Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-01-16

n6IlLdlCc lax SHOULD De imposed WILL
as l have stated. an exemption Of at
least ten Thousand dollars, and, Il
constitutional, the same should be
made graduated rather than Fixed.
l again recommend that there should
be an equalization of saloon licenses
throughout the state by fixing the
maximum now provided by statute, in
order that the amount of this tax
should not be left to the within or ca
price Of the excise commissioners and
county courts throughout the state.
There is no work which is more i'm
portant for the people of this state to
actively encourage than the work of
building good permanent roads. Only
about 5 per cent of the 10000 miles
of public roads of the state have been
made dependable for use 1865 days in
the year. While more progress has
been made during the last two or
three years than in a long number of
years in the building of roads in this
state, much more should be done than
is done by the state to aid in the car
rying on of this work.
The state has a further important
public duty to perform towards the
agricultural interests of the state in
enlarging and increasing education
and instruction in the proper use Of
our soil. While Missouri deservedly
ranks high in the production of agri-
cultural wealth and live stock, much
more could be done than has been
done along these lines.
Another subject matter of legisla'
ton deserving of the consideration OF
this general assembly is the enact
ment of a law providing for the or
ganization of corporations for the pur-
pose of extending credit to those en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits.
The support of the state waterway
commission should be continued, and
the forestry commission, which has
existed without sanction of law,
should be provided for to look after
the proper conservation Of the seven
teen millions of acres of woodland in
this state.
1t should be a source of congratula-
ton to the people of the state that
during the last four years they have
enjoyed a conduct of election affairs
which has given to every citizen the
right to cast one ballot and have that
ballot honestly counted as cast.
/ feel that there should be a change
in what is known as the senatorial
primary election law. That law was
designed to prevent independence in
voting. 1t also results, in effect, in
the election of a candidate who may
receive a comparatively small portion
of the votes cast. 1 recommend
to this general assembly the adoption
of what is known as the Oregon plan,
in case it seems probable that the
amendment to the constitution, pro-
viding for the direct election Of United
States senators, will not secure the
approval of the necessary number Of
states by 1914.
l prepared and secured the intro
duction in both the forty-ffth and
forty-sixth general assemblies Of a bill
simplifying court procedure by pro-
hibiting the reversal of cases upon
t~echnicalities not controlling the mer-
its of the litigation. Strange as it
may SEEM, this measure was defeated
in both of those general assemblies.
Now / am pleased to note that all the
leading political parties are agreed as
to the correctness of this measure,
and l hope that some legislation Of
this character can be passed by this
general assembly.
Among the various departments of
government that are entitled to spe-
cial mention on account of the effl-
cheney with which they have been
conducted is the banking department,
which for eight years has been under
the able supervision of Hon. John E.
Swanger. During the last four years
not a single cent deposited in n OF
the state banks or trust companies
has been lost by the failure of such
bank or trust companies.
An amendment to the constitution
providing for the initiative and refer
endum has now been a part of our
organic law for four years. In the
elections of 1910 and 1912 amend
ments to the constitution submitted
by initiative petitions were voted
upon. While neither was adopted
and while no occasion has arisen tc
use the referendum, l believe, on the
whole, the effect of this amendment tc
our constituton has been beneficial
One of the most important matters
from a public standpoint, that viii
come before this general assembly
will be the division Of the state into
senatorial and congressional districts
This question is not only of political
but of public Importance.
In conclusion, l wish to express tc
the people of Missouri, through you as
their chosen representatives, my sin
cere appreciation Of the honor ant
distinction l have enjoyed in the op
~portunity for public service that they
have conferred upon me, and for tht
loyal support I have received from
the people of the state in every goot
work I have tried to accomplish.
wish for this general assembly al
agreeable and useful session, and fol
the newly elected state officials al
administration which will contribute
to the success Of every undertaking.
that will make for the happiness, thu
prosperity and the welfare Of the PEG
pie Of Missouri.
Speech In Marble.