The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-01-05
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR
DISCUSSES MANY QUESTIONS BE-
 FORE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.


 Finances of the State-Increase in Re-
 ceIpts-Few States Can Show Better
 COndition-Taxation- State In
 stitutions-Better Salaries for State
 Officers and Judges of High Courts Labor. >
 The following is. in part, Governor Roberts message read to the general assembly yesterday:
 FINANCES.
 Quoting from the report of the comp. troller, I note that the receipts from all sources for the civil list funds during the year ending September 30, 1904, were three million three hundred and eighteen thousand eight hundred eigh- ty-nine and nineteen one-hundredths dollars (sS,S1S,SS9.19). an increase over the receipts from ordinary sources of the previous year of one hundred two thousand seven hundred sixty-eight and ninety-five one-hundredths dollars ($102, 76s,95).
 The receipts for the year ending in 1903 from "all sources" were $3,671 ,040, in which were included $454OOO, amount received in settlement of the civil war claims, which largely accounts for the excess of receipts from ''all sources" of the year 1903 over that of 19O4-the re ceipts from war claims being an unu- sual and extraordinary addition to the yearly Income of the treasurer. During the year 1904 there were received s37.- i 000.00 in payment of the Spanish war claims. It may be noted, in passing. ] that some reduction of the state in come in 1904 was due to the fact that prices Of securities taxed by the state were listed at lower figures than in 1 1903-the prices of said securities hay- ing fallen in value at the period of tax ation below that of the preceding year: and the same was true. of real estate l values. ....,
 The funded debt of the state. less civ il list funds in the treasury. was at the l close of the fiscal year $214, ,5S4
 ~ BALANCE IN TREASURY.
 The balance in the treasury to the credit of the civil list funds September 30, 1904, was seven hundred thirty.seyen thousand five hundred fifteen and fifty one one-hundredths ollars (s737, ,5155f), an increase over the balance of the year previous of one hundred nine thousand one hundred forty-one and seven one- hundredths dollars f$109 914107).
 Few states of our union of states can 1 offer a better financial showing than to-day appears on the books of the state treasurer. The debt of the com ] monweaith is small and this result has been attained without recourse to the burden of direct state tax upon her people. The people of the state pride 1 themselves on the honored and respect ed position she holds among her sister states, her credit unimpaired and all her obligations promptly and justly met NOT withal is it, as 1t appears to me, the temperand purpose of the people Ito be niggardly in supplying just de- nlands. but rather to appropriate with that fair and liberal spirit such sums as shall enable the state to preserve her prestige and maintain her reputation 1 for progress and enterprise; and it was l the overwhelming testimony of those l disinterested but we'll informed, when l last this matter of state expenses was I investigated, that any curtailing on the lines proposed, as result of that inVes- tlgation, would be detrimental to tho I best interests of the state. So that We may draw our conclusion that there has ! hpnf1 IStfJs -t, diture, and the increased outlay has been for legitimate purposes, and for needs which the people of the common I wealth will demand shall be supplied, especially when they relate to matters of education and the relief for the ills of humanity. STATE REFoRMAToRY. l The general assembly of 1903 author ized the appointment of reformatory commission, whose duty it will be to re port to the general assembly on the I purchase of site and the erection of a ] building for reformatory. 1 The report of this commission will be l submitted to you for action therein, with such. recommendation as they shall present to you. Whether. with the present law toscerning "indeterminate sentences" the necessity for reforna- l tory is as essential as before said law was passed and whether the passing of this law relieves the conditions hoped 1 to be alleviated. and whether in our state institution (so admirably man aged by Warden Garvin and an efficient l board of directors) such classification of prisoners cannot be made as will so separate and segregate them as to ac- complish one of the desirable purposes Of a reformatory, are questins about which there may be a difference of opinion: but no doubt the commission which has been appointed will in its re- port clearly set forth the needs, or oth- erwise, for building a reformatory, in such way as will help you to decide the matter. But to my mind, in view of the law now in force relating to "in- l determinate sentences" it is a question which may be seriously considered as 1 to the actual need of this institution at | the present time, and the expense of erection and maintenance of the same will be no inconsiderable sum. With this suggestion leave the matter to your determination.
 SALARIES OF STATE OFFICERS.