Mexico Missouri message., 1909-01-21

making II 20 both civil ana criminal pun
ishment
The business world regards FREQ md
unrestricted competition as misfortune
and an evil, while the law dcnounces any
agreements that tend to prevent II as a
crime. Therefore, when men enter into
n combination or trust IN restraint OF
competition and trade, and the law In
terposes to prevent or to punish those
guilty Of such an offense, the necessary
judgment Of the court oftcntimes seems
harsh In its severity and unfortunate In
Its effect on general business conditions
While the question has not been for
mally passed upon by the courts, ! am
satisfied that II is the right OF the state
TO regulate the charges and the conduct
OF any business which is impressed with
a public use by virtue OF being n monop-
oily, And / do not think IL In OF deter
mining Importance whether the monopoly
Is n natural one. exists by public fran
chise, or Is the result OF n combination
or trust.
Assuming this power OF regulation 10
exist, l believe that IL would be advls-
able to give TO the representatives Of tho
state the discretionary power to institute
proceedings for the purpose OF regulate
Ing the charges and the conduct OF
business which In In effect "A monopoly or
impressed with a public use, OF TO pro-
coed In the courts TO punish and suppress
For Scientific Education.
The practical value OF education, par
ticularly along scientific and utilitaria.I
AlutHs IN ptlNk ilhFt kNHtIthg NNNokuAANN
every day. And in no department OF this
work has greater progress been made
than In the study and investigation OF
agriculture. horticulture and the raising
and care OF live stock. The Importance
OF this work in increasing the wealth
and happiness OF the people OF the state
can not be overcstimnted, nor II the adj
vantage one that accrues alone to the
farmer and the stock raiser. For all
wealth Is. In It's last analysis, derived
from the field and the mine. There
should be no lack OF funds to carry on
this work In the most thorough manner
possible, in order that there may be
given to the people OF the state the most
advanced and scientific information that
Is available.
More Money Needed.
To accomplish all or even a substantial
part OF what the state should do in this
aud other lines Of governmental activity.
have more revenue. During the last BIZ
ennial period the appropriations exceed
ed the revenues OF the state In the sum
OF Sl,4S7.25t2A. While there were some
unusual expenses during the last biennial
period which will not arise during tho
next biennial period. and while there will
probably be an Increase OF approximately
100000 In the revenues Of the state. yet
| feel that there can be no question upon
| the proposition that we need more money
to carry on the work OF government
According TO the estimate made by the
| state auditor. the revenues for the next
biennial period will amount 10 SS.isl 900.
and the amount which is asked for the
| different departments OF state Is S1l.7f4.-
/ 222. And the fact that more revenue Is
needed does not arise from the fact that
the officials OF the present day are more
| eXtr0vagant in the expenditure OF the
public funds or enjoy larger salaries than
their predecessors Of third OF n CEN
tury ago The need for more revenue
arises from the fact that the duties OF
/ government have increased.
FaVors Inheritance Tax.
There Is now imposed n tax for the
benefit OF the state university upon col.
| lateral inheritances and / see no reason
why n tax should not also be imposed
upon inheritances generally. The objec-
/ capital stock OF corporations would rd-
/ suit In a double assessment This is not
1 true tax upon the capital stock Of
i corporations would be tax. not upon
| its property. but upon the privilege OF
l being a corporation, which is franchise
| which the state confers and Is OF benefit
| and value to those who enjoy Il,
recommend that you give TO this
question OF taxation and the increase OF
| the revenues OF the state IA careful, con-
| sentative and exhaustive examination.
and adopt such policy as may distribute,
as equally as possible. the burdens OF
taxation between all classes OF property
| and Rll classes OF our citizenship, and
| at the same time produce sufficient reVe-
| nues for the carrying on OF the proper
and the necessary affairs OF our govern
ment.
In case you should decide to impose
| the tax herein suggested upon inheri-
| tances the capital stock OF corporations
and for the inspection and sale OF spirit
| uous liquors. Il would probably be I'M
| necessary for you TO make any changes
In the method OF assessing real and per
| sonal property. Independent OF the ques-
ton Of the need for more revenue. u
| seems to me entirely right and fair that
there should be n tax imposed upon the
| additional sources or subjects OF taxation
| herein suggested.
Reduction Of Expenses.
II Is proper in connection with the con-
sideration OF the question ms to how 10
secure more revenue. that We should also
consider the question as 10 how unneces-
| snry expenses OF government can be
| avoided or reduced Wherever Il II pos.
sible to decrease the expense OF carrylnh
on any department OF government, with
out impairing its efficiency, such action
should be taken. on the other hand. u
policy which denies TO any department OF
| government the means necessary To nc
compllsh Its full measure OF usefulness
is a mistaken and n misguided one.
should Change Criminal system.
The entire system OF criminal proceed
ure should be simpllhed, and while al
the essential rights necessary for the
protection Of the innocent should be pre-.
served. such changes should be made al
viii result In the prompt and certain con-
viction OF the guilty. IL would probably
require an amendment To the constltu.
tion TO secure a complete revision Of ouI
present system OF criminal procedure.
This question naturally connects Itself
with the question of relieving the pres
ent congested condition az the docket q
| the supreme court. II now requires an
proNimately three years to secure n de
clslon OF the supreme court In n case an.
| pealed from any OF the circuits courts o
| the state. This condition f. IN direct
violation OF the constitution OF tho Stat,
OF Missouri and OF that ancient chartc
OF the liberties OF the English speaking
people the Magma ChRrta. both OF which
provide that Justice shall neither be de
layed nor denied
system OF state Roads.
Any discussion OF the question az {,
how the burdens 60 which the people an
now subject can be relieved by the stat
government would be incomplete withou
reference to the subject Of the bulldlnl
Of roads. There Is no tax or burden tina
falls more directly or more heavily upOI
the people OF tho state than that whicl
n caused by poor roads. or the lack O
roads. The whole problem Of transporta
tion--in fact. the Important problem o
commerce and Of civilization ITSELF
the carrying OF that which II produce,