The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-15

thousands. Two-thirds of the agri-
cultural counties of Missouri are los
ing steadily in population.
"Does not this condition, gentle
men, indicate that great care should
be taken lest we impose an unneces-
sary burden, or any burden that can
possibly be avoided, upon the Bonded
backs of these citizens of our State
Does not the price of food supplies
indicate that conditions should be
better in rural communities, so that
they may attract people from the CT
ties and other States to engage in
agriculture and thereby increase the
supply of food products?
II do not wish you to understand
that this indicates any policy that
| may pursue as a member of the
Board of Equalization. l will cross
that bridge when I come to it, and
will do my duty rearlessly as | see
it at that time. But no change in
that respect would be available for at
least a year and a half, while our
emergency is one of today.
"Our trouble in Missouri, as it ap-
pears to me, is that we have felt that
we should wear a mans suit of
clothes. That is to say, we have felt
that we have outgrown old ways of
doing things here, and that we should
get in line with other progressive
States and have ordered our affairs
conducted in corresponding manner.
But we have been willing to pay only
for the boys size suit of clothes.
Demands on the State.
"The Department of Commerce, Bu-
reau of the Census, No. 8-4787, of
Aug. Ia, 1916, says that the average
per capita expenditure for all govern
mental costs, including interests, ETC.,
in the 48 States was SOB. Missouris
cost was $2.25, or about 40 per cent
of the average. 1t might be said that
the demands upon the State Govern
ment of Missouri are very similar to
those upon our sister State, Illinois
The general revenue fund of the State
of Illinois for 1914 was $23, $50, 1866, OF
exactly 81 per capita.
"For 1914 Missouri's general reve-
nue. fund was $5,547, 117.64, or $1.7C
per capita. Now, just how it is pos
sible for Missouri, whose conditions
are exactly similar to those of Hill
nois, to carry on her State govern
ment on $1.70 per capita, where Hi
nois is spending Sd, and other States
on an average of $500, is the question
that confronts us. 1t might be plair
to any fair-minded man that it is i'm.
| possible.
"In 1916 the total revenues Of the
State will be $5.600,000. Of this
amount 100000 goes for education
al purposes, leaving only approx
mately $2,600,000 to carry on all Of
the activities of the State government
of 100000 people. 1t is out of the
| question and must be remedied anc
that at once. ! propose to see that
every dollar of your money which yot
spend while l am Governor brings
you the maximum of service.
II expect to rigidly enforce bust
ness principles in every department
over which / have authority. ex
pect to practice all business economy
consistent with good service, which
know you demand. | expect to star
this economy in the Governors office.
"For instance, the State has beer
appropriating $500 biennially for thu
Governors contingent fund, this fun(
to cover travelling expenses, station
cry, ETC., and is a perfectly Legitimate
allowance. But with the presen
financial condition Of the State, ! ex
pect to get along without it. | shall
not ask for it.
Economy in Legislature.
81 have talked with number 0.
Senators and Representatives and al
of them have agreed that econom.
shall be praeticed in the organization
of the Legislature, and that all use
less clerks shall be dispensed with. /
is generally agreed that a considera
BILE sum is wasted in duplicate print
ing of State documents. This shall al
so be looked into. But when thes
items are all placed together they cal
account for only fraction o
what we require. have thought O
a number of sources from which rev
enue could be raised, and from whicl
revenue is raised in other States, ant
I now submit them for your consid
Grafton, together with an estimates
recapitulation should all of these rev
enue measures be enacted into law.
eff the Constitution permits, tn,
duties of the State Board of Equal
cation should be given over to a non
partisan board Of tax experts am
charged with all other duties of ia,
! commission.
/ 81 recommend that this commission
hats aeaenbled investigate the jus