The commonwealth., 1908-01-17
psaslsas z ceafsaerate selaler.

gray line Is growing thinner every year
--.but few mere days and the last one
will have crossed over the river to
spend eternity with God beneath the
shade of the trees. Out of the abund
anee OF material blessings which God
has bestowed upon our people, let the
legislature give pension to the deserv.
ing ex-Confederats soldier, which will
keep the wolf of want from the door,
ands in part, absolve the obligation
which the sons and daughters of Con
fedefate veterans acknowledge to him
for bis almost infinite sacrifice for right
and truth.
Separate Sleeping and Dining Carr for
The Races.
| l cannot too earnestly urge upon the
legislature the necessity for separate
sleeping and dining ears for the races,
and the strict enforcement of the law,
Experience has demonstrated that the
more widely the races are separated In
matters social and political, the greater
harmony will exist between them.
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb.
Your attention is directed to the re.
port of the board of trustees and the
superintendent of this institution. New
buildings have been cdmpleted, and it
is now one of the most handsome in
stitutions of its kind in the United
States. The board of trustees, assisted
by the superintendent Prof j. r.
Dobyns, deserve great credit for the
economical construction and successful
management of this splendid institution.
State Charity Hospital.
The charity hospitals situated at
Vicksburg and Natchez are well con.
Quoted, and supply in part the pressing
need of the state in matters of this
nature, but the necessity for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of a large
hospital at Jackson with the capacity
to meet the demands of thB entire state
does not admit Of question or contro-
versy.
Departemnt Of Agricultural and Com
merce.
Your attention is directed to the re.
port of the commissioner of agriculture
and commerce. This offieel has been
in existence but two years, and already
the good results are felt by the farmers
all over the state from the work dcne
by Commissioner Blakeslee. Mississippi
is an agricultural state, and | know of
no branch of the state government that
could possibly contribute quitel SO much
to the advancement of the interests of
agriculture and commerce as the office
of commissioner of agriculture land com.
merce.
Land Commissioner.
Attention is directed to the report
of the land commissioner. The present
incumbent of that office has served
the people of Mississippi faithfully for
many years and the wisdom of estab-
fishing the office has been amply vim
dicated.
Old Woman's Home.
The necessity for the ESTABLISH hment
of home for the aged, infrm ahd in
dgent white women of Mississippi to
be maintained by the state Is ma pifest |
to everyone. There are great many |
splendid women in this state who are |
left in their extreme old age wi thout |
means to support themselves, or rela-
tives and friends who are willing ITO |
care for them. That it is the duty |
of the state to provide for these unfoF
tunate persons no just and true main
will deny. i
Public Roads.
There is no question in which The
people living in the rural districts 4re
more deeply interested than in the Jpn
of the public highway. There
are few enterprises that bring LARGER
returns for the amount invested to that
,lass of people who support the gov
maintain its commerce in time
If peace and fight its battles in time
If war--the silent toiling masses OF
he rural districts--than money In.
rested in the improvement of public
highways.
Rate Of Interest. l.
I recommend that the contract rate
If interest be reduced to per cent.
70 legitimate business can long afford
O pay greater rate than that, and
do not think that sound public policy I
hould permit any more to be charged. N
Institution for the Blind. II
cannot too heartily commend DR..
'ims for his able Management of this
Institution, and the ability, fidelity and
onesty with which the board of trus'
ees have performed it's duty. 1 com
nend to your favorable consideration
he recommendations of the board of ,
rustees Of this institution.
Executive Contingent Fund. 5
The usual appropriation of $4,000 as s
he executive contingent find is wholly 4
Requests ale numerous II
pom the governor for assistance in fer. a
nd yaotAt;nr thn in, ! II
-action of the law, and hex should have a
lnds at his disposal at oil times to
,mply with these request* If, in his e
idgment, the public service demands a
/. The use of $2,5g0 during the first r.
ear of my administration enabled us q
, completely extirpate the whitecap Il
-panization in South Mississippi, the c'
bod effects of which will be felt for c'
fty years. I recommend that an n
mount not less than $15, 900 be appro- d
rated for the contingent expenses of t.
le governors office. o.
Public Health.
Your attention is directed 10 the re. u u
,rt of the president OF the state board - =,
health, and particularly that portion .;
It which refers to the treatment OF :, :,
.bcrculosis and the prevention of its ~
read. The rapid increase Of this dis. :, y,
se throughout the United States and =;
in the South, calls for leg =, =,
|atiye attention. X IL estimated that - -
,e hundred and fifty thousand people =. ~
Q every year from tuberculosis in the =
uited States and that the loss in dol
RS and cents incident to invalidism
pruximates $350,o00,o0 year. Re
ut Investigations have shown that the
sease is not hereditary, but that sus- es
ptibility to the disease Is inherited. at
other words, that while the child OF
consumptive parent does not inherit Al
berculosis it may inherit q predispo. or
ion to It. Ihe potent motives wnlch M