The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-28
.COMER'S MESSAGE
 ID LEGISLATURE Full of Praise for Work Already
 Accomplished A LEGISLATIVE REVIEW Feature of the Message Is Demand for More Stringent Prohibition Laws. Wants Prohibition in the
 Constitution.
A LEGISLATIVE REVIEW

message to the legislature, which met in special session today, Governor Conner bestows great praise on the members for the work accomplished in previous regu- lar and special sessions. He dwells at length on the work that has been done for the schools of the state and for the old soldiers.
 The feature of the message is a demand for more stringent prohibition laws and also that prohibition be put into the state constitution.
 Following is the full text of the mes- sage: A
 The Governors Message. Gentlemen of the Legislature, House and Senate:
 In calling you into extraordinary ses- sion l think 1t right to compliment you on your success in legislation. Unques- tionably you have created a revolution for good throughout the state, and time will approve your acts; will verify the correctness of your statutes and show you acknowledged benefactors of your state.
 Equalization of Taxes.
 The law for equalization of taxes has been successful. Without putting an un- just burden on any property, 1t has add ed in franchise and ad valorem value sl0oOOOOO0 to the tax assessments of the state. This, too, In face of the fact that the country has suffered from a panic. The operation of your law is new, but feel confident that after being more fully understood, and when normal business conditions return 1t will be most sue cessful in securing an equitable adjust ment Of all tax values.
 EIeemosynary Institutions.
 Your appropriations for the eleemosy- nary institutions of the state have been liberal and have accomplished much good. The asylums at Tuscaloosa and Mt. Yer non are on a much better basis. Both asylums are full. The expenses last year were s80,000 more than in 1907, and al ready this year $110000 more. There should be some method of returning to the counties those inmates whose con dition does not require their confinement, and also some method of vising and linn itng expenses and returning to the state treasury such moneys as are unexpended.
 Your appropriation for the Insti- ute for the Deaf has extended the fa- cities of that institution, and the trus- tees report that most excellent work Is being done there.
 Lake. with its new buildings. is on a larger and better basis for the care ano training of the wayward youths wh O come under its management The Old Soldiers Home at Mountain Creek is better cared for, and cor 1i- tions there are more satisfactory than ever before.
 Pensions.
 You designated $100,G0O per year for frst-class pensioners; for second class, $so,ooo for third-elass, se4,ooo; for fourth class, $50,000, and you made an appropriation of s950,0O0 per year to be added to the $50,O00 previously ap- propriated and the one mill ad valorem tax, thus esta blishing the pension fund. These sums amounting to ss29,15S IS for the past year are $352,255.9 94 more than the pension fund amounted to for the year ending September 30, 1907. But the pension examiners, under tn e law increased the number of first-clas ss pensioners from TAT to 1791 and the to- tai number from 15,475 to 16,696. Not withstanding this large increase in the number of pensioners the frst-class actually received s8s 75 for the fiscal year 1908 as against $60 for the year ending September 30 1907; second class, $71 as against $50; third class $58 as against $40; fourth class, S44 as against S80 On account of the increased number of pensioners the ad- yancement from lower class to first class the old soldiers did not receive this year the full amount per capita for the last quarter; yet they in the az gerate and individually, received much more than in the year ending Septem Der 30, 1907, and a larger amount than ever before, and the grand total for pensioners of sS2s,1B3.1s per annum evidences the states gratitude.
 Schools.
 Your appropriations for schools of every class have been like planting good seed in ground that has been made thorough ly rich and fallow.
 The new buildings at the university. at the polytechnic, at the girls industrial long needed-have placed those institu- tions on new and higher basis, se-