The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-17
A REMARKABLE STATE PAPER.

The message OF Governor Sayers to the
State legislature is a remarkable State
paper. Not for brilliance of diction. nor elo
quence OF address nor novelty of proposal
not for any of the things which commonly
give impressive effect to political expression
but for unequalled mastery of the plain
business of administration.
1t is somewhat long, but It will repay
thoughtful reading. Indeed, II is so lumiD.
GUS of information and so comprehensive
of the practical workings of State govern
ment that the intelligent citizen will find it
instructive and entertaining in the highest
degree.
There is a note of pardonabe pride run
ming through II and none will begrudge the
governor tho credit which is thus reflected
upon this closing act of his admin
/ stration. for It must appear to the candid
observer that the states affairs have never
been more wisely ordered.
He congrstulates the people that, In spite
of drouths and calamities Unprecedented.
Texas has increased in taxable wealth
from fouryear gain Of S72,507 .4S2 to
four-year gain of S162.s52.367 With
an increase Of 1914 miles of railways
as against IN increase of $50 during
seven years preceding with bank resources
grown from $,7 553 600 TO S142, 632 600, aud
corresponding enhancement and Improve.
ment in all departments of endeavor. I'm.
agination can easily calculate what our
I progress would have been with normal sea
/ sous, and II is q conservative forecast to
predict two fold more development in the
next period of four years.
/ But 1t Is in the analysis of State depart
ments. and in the grasp of working details
/ that the governor shows a master hand He
is at home here. Coming to the Office after
many years of service IN Washington with
its National problems and politca allure
meuts, IL might have been expected that he
would exhibit some swkwarduess in the
smaller affairs Of state government But
his broad experience lost him none of the
painstakins qualities with which nature en-.
dowed him. aud Texas never had an execu.
tive who SO quickly seized the little things
aud SO faithfully watched the operations OF
all departments and institutions He il
leaving the asylums, peuitentiaries aud col.
leges IN better form than they have ever
been and not one of them has failed of the
.
His recommendations for legislation are
directed to the manifest evils which appear
to . practical mind--to the inequalities Of
tax renditions the working of conyicts and
the purchases of State farms, the incou.
sruities OF public school laws and insult.
fcency ot school revenues, the needs Of
educational institutions the indiscriminate
charterins Of corporationn not conceived in
good faith, the correction OF wasteful prac.
tees grown UP under the land laws, the
suppression OF boil weevl and such other
measures which constitute real working
craftsmanship.
TO those who are attracted only bv the
spectacular and the heroic, the sensational
and tho revolutionary In politics, Gov
ernor Savers may have appeared as an
Indifferent executive But to those who OBJ
serve results and measure statesmen nv
their fruits, who look upon the State gov
eminent as a simple organism for disposing
public AFFAIRS orderly and economically,
with the least friction of operation and the
minimum of distraction. his sterling quail.
ties will readily appear. And the exposition
which he modestly makes in this message
must impress the thoughtful citizen with
the rare excellence Of the passing admint
stration
AT the close of long career conspicuous
for usefulness and honorable dealiug--a ca
reer which has brought the reward OF public
esteem. without the doubtful prefermeuts OF
vaultlng ambition or the selfish emolumepts
OF questionable methods-TeKas paws him
grateful tribute. He has been diligent
public servant. He has been faithful TO ey.
cry duty, responsive TO every demand and
, true to every trust. Some have won more
applause by Gathering more nolsily across
, the stage OF action. Some have done more
startling things But for unfailing fidelity.
for conscientious and efficient work in the
business of administration none has az
celled. and none has won more enduring
place in the aftectionate regard of the PEG
pie.
May peace crown his declining years. as
service has badged his active career, and
may the comforts OF private life be album.
! dainty bestowed upon the uuselfsh, the un-
sullied the untiring man whose labors have
so materially benefited the commemorative
and whose character SO spenddly adorns
her citizenship
A.. =-=----------r---
SouTH CAFoLtNA now has an opportunity 10
. | make M tgap,oip ..,u.,..I,..