The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-01-14

The departments created by the la
legislature, in each instance, took Il
place of some department which W,
abolished. The public service commi
sion act abolished the railroad an
warehouse commission, the board -,
pardons and paroles abolished the pa
don attorney and his department. an
the highway commissioner supplante
the state highway engineer. In ever
instance results have disclosed that
was the part of wisdom and good bus
ness so to do. The test and measur
can be safely estimated by the servic
rendered and the benefits given to tn
4 public.
State Finances.
One Of the important matters in tn
conduct Of the states affairs is tn
condition of it's finances. The stat
has assets and liabilities, just as an
financial institution or business. It
obligations should not exceed its a.
sets. took the oath of office as gov
ernor on the 18th of January, 1913
and although the fiscal year had close,
on Dec. 81 preceding. yet any unpait
Indebtedness made during the year,
1911 and 1912. were liabilities which
the state must pay in 1918. If the ap
preparation to meet the same had mo-
been exhausted and there were fund.
on hand at the close of the biennia
period and same was presented before
the expiration OF the two-year consti
tutional limit from the date of the an
preparation act. It will be news Of
public interest to know that durine
my administration we paid debts made
by the preceding administration IL
1911 and 1912 and left unpaid in the
sum Of $622,572.33. My administration
had nothing to do with the making Of
this Indebtedness, but was called upon
to pay and did pay the same. The
appropriations made for the biennial
period which closed on the 31st of De
cember, 1914, amounted to $12.3S4,
1924. A large amount of this sum
however. was merely paper liabilities
which were not expected to be called
for, and which were not called for, as
1t represented appropriations made
solely and purely to meet contingen
cies which might possibly arise. but
which did not arise. The revenues foi
the same period amounted to $40, 700,
616.23. The states Indebtedness 70,
transacting its business in every de
partment during the biennial period
just closed and presented for payment
amounted to $7.30O,54S.25. Each and
every claim was paid promptly, and
there is now on hand a balance 81
$534,944.13.
A large sum can be saved annually
In printing public documents or in
public printing of various kinds which
serve no useful purpose. The state
printing commission should prepare
measure eliminating the printing OF
many useless documents, and prevent
different departments from duplicate
printing. In this way the commission
can render the state an economic ser
vice Of great value, and I trust the
commission will revise the
laws aloAs this line.
Estimated Revenues.
The estimated revenues available
or the payment of appropriations for
he years 1915 and 1916 will be ap.
$11, 100000. The legisla.
ure must take this into consideration
n making appropriations, because ]
will not permit the appropriations to
exceed the reasonable expectancy OF
he revenues. Should the appropria.
ions go beyond, I will have no hest.
ancy in vetcing the same. to the emil
may know the state will meet its OBJ [
[gations promptly and it's credit main. !,
aimed. Returns from the corporation j
ak enacted by the last legislature ]
hould be placed in the general reve.
ue fund. The revenues of the state |
re ample to conduct it's business and {
lso care for in an efficient way all 8
f our educational, eleemosynary and t
email institutions when economically '
expended and that without increasing
ne Burdens Of taxation upon the peo
lie or upon any business or class d
At this particular time the question t
abolishing the contract system as to 7
onvicts in the penitentiary is up and q
aould be met fairly and squarely. II
as been discussed in an informal and 4
ght way for some years, but appar. t
ntly with no real effort being made t
} settle and solve the problem. Now. fl
is safe to say no one year can bear =
le burden Of this change without its q
,venues being SO drawn upon as to a
ripple the service rendered by the n
ate to its educational and eleemos. d
nary institutions. both Of which are II
first importance. The question can o
> met and settled. however, in such q
way that 1t will not affect the SER. o
Ice rendered in any Of these institu. .
ons. shall write more fully upon a
le subject later in the message, and O
Ill present some suggestions for your .
IS
Thu reyAnues f0r the haenn3nl verind D