Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-01-14

prepare measures and SO formulate
our laws and codes as to bring about
a speedier administration of justice.
with fewer reversals because Of tech
nicalities in no wise affecting the
merits of the litigation.
Any system Of judicial procedure
will be abused more or less, but we
should adopt a system which will re-
duce the abuse to the minimum. This
commission has labored faithfully and
long and prepared some IS bills to
meet the situation. The changes VIII
affect both the civil and criminal
codes, and bring about a speedier ad-
ministration of Justice, say expense
to the litigants, and a large amount
annually to the state in criminal costs.
This commission, by reason of its
long, faithful. efficient and unselish
labors, is entitled to the thanks of the
officers and citizens of the states, and
as chief executive, l tender to it my
thanks and compliments.
Fire Insurance.
In 1918, a number of insurance com.
panies, through their agents, met in
Baltimore and determined, tentatively
at least, to suspend business in Mis-
souri,, doing so under the belief the
insurance companies doing business in
the state were, no longer under the
provisions of our antitrust statutes.
Developments later in the supreme
court confirmed the views Of the state,
and the error of the position taken by
the companies.
l would recommend the creation OF
a fire marshal department, making
same an adjunct of the insurance de-
partment and under the supervision
of the insurance superintendent. In
this department we would have an
official authorized to investigate the
cause of all fires whose origin is at
all obscure. He should be empowered
to prosecute for arson; to compel the
observance of building laws; to re-
quire the removal of hazardous condi-
tons due to carelessness, or some
thing worse; to prepare a, code of in,
s~tructions as to electric wiring; to in
spect and examine properties. and to
do such other reasonable things as
are calculated to prevent fires and re-
duce fire loss or waste. 't'
State Industrial Commission.
Under the law we have a bureau of
labor statistics, and factory, hotel and
mining inspection departments and a
board of mediation and arbitration.
These constitute five separate and
distinct departments. The labors of
some departments, under the law, are
covered a second time by another de-
partment, and reports, travelling and
other expenses unnecessarily dupli-
Gated. The state should combine these
five departments in one department to
be known as a state industrial COM
mission"
This commission should be COM
posed of at least five members, not
more than three of, whom should be-
long to the same political party. This
commission, under a proper act en-
larging and defining it's powers and
duties, can render a greater, better
and more efficient service than the
five departments are now rendering,
and do so on the same amount Of
money now expended by the state to
operate the five.
Workmen's Compensation Act.
l recommend to the legislature the
passage of a workmen's compensation
act. The growth and development Of
our transportation facilities, factory
systems, Industrial progress, and the
increase in the number of unskilled
workmen about high power machin-
cry, demand the enactment of a work
mems compensation law. Perhaps a
majority of the states have already
enacted such laws. One of the prime
objects of such an act is to avoid the
great waste attending the litigation
which arises under the old system of
employers liability laws.
Election Laws.
During the two years I have been
governor Of the state | have striven
earnestly, at all times, to have honest
elections; both in the primary and in
the general election. My efforts have
not been in vain. The present laws
should be amended in many respects
SO as to- safeguard the ballot.
There are more frauds perpetrateo
in primaries than in general elections.
1t should be made d crime for any per
son or persons to print, distribute,
circulate or use a copy or a facsimile
of any primary ticket, or any part
thereof, prior to or on primary elec-
ton day, to the end that combinations
and slate-making may be prevented.
What reason can any man give why
this should not be the law. Such bal
lots are printed and used only by
those who engage in the slate-making
combination, a thing not in keeping
with the general welfare.
Public schools-Higher Education.
Five pieces of progressive educa-
tional legislation, administration
measures, were enacted by the last
legislature, each of which stands out
pre-eminently in the educational legis-
lative history Of Missouri. These laws
have proven their worth in the field
Of actual trial and test.
The first of these new laws, the
Carter-Brydon law, provides special
aid for weak rural school districts.
The second of these new laws.
known as the Wilson-McRoberts law,
provides aid in the weak town, city or
consolidated districts organized as vii
lage schools.
Under the third new law, known as
the Buford-C olley law, permitting ru-
raj high schools to be established, the
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