Mexico Missouri message., 1915-01-14
Subjects Near and Dear to Every Missourians Heart
Are Dealt With Fearlessly
FUTUREFACED WITH CONFIDENCE, NORECRETSFOR PAST
Finances Satisfactory, State Purchasing Board the
Blind, Election Laws, Good Roads, Agriculture
and immigration Are a Few of the Subjects
Called to the Attention of the Legislature

State of Missouri, Executive Depart
mont, City of Jefferson, Jan. G, 1915.
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives of the Forty-eighth Gen.
eral Assembly:
Article of the constitution of Mis-
souri, among other things provides,
'the governor shall, from time to time,
give to the general assembly informa-
ton relative to the state of the gov
eminent, and shall recommend to its
consideration such measures as he
shall deem necessary and expedient."
As chief executive of the common
wealth have no political or partisan
measures to present. The governor
of commonwealth should have none.
The people of the commonwealth
have been given q good, clean public
service. The record has been written
and can speak for itself. The great
masses of the people, irrespective of
political parties, in every section of
the state, are satisfied with the labors
of the administration. In handling
: the states affairs it is purely a mat
ter of business on the one hand and
the securing of constructive and pro-
gressiye legislation on the other.
state Finances.
One Of the important matters in the
conduct of the states affairs is the
condition of its finances. 1t will be
news of public interest to know that
during my administration we paid
debts made by the preceding admins
tration in 1911 and 1912 and left un-
paid in the sum of S622,572.39. 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 December, 1914,
amounted to S12 ,142.64. 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 it repre-
scented appropriations made solely and
purely to meet contingencies which
might possibly arise, but which did
not arise The revenues for the same
period amounted to SIC, roo, 616.23. The
states Indebtedness for transacting
its business in every department dur
ing the biennial period just closed and
presented for payment amounted to
$7,300,54S.25. Each and every claim
was paid promptly, and there is now
Cd hands a balance Of $534,944.1S
The estimated revenues available
for the payment of appropriations for
the years 1915 and 1916 will be APP
proximately $11,500,0O0. The legisla-
ture must take this into consideration
in making appropriations, because
win not permit the appropriations to
exceed" the reasonable expectancy Of
the revenues. Should the appropria-
lions go beyond, 1 will have no hest
fancy in vetoing the same, to the end
may know the state will meet its
obligations promptly and its credit
maintained.
Management Of state institutions.
Some of the state hospitals for the
insane have industrial training depart
ments, and are conducting same with
benefit and profit Each institution
has improved its system and appa-
ratus for treatment of patients.
The state hospitals for the insar
have been we'll provided with build
ings and repairs, and are in my judg.
ment reasonably ample to care for all
patients.
state Purchasing Board.
will suggest, however, that a
splendid service can be rendered the
institutions and the state by having a
state purchasing board for all institu'
lions and departments.
The men composing this board
should be able and successful busi1
ness men who have had experience in
this line of business, and should be
paid salary sufficient to enable the
state to have the services OF the very
best business men equipped for the
work. A competent man, capable OF
commanding a good salary, is the
cheapest man the state could secure,
and this board should also bave a sec
Rotary and stencgrapher.
The Blind.
The state supports the Missouri
school for the Blind, located in St
Louis, which has an attendance Of
more than 100 pupils The states
obligations to the blind do not cease
when II has furnished them with an
eight or ~ years course Of study and
training, but the duty still rests upon
it to see that the training and educa
..o.Aee--~e-~>>eee e~ee-~S~r~ese->e>.e-'
A Simple one.
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