The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-05-14
MESSAGE OF THE zGOH11NOR'

To the Honorable Members of thu
| Senate and of the House of Rep.
| resentatives of the General AS.
| sembly of the State of Louisiana
| Gentlemen: In obedience to the
mandates of Article "a of the Consti.
! tuition, l have the honor to transmit
j herewith brief resume of the work
, of the several departments of the
State and its institutions during the
| first two years Of this administration
together with such recommendations
as seem wise and proper and de.
manded by the public service.
| General Conditions.
Owing to successive failures in one
! Of our staple crops, cotton, caused
+ by the fayages olztAYssAfexfcan boil
Weevil, Louisiana for the past two
years has not enjoyed as great pros
perity as some of her sister states. 1t
Is matter, however, for congratula-
tlon that our people have not des-
paired and today they are rapidly ad-
justing themselves to the new con-
ditions.
Radical changes have been and are
being made in our farming methods.
Diversified farming, the dream of the
enthusiast and the theme of the lee
lurer, has become a reality.
The exemption of mortgages from
taxation has brought large amount
of capital into the State, thereby
stimulating both our industrial and
agricultural growth.
Bonded Indebtedness.
In 1914 the entire bonded indebt-
edness of the State, amounting to
$11,10S,3O0.00, will fall due, and
you should provide by proper legisla-
tion for the liquidation of this debt.
1t Is most desirable in the refund
ing fthis debt, when it becomes due
that the interest rate be materially
reduced.
had hoped to be able to state
to you in this message that some part
OF this debt had been retired, and
would, undoubtedly, have been able
to do so but for the imperative ne
cessity of repairing the public build
ings wrecked by the storm Of Sep
tember, 1909, and the providing of
funds for the continuance of the
State Normal School and other insti-
tutions. These, together with the
causes which have prevented any
increase in our assessments, were un-
foreseen and could not be either fore
told or prevented.
Public Education.
The receipts for public education
for the year 1908 were $3,917,694.-
80, and for 1909 $4,236,535.37. OF
this amount the State contributed 81
per cent and the people raised the
balance locally. Special taxes were
voted in 1908 amounting to $780,
62s.34, and in 1909 to $1,933,916.-
so. The funds realized from special
taxes were used to build and equip
school houses, lengthen the school
term and pay teachers salaries.
There has been commendable i'm
provement in the country schools
The people in the country have con-
solidated their schools, built good
houses, and employed more compe-
tent teachers than ever before. There
are 1000 teachers in consolidated
schools as against 1900 in one-room
schools.
The country schools have also be-
gun to give serious attention to the
teaching of agriculture. Nine schools
have established departments of ag-
riculture and placed trained teachers
of scientific farming in charge of
them. Six thousand country boys have
been enrolled in Corn Clubs and will
be taught agriculture at their homes.
This brief statement shows (1) |
that the schools are administered by
teachers of ability; (2) that the
of teachers has been in
creased; CD that the country schools
are improving; ,4) that high schools
are being placed in reach of all the
people, and that the standard of work
IN them has been raised; and (5)
hat the people are proving their
faith in public education by invest
ng their money in buildings, longer
.erms, better teachers and by send
ng their children to school.
The immediate needs of the schools
ire:
/. Liberal State support of high
agricultural departments,
md consolidated schools.
2. AS large an appropriation as
from the State to the Cur
'ent School Fund.
8. Placing the school finances in
he parishes upon permanent basis.
Insurance.
In a report Of an extensive inves-
igation of the Fire Prevention Bu-
eau and its methods, made through
he Board of Trade of New Orleans,
he wisdom and expediency of such /
IN institution as the Fire Preven-
ion Bureau is recognized and admit
ed. But this report recommends that
State Rating Commission be Great
ID to have supervision over insur-
nee rates made for the insurance
by the Fire Prevention
Bureau or otherwise. There should
,e some means furnished by which
he insured mag appeal from the
ates made by the combined insur- s
PEARLS OF THOUGHT. t