The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-15

and in the neighborhood of some large city "21ld o practically annihiiate 'the regiments. There has been some b tterness among some Of the officers of the regiments. They are sometimes inclined to demand hearing at the States expense, to the great annoyance of the average citizen. I have thought if these of hceIs could not get along on amicable terms with each Other. they ought to resign Courts- martials and Cou ts of Inqu ry are sometimes necessary but expensive to the State
 The Dispensary.
 We have dispensaries, controlled by dozen statutes. dlneifng mate ially. It will occur to you that they each. and those which may fol- law.
 Protection for the Capitol.
 l have caused large water pipes to be run to every floor of this building with hS d ants at convenient places and hose Of sufficient lengths to serve. in case of fre tho remotest rooms. The building itself. as old and in- convenient and unkept as 1t is, is one of our very richest possessions. Aside from the mere money value. have thought 1t very right and proper to take every preeaution to protect 1t from possible destruction. Before these hy- drants were placed, water could not be carried to the third floor and the building in case of any Ire at all beginning high up. was doomed. The Improvements. however. their own cost The reduction in the cost of insurance ali eady arranged for, win be suffic ent in two years to fully reimburse the State. Capitol Buildings and Grounds. The capitol building Is in great need of re- pairs. as you have noticed. The economy prac- tieed on t for the past six yeas has been in two years there has heen spent for re- pairs and refurnishng" S3 o63.57. This sum would have been adequate, if at the beginning of the year ending Sept. 30. 800. the build Ing had been in good even fair cond tion but. unfortunately, the previous administ a. ton had touched 1t with a most sparing hand. You will be called upon to make such an appropi tation as will repair the ravages of several years, large part of the most re- cent charge has been spent in an effort to prevent the roof from leaking It has been recently repa a'nted and may keep the water out for another year. The whole building inside and out. needs paint and there are sme changes in the inside construction which ought not to be longer delayed.
 Moreover, the house is now too small to ac- commodate the departments. Those of you who have had experience in Legislatures here or have considerable acquaintance with the Capi- tol will readily agree. The others of you W II find this to be tue. The two wings of the building facing west should be extended from thirty to fifty feet to the full three stories ihis pan has often been suggested and the duty is now well nigh imperative. You ought to face 1t early in the session.
 The Department of Archives and History has had most remarkable growth and is now quite beyond the physical opportunities wh ch should be all0wed it. The addition to the building. as above suggested, will meet the full present wants of that and other depart. ments. Another time, and as the State gets
 
 building should be erected for the care Of our precious heirlooms and cur more D ecious his tory. In this building might be furnished the ladies of the several chapters of the DauRh- ters space for the nteresting wnr relics which they have gotten together.
 The remainder of the Capitol square should be acqut- ed. Ha'dly reflective person To ks at the surroundings who does not at once wonder why this has not been done bcfore On iI Governors home might be built If you in your wisdom. of the opinion that the
 
 time.
 l. therefore respectfully suggest that you make an appropriation for a new roof to the building to be drawn when it becomes neces- sary to replace the old one:
 That you provide for an extension of the Capitol buildings and an extens on of the present square or elsewhere
 Revenue Code.
 Under the Constitution. 1t is made the duty of the Governor. Auditor and Attorney Gen eral to prepare revenue code for your fin formation" That duty has been discharged The wo was done under the more imne- q ate supervision of the Auditor. Tn is prep aration. we had the advice, for several days Of several county asscssors collectors and at least two back tax commissioners. I hope you will find it an improvement over the revenue codes of the past. There Is one startling inno- vation in t to wh oh I cal your attention This is stamp tax on mortgages. Under the ope' ation of old Codes, there was no tax duty resting on foreign concerns lending money in the state Our own people were thus discrirni- mated against. There are several other im- portant changes. This Code ought to have gone in to ycu today, but has been delayed for reasons which are excusabie. You will have 1t on your desks in a few days
 Carrying Concealed Weapons.
 The habit may he decreasing in Alabama have not seen the statistics of convictions If decreasing at all, the reform has not been Of such magnitude as to attract attention. Since have had the power. I think have not, in any case, relieved a man of the lno imposed. though frequently urged to Go so and in some cases in pShich there was appa- rent merit The only fault find with the law is in it's execution. As we progressed in other respects, the thoughtful and law-abi1fng have looked forward to a day when the carrier of a deadly weapon would meet a public opinion ready to consign him to year or more in the State penitentiary. As it is. if he has money he can pay out in any county In the State except one. All honor to that county and to the righteous judge. though it may be said that he would D obably not be 80 successful if not yet ready to have the embryo murderer dig coal or raise cotton for the State.
 Immigration.
 The State. as such, has met with little success in It's advertising scheme to attract settlers to It's farm lands. In the very nature of the case. We can hardly expect to secu- thrifty Germans. Swedes or other yaluablo labor to our neglected fields through g,verr mental agencies. The large railroad co plra- ions could be much more effective The fafl- road authorities could well serve their compa- nies by organizing land corporations to secure and plant the settlers in given places along their lines and together. These peoDIe wifi want the promise Of help wben they arrive which the State is not in a position to fur nish Our efforts heretofore to secure vaiu- able additions to our sparsely settled countrs, have met with disappointment. Practically ail the cofnerE,s iF bo have pitched their fenfa