Mexico Missouri message., 1917-01-11

NAL period in addition to the receipts
from the institutions.
EIeemosynary institutions.
/ recommend that the 10 boards to-
gether with their treasurers be abol-
ished for the following institutions:
The four state hospitals.
The State Confederate Home.
The State Federal Home.
Missouri School for the Deaf
Missouri School for the Blind.
Colony for the Feeble Minded and
Epileptlcs.
Missouri State Sanltorium.
/ suggest that these institutions be
put in charge of a state board of con-
troll of say three members, not over
two of whom shall belong to the same
political party. Such board would not
require any more expense than the
present boards and their local treas
urers. A large saving would come
from a concentration of the buying
for these institutions under one au-
thority.
But aside from the feature of econ
omy and more important than that
would be the increased efficiency in
these institutions. This board should
be given authority to employ all SUI
perintendents and other employees on
the basis Of efficiency. These in
situations should be removed entirely
from politics.
The legislature should consider the
ACCESSIBILITY of raising the allowances
for the sustenance of the delinquents
sent to these institutions to such fig
ures as will meet the extremely high
price of food. These people should
be furnished wholesome food and be
cared for in a proper manner.
Permanent Roads.
The agitation for permanent roads
in this state has been continued so
long and has become so universal
that there is now demand that def
mite steps be taken for building a
system of state highways. The nee
essary legislation can be enacted
within 80 days.
Everyone favors this needed i'm
provement for our state and realizes
that we are far behind our progress
sive sister states. Our present sys-
TEN of control is unsatisfactory and
obsolete. The progressive states
have all created a state highway COM
mission, and have given to the state
large powers of control over state
highways. And in return for these
measures of control the states have
contributed literally to the construc-
ton of roads.
Our present inadequate road laws
are largely responsible for our lack
of road building.
favor the creation of a state high
way commission composed of four
members, two of which shall be
chosen from each of the leading polit-
ical parties. This commission should
serve without compenset ton, except
travelling and other expenses while
the commission is in session. High
class men with patriotic motives can
be secured to serve on such com.
mission. Missouri has a host of
broad-minded, liberal spirited men
who are deeply interested in this
cause, and who are willing to give
such measure of services as is re.
quired of them without compensation
,, This commission should be given
broad powers, including authority to
select a state highway engineer and
to pay such salary as would guarantee
man Of high attainments and sue
cessful experience. His term of of,
flee should be during the pleasure OF
the board, and his compensation
/ should be fixed by it.
Politics should not enter into road
work, and the law should be accord
| ingly drawn.
Our roads shofild be constructed by
| joint participation Of the national
state and county revenues. Missouri
must act at once to avail itself OF
the federal aid law. The legislation
necessary to avail Missouri to par
ticipate in this fund should be enacted
during the early part Of the session
Under the provisions of the federal
aid law an appropriation of $4,000,
900 is made for apportionment among
! the several states during the five
year fiscal period ending June 20
1921. If the proper legislation is en-
acted at once Missouri's part of this
will be $2,545, 80615. To avail our
selves of this federal road act requires
the creation of a state highway de
partment with controlling power over
the construction of state roads, the
completion of a satisfactory and com
prehensive period of construction fol
the five-year period and the submits
sion to the secretary Of agriculture
for his approval, such projects, sug
gestions, plans, specifications and es
Inmates as are necessary and practi
cable And we must agree through
this state highway department witt
the secretary Of agriculture on The
roads to be constructed and tht
character of construction, and thu
state highway department must fur
Their agree to maintain the roads con