Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-03-24
Hon. M. R. Smith Candidate for
Congress.

Gated at Central College, Fayette,
Mo. Stndied law in the Office of
Louis Houck at Cape Girardeau
and practiced in Bollinger County
until 1887 when he moved to
Pennington, Mo. where he now
lives.
Mr.. Smith was Prosecuting At
torney of Bollinger County by ap-
pointment and election. Owned
and edited for four years the Mar
BILE Hill Herald. Was elected to
the State Senate in 1885 and served
one term, not seeking the honor
any more thereafter.
He introduced into the Senate
early in the session of 1887, a res
olution that set on foot an investi-
cation into the affairs of the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College
of the State University, which
changed the whole history of that
School. For although by the be-
nefcence of Congress it possessed
an endowment of 100000 or more
acres of land, it had accom-
plished nothing. This investiga-
ton, which was followed by others,
caused a general overhauling of
that department of the University
which lasted for several years and
which resulted in resurrecting the
school and putting new life into it,
and it is now one of the best in
dustrial schools in the United
States, whereas fifteen years ago
it had no rank whatever, notwith-
standing an interest bearing en-
dowment fund of S2S7 200 at that
time, as is shown by the Auditors S
Report. The Committee appoint
ed under this resolution reported
that only sixteen had graduated
from this department, averaging
about one each year. The report
showed that there had been paid
on account of the endowment, by
way of interest and leases on land,
about S135,000. The catalogue of
the University for 1903 shows an
enrolment in the agricultural de-
partmentl-of 129 students for the
scholastic year ending June 8,
1903. So the Agricultural and
Mechanical College is now regard
ed as one of the most valuable
departments of the University.
Mr.. Smith was appointed by the
Governor chairman of the COM
mittee to settle with the Auditor
and Treasurer for the years 1887
and 1888 and to examine into the
condition of all the other State
offices, with the exception of that
of the Governor, for the same year.
The report of this committee was
very thorough and resulted in the
abolition Of the Registrars OF
Lands Office with the recommends
ton that all records books, maps,
plats, files and field notes be trans
ferred to the office of the Secre-
tary of State. The report also
recommended a transfer of the
Office of Commissioner of Insur-
ance from the city of st. Louis to
Jefferson City, which the Legis-
lature afterwards did by Act
The method of conducting this de-
partment was entirely changed
and the department became there
after a producer of revenue instead
of being an absorber by reason OF
deficits that had to be met by ap-
preparations. The method of tax
ing insurance Companies was
changed and foreign companies
required to make deposits with
the State Treasurer. This report
became famous and brought about
many changes in the management
of the fiscal affairs of the State.
At the Revising Session of 1886
Mr.. Smith was made chairman o1
the Joint Revision Committe tc
revise the Criminal Code of the
State, and was prominent on other
important committees as the Sem
ate Journal will show.
For four years Mr.. Smith was
Reporter of the st. Louis Court 0.
Appeals, resigning from that Office
last fall. In this capacity he gave
to the bar and bench of the State
the highest satisfaction. For the
last fifteen years he has devoted
himself almost entirely to thu
practice of law and has won some
fine legal battles against the bes
lawyers in the State. His reputa.
ton as lawyer ranks With thu
ablest in this part of Missouri.
FOR SALE-Young COW, fresh il
April. Apply at Land Office, Iron
| ton. Mo,