Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-01-12

I yea uulglHB the grounds and putting IN,
I capitol building in such condition that II
| VIII be crcditablc TO this commonwealth
should continue. have secured an esti.
mate from competent architects. and Il
appears that an aDpropria ton OF $50,
600 will be sufficient TO complete the re.
pairs on the capitol building and to make
E its surroundings attractive. I earnestly
{ request that this amount be appropriated
supreme COurt building.
The amendment submitted at the last
| general election authorizing the levy oil
tax to construct a new capitol failed
TO receive the. approval of the people. II
~ not probable that a new state house
Will be constructed for many years. With
necessary improvements tho present
building Will answer the demands of the
state FOR some time. II Is important
however, that new fire proof structure
should be erected without delay, to &c.
cial reporter the attorney-generai, the
state library, and properly care for thu
/ Ll.s OF all the state Offices which are
business. l can not too strongly urge
upon the general assembly the pressing
need OF such "A structure The present
architectural freak. but wholly deficient
| IN modern COnViences and appliances. Its
rooms are are narrow and eramped. II Is
no wise fitted for the discharge OF the
duties devolved upon the supreme ju.
dietary. A new building Of the capacity
aud character mentioned may he con.
structed In the capitol grounds. 1t SCENES
TO me, however, that II would be- far
preferable to secure, either by purcha Sc
or condemnation, suitable site outside
these grounds, within easy access of the
capitol building.
able architects, who think an appropria-
ton Of $4,000 will be ample TO erect the
building,
Worlds Fair Fand Balance.
The million dollars voted by the people
20 suitable display the resources OF the
al
expended. | recommend that the uneN.
pended balance. amounting to about on,
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. be ap.
propriated to aid I'm the construction OF
the proposed fire proof building for the
supreme court
MIEHOurIs Claim Against National
Governments.
Under the authority of an act passed
by the last congress, the secretary
of the treasury has allowed the claim OF
Iih 1878 In favor Of Missouri. This
amount will reimburse the state for In
terest on loans procured by Gov. Gamble
/ equip and maintain troops TO uphold the
authority OF the federal government dur
Ing the civil war. Congress, at the pres
cnt session, Will undoubtedly appropriate
the amount of this allowed claim. l
recommend. therefore. such enactment as
Will authorize the. fund commissioners,
upon payment, TO invest the amount, un-
der proper safeguards In state, county or
municipal bonds Of not less than par
value. the interest to be annually distrlb-
uted for the support OF the university and
the public schools.
National Guard,
The general government has made gem
Croua provision to aid the states in the
maintenance of the national guard. The
appropriation for this purpose by the
state should not be stlnted, but sufficient
- n"nN'' well-eQulpped organization
OF the militia.
rnrdOn Attorney.
At the beginning Of this administra ton
] approved bill creating the office, OF
nard6n attorney. / believed then that
auch an officer was essential to the
proper conduct ut public business in re-
spect to applications for executive elem;
there was no necessity for this officer, the
clerical force OF the governors office be-
ing ample tn perform the duty, The
office has remained untitled, ] recon-
mend the repeal OF the act authorizing
this appointment,
Game Law.
II is imperative that a law to protect
our game should b" enacted. Its pro-
visions should be stringent and effective.
: The necessity for such legislation Is SO
obvious that argument becomes unneces-
saryr
school Books.
/ renew the recommendation made to
the last general assembly for efficient
legislation to secure cheaper and better
school books for our children. This com
monweslth is in the grasp OF the Amer
lean Book trust, and Il Is the duty of
laws to relieve parents from the eXac-
tons Of this trust.
Excise Commissioner.
Under existing statutes the authority
to issue dISmshop licenses in Kansas
city IL shared jointly by the county court
Of jackson county and the police board
Of Kansas City. Al the session of the
general assembly, in 1901, favored the
sITR nj mt nf ~ cell aaW
for Kansas City, with powers and duties
similar to those. exercised by the excise
commissioneT OF 81 Louis; The police
duty Of granting saloon licenses. rec
lmInend such changes in our laws as will
divorce the police board from this duty
and devolve 1t upon the county court,
and an excise commissioner, TO be APP
pointed by the COVE nor.
The act authorizing the compensation
of the excise commissioner Of ST. Louis
by, fees should be repealed, and a fixed
salary substituted.
Missouri Statue.
The president of the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition Co tenders without
Missouri, Of heroic proportions, now oc-
cupying a niche in the Colonnade OF
erected by the eSpostion Oe eompany to- Tep.
resent the fourteen states and territories
Of the Louisiana Purchase. They are the
work OF some Of our best sculptors and
I respectfully recommend the prompt
passage Of Joint resolution accepting
the Statue, and the appropriation of an
adequate amount to pay the cost Of re-
moval to the state capital
Lewis ana Clarke Exposition.
The last legislature appropriated ten
thousand dollars, to be expended under
the direction OF the governor, to take
the initial steps to lhake creditable ex-
hibit of Missouri's resources at the Port
land exposition, which Is to open on May
!, 1905. Under the authority conferred
by this act have named a commissioner
to make selections from our exhibits at
pare and ship them To Portland. An
additional appropriation Will be very
soon required to install the exhibits and
provide compensation for the force neces.
sary to display them.
Good Roads.
/ most earnestly invite attention to the
necessity for some legislation that will
give us better country roads. The good
roads question has been agitated for a
number of years, but up to this time has
resulted in no practical measure tor their
Improvement. It Is impossible to con-
struct good roads without money, and
this money muat be raised In some way
by taxation. ! have given this question
much Thought, and am ready to accept
any feasible measure that will secure inn
proved highways. But in my opinion
there is, under our present constitution,
/ which fixes maximum rate for country
Improvement except the enactment of a
law authorizing the owners Of land in a
township or road. district to employ the
Ing funds with which to. construct good
roads, The employment OF that plan in
the. drainage OF swamp and Overflow
lands was some years ago authorized by
your honorable body, and Its application
has resulted In the reclamation Of thou.
sands OF acres OF as fine lands as can