla-
tion for the support of the national guard
lie largely increased.
Buffalo and Charleston Expeditions.
The board of commissioners appointed
to conduct the Missouri exhibit at the
Buffalo and Charleston expositions nave
completed their labors and submitted o
your honorable body.
/ can not too strongly recognize the
ability evidenced by the members Of this
Doard In displaying the resources OF
our great state at these expositions.
The exhibits of Missouri commanded the
admiration Of the multitudes in attend
aEce, and / feel assured that the expendi-
ture of $45.229.7S for this purpose was a
wise one.
In the agricultural, horticultural, raines
and mining, educational, forestry and
dairy exhibits Missouri was awarded az
the Buffalo and Charleston expositIons
sixty-eight gold medals, f%orty-nine silver
medals, one hundred and thirty bronze
medals, and received honorable mention"
in two huudrad and civ oooao 100