The Republican journal., 1905-01-12

prisons and 1a1lS. but these were not
torture chambers, and better still, the
hayward youth of both sexes were
placed under a restraint-wholesom
and implying no disgrace-that should
incline their lives toward industry and
sobriety. They realized that an in
famed public opinion might ut some
time threaten law and order, and they
established a militia service that
should make not only for the peace of
the community, but that should aid
the National Government when the
country was called to arms. They
sought to protect and husband the
natural resources of the State; to
preserve its fish and game, to make
public the most intelligent and eff
cient methods of forestry, to collect
statistics relating to the progress of
industrial development and labor, to
check epidemics and to suggest ways
of safeguarding the public health, to
encourage and foster the pursuit of
agriculture and kindred subjects, and
to prevent contagion among cattle.
With the increase of wealth and the
profitable expansion of business came
the agitation and discussion OF new
questions affecting the economic well
fare of the State. A commercial de-
velopment was taking place that re-
quired far more capital than could be
furnished by individual resources, and
one that to successfully accomplish it's
purpose must ask and receive certain
privileges that only the State can
give Corporations multiplied, and
special and practically exclusive
rights were granted by the Legisla-
ture. To encourage this development
along lines of safety, to protect the
investor and not infringe upon the
rights of the citizen, to aid the corpo-
ration and at the same time guard
the physical and financial interests Of
the public. and all the while to secure
for the State in taxes fair and
equitable compensation - all these
were vexatious problems requiring
for their satisfactory solution the ut
most care and ability and the keenest
sense of justice. Such corporations in
particular as railroads, savings banks,
trust and insurance companies deal
with the public generally and in order
that their proper relation to the
State might be defined and fully un-
derstood comprehensive system of
laws was adopted that should specify
accurately the terms and conditions
upon which they might enjoy certain
rights and privileges.
While the State gradually assumed
and exercised the functions here
enumerated and many more, and did
this in conformity to law, yet the pas
sage OF laws alone could not insure
tro afi Of hlIS
in a prompt and satisfactory manner
Executives and responsible heads were
necessary, and so, cotemporaneous in
many instances with the laws them
selves, and receiving authority under
them, there came into existence the
various officials, Boards and Commits
sions, whose duties, clearly defined and
mandatory. consisted in managing
these subordinate departments of the
States business and concerns. Inas
much as every citizen has the right to
know the business of the State, and it
is assumed that he desires such knowl
edge, one of the most important essen
tials in conducting the affairs of these
several departments is the element of
publicity 1t is the duty, therefore. of
each official or official body charged
with administration, to make and sub
nit to higher legislative or executive
authority, at stated and frequent peri
DDS, full and complete report of all
the business transacted during the in
terval of such periods. And with this
there has grown, properly enough, the
custom of embodying in these reports
such recommendations bearing upon
the future conduct and management of
the business as in the Judgment of
those familiar with it may appear to
be for the best interests of the State
and for all concerned | believe that
the officials to whom reference is here
made have administered the affairs of
their several departments with wis
dom, economy and honesty and that
they possess a due sense of their re-
sponsibility to you and the public they
serve.
Without pretending TO have acquired
a full and comprehensive knowledge
Of the States many and diverse inter
ests, l have examined and studied the
reports in question, and with the heads
Of nearly all the Departments have dis
cussed in conference or correspondence
the purposes and leading features of
their work. AS rule they have dis
played great care and conservatism in
following the law, and tact and discre
ton in those instances where the law
permitted the use of their own judg
ment.
The public acts of an official are
properly subject to the most rigid scru
tiny, and the official himself cannot
hope or expect to escape criticism. My
power as an Executive will be used to
aid and protect every official in his
efforts to promote the interests of the
State along the lines of his plain duty,
and will be used as freely and firmly
to check unwarrantable assumption or
abuse Of authority.
These reports are now before you or
are at your command Their contents
supply information of value to every
citizen. They not only disclose the
logical and practical results of past
legislation, but they furnish figures
and facts showing substantially all
that is being accomplished in the
sphere of the States endeavor While,
for reasons already indicated. do not
purpose at this time to present their
details or even summaries for your
consideration, [ earnestly urge you to
read and study them, that you may
gain the knowledge to act intelligently
upon their conclusions. suggestions
and recommendations.
do not mean to advocate the appro-
priation of any money in excess of the
amounts absolutely necessary for the
reasonable maintenance and operation
OF the institutions now supported or