The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-18
FRIDAY, MARCH Is, 1908.
NJ. K. SMITH FOR CONGRESS


rious parts OF the Thirteenth Con
gressiona district to become a
candidate for the Democratic nom
ination for Congressman, has de
clded to do so. Senator Smith is
50 well known i'll Southeast Mis-
souri, being one of the most prom
ucnt and successful lawyers OF this
section and recognized as one OF
the ablest in the State, that he
needs no introduction to the peo-
Pile, but a brief outline OF his life
and public record is pertinent at
this time,
Mr.. Smith was born and reared
in Bolllnger county, Mo- and is
OF a good, sturdy old Mcthodistic
family. He was educated at Cen.
trail College, Fayetle, Mo, studied
law in the office OF Louis HouCk
at Cape Girardeau, and practiced
IN Bollinger county until 1887,
when he removed to Pennington.
He served as Prosecuting Attorney
OF Bolinger county, first by APP
pointment then by election, and
ior four years edited the Marble
Hill Press In 1880 he was nom
mated by the Democrats and elect
ed State Senator, serving one term,
not seeking re election.
His work in the Senate left its
impress on the State i'll several
important particulars, Early in
the session OF 1887 he introduced
a resolution that set on foot an in.
vestigation into the affairs of the
agricultural and mechanical De.
partment OF the State University
which resulted in changing the
whole history OF that school Al
though, by the benchcCnCe OF Con.
grcss, it possessed all endowment
Of 500, 900 acres Of land, it had &C
complishcd little or nothing. This
investigation, followed up by 9th
crs, caused a general oycrhauling
OF that department OF the lniver-
Sity, which finally resulted in res.
directing the school and putting
new lie into it. 1t is now one Of
the best industrial schools in the
United States, whereas fifteen years
ago it had no rank whatever, not
withstancing it enjoyed all inter.
est bearing endowment fund OF
1887 900 at that time
The committee appointed under
Senator Smith 5 resolution reported
that only 10 graduates had gone
out from that departments erag.
ing about one each year-and that
there had been paid out on account
of the endowment, by way OF in,
terest and leases on land. about
1885, 900. The 1908 catalogue of
the University shows an enroll.
ment i'll the agricultural depart
ment of l2S students for the scho-
lastic year ending Juge 3, 1908;
and to-day the agricultural and
mechanical department OF the Uni.
versity is regarded rs one OF its
most valuable features.
Senator Smith was appointed by
the Governor to the Craftsmanship
of the committee to settle with the
Auditor and Treasurer, and to ex.
anime into the condition of all the
other State Offices, with the exccp-
ton OF that of Governor, for the
same years. The report OF the
committee was thorough and result.
ed in the abolition Of the Office of
Register of Lands, with the recon-
mendation that all records, books,
maps, plats, files and field notes be
transferred to the Office of the Sec
rotary of State. The report also
recommended the transfer of the
Office of Commissioner of Insurance
from St. Louis to jefferson City,
which the Legislature did by sub
sequent act. The method of con.
Quoting the Insurance department
was entirely changed and that de-.
partment became producer OF rev.
enue instead OF all absorber thereof
by reason of deficits which had to
be me. by appropriations from the
States money. The method of
taxing insurance companies was
changed and foreign companies
were 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 1889
Mr.. Smith was made chairman of
the Joint. Committee to Revise the
Criminal Code of the State, and
was prominent on other important
committees, as the Senate journals
will show |