Mexico Missouri message., 1915-03-25
LAND BANK BILL SAFE;
CODE CHANGE FORGOTTEN
Most Important Measure Relates to
Abolition of Contract System at
Penitentiary Which VIII Expire
December 81, t916--oVer 1900 Bills
introduced But Less Than 200
Will Be Written on Statute Books.
Jefferson City.

Were 1t not for the fact that the
wet and dry issues were considered
mO1e important by some members of
thief forty-eighth Missouri general as
se9mbly than constructive measures,
th$e railroads would have been given
feir and equitable legislation regard
rng rates, and the code of Missouri
would have been revised to such an
extent that this state could boast of
I having the best statutes in the coun-
4 try.
These two measures are the more
important ones that have fallen at
the hands of the obstructionists.
The great majority of the much need
ed legislation was granted, and the
members of the assembly can return
to their homes without having to
blush for their actions.
Prison Bill Passed.
But as to the most important of the
bills considered by the late assembly
there is not much room for argument
as to that place being occupied by
the legislation to abolish the contract
system from the state penitentiary
The salient features Of the law as
passed are that no contracts for pris-
on labor can be extended beyond De-
ceGnber 81, 1916.
The present contracts will expire
December 81 of this year. The
board of prison inspectors shall be
composed of the attorney general
state auditor and state treasurer.
The state-controlled twine plant is
to be enlarged and new state-owned
manufacturing plants are to be in
stalled at once.
The state institutions are required
under the bill to purchase all possi-
BILE supplies from these plants.
A superintendent of Industries is
to be employed to supervise the
work in the state-controlled plants
and his salary is not to exceed $5,-
600.
At no time can more than half of
the inmates of the p6slitentiary be
leased to outside contractors.
Gardner Land Bank Bill.
The bill for constitutional amend
ment, known as the Rural Credit Law,
sponsored by Col. Fred D. Gardner of
st. Louis, which passed both houses,
is undoubtedly a true specimen of ad-
vanced legislation. 1t seeks to make
ii possible for tillers of the soil to
become more Independent, by pro
Viding for state aid in making long
loans at low rates of interest. 1t will
have a. tendency to send many thous-
ands back to the soil" il they desire
to go, as provision has been made
for the landless man to at last own
his own place. Col Gardner has
made a study of conditions at home
and abroad and his plan embodies
the features found good elsewhere
! and eliminates the Objectionable
During the session 1,074 bills were
introduced in the house and 619 were
read in the senate. The members oil
the legislature worked "a days. The
general assembly was to close Tues.
day, when the SEVENTEEN day was
!. reached, and the lawmakers since
that time have received but 81 day
for their compensation.
Major Signs Fire Rating Bill.
The members of the legislature can
point with pride to the passage >oi
the fire insurance rating bill. It was
one of the important measures advo
Gated by the administration and was
signed by Gov Major For a period
or more than four years the FIRE in
surance conditions in this state have
been chaotic.
The assembly passed what was
known as the Oliver law and this act
caused no end of turbulency in the in
3surance field. Two years later the Orr
law was enacted and through this act
the insurance companies retired from
the state; the insurers declining t.
write policies under the Orr law, II
1 was only through much diplomacy
that they consented to renew theil
business relations with the poperty
owners of Missouri The fire insurance
rating law. which is known as the
Watson bill, is expected TO he one o.
the most equitable rating laws thai