Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-01-12

value. the interest to be annually distrib-
uted for the support of the university and
the public schools.
National Guard.
The general government has made gen.
erous provision to aid the states in the
maintenance of the national guard. The
appropriation for this purpose by the
state SHOULD not be stinted, but sufficient
to provide a ~well-equipped organization
of the militia.
Pardon Attorney.
AT the beginning of this administration
| approved a bill creating the office of
pardon attorney. 1 believed then that
such an officer was essential to the
proper conduct of public business in re-
spect to applications for executive Glenn
ency. Upon examination | discovered
there was no necessity for this officer, the
clerical force of the governors office be-
ing ample to perform the duty. The
office has remained untitled. I recon-
mend the repeal of he act authorizing
this appointment.
Game Law.
1t is imperative that a law to protect
our game should be enacted. Its pro-
visions should be stringent and effective.
I,he necessity for such legislation is so
obvious that argument becomes unneces-
sary.
School Books.
I renew the recommendation made to
VIZ ioot SSlIOiaL oSStlilDIS LII tllClGIll
legislation to secure cheaper and better
school books for our children. This COM
monWealth is in the grasp of the Amer
lean Book trust, and it is the duty of
the representatives of the people to enact
laws to relieve parents from the exac-
tons of this trust.
Excise Commissioners.
Under existing statutes the authority
to issue dramshop licenses in Kansas
city is shared jointly by the county court
of Kansas City. At the session of the
general assembly, in 1901, l favored the
appointment of an excise commissioner
Tor Kansas City, with power and duties
commissioner of st. Louis. The police
board should be wholly relieved of the
duty of granting saloon licenses. I rec
ommend such changes in our laws as will
divorce the police board from this duty
and devolVe it upon the county court,
and an excise commissioner, to be APP
pointed by the governor.
The act authorizing the compensation
of the excise commissioner of st. Louis
by, fees should be repealed, and a liked
salary substituted.
Missouri Statue.
The president Of the Louisiana Pur- |
chase Exposition Co. tenders, without |
cost, a symbolic statue of the state of
cupying a niche in the Colonnade of
States. This statue is one of fourteen
erected by the exposition company to rep
resent the fourteen states and territories |
of the Louisiana Purchase. They are the
work of some of our best %sculptors and
greatly admired.
! respectfully recommend the prompt
passage of a joint resolution accepting
the statue, and the appropriation Of an
adequate amount to pay the cost of re-
moVal to the state capital.
Lewis and Clarke Exposition.
The last legislature appropriated ten
thousand dollars, to be expended under
the direction of the governor, to take |
hibit of Missouri's ~esource at the Port
land exposition, which is to open on May |
|, 1905. Under the authority conferred
by this act l have named a commissioner |
TO make selections from our exhibits at
the Louisiana Purchase exposition, pre- |
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 for their
Improvement. 1t is impossible to con-
struct good roads without money, and
this money must be raised in some wav
by taxation. l have given this question
much thought, and am ready to accept
any feasible measure that will secure im-1
proved highways. But in my opinion
there is, under our present constitution,
Which likes a maximum rate for country
purposes, no other way for permanent
Improvement except the enactment of a
law authorizing the. owners of land in a
township or road district to employ the
of benefit assessments in rails
ing funds with which to construct good
roads: The employment of that plan in
me dralnage OF swamp and overflow
lands was some years G authorized by
your honorable body, and it's application
has resulted in the reclamation of thou
OF acres of as fine lands as can
be found on the continent. The drain
age law has been upheld by the supreme
court as a constitutional enactment, and
it will furnish you a guide in working
the details OF a system by which the
for themselves whether they want better
roads, and, If so, by which the cost may
be charged against each acre of land in
the township or district in proportion to
The benefit derived.
Vetoes.
In the exercise of my constitutional per-
ogatiVe, during my term, l have felt con-
to veto forty-three bills and also !
items of appropriation. l have, a
however, approved a number of meas -
ires,. OF general interest, but the list does
lot include a single "~sandbagging' en-
The sweeping investigations of
grand 1uries have vindicated my
Judgment in respect to those approved
With the lights of the past before me, c
would again approve every bill of gem
raj import heretofore signed, except one,
ihce declared to be unconstitutional by !
he supreme court. .
A. very few of our laws should be re- IL
'ealed, and new legislation in some in i
enacted; but, l respectfully sug- :,
that there is too much tinkering 4
Win the statutes. Repeating or amenda- |
DRY enactments affecting our industrial :,
interests should a most careful con- '
before approval. L
Monuments. n
During this administration imposing h
aIonuments have been erected to mark =
he last resting places of Thomas III. t
and former Governors Stewart, I,
'roWn,, McClurg and King. These state v
I shafts are a proper recognition of
! n0 Sigh Wp pobi Tery p%ositi the per1 6pers faithfully All fully I"
reat Missourians whose sleeping ashes ii
re still unmarked. l recommend ap- a
for monuments to James S. "
V%oodson, and Willard p. Hall. Al each $,
lcceeding session of the general assem- NJ
~ other monuments should be author.
ed until Missouri shall have suitably 7,
arked the. graves of all her distin- "
uished dead. ~
Many years since the state erected in G,
he cemetery at the historic old city of %
e; Geneyleve a monument in memory
NNt ShSeh .hNtO LEWIS T. LlIn. LII
now somewhat discolored and out of
pair, L. IS estimated that an appropria- 81
of $500 will be sufficient to put the -,
and the grounds surrounding IN
T.. proper condition. HI
Resume.
a resume of a few, of the essential ~
accomplished under this adminis- :"
alton may be concisely stated. / shall ST.
ny present a %succinct w.
revenues and economical vet !"
aggressive expenditure, is a treasury m
extremely gratifying. Our sur II,
us income is now larger thar at any "
me since the reduction of the tax rate M
1872 by constitutional requirement. The
surplus will enable the incom-
g administration to enter upon its la
RS without the menace of a treasury
flcit. $500 s.
The last of the outstanding bonds was =
Id on February 20, 1908, and Missouri IN
now out of debt. nj