Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-01-18

Of at least $780, 900 for the next bien-
NAL period in addition to the receipts
from the institutions.
Eleemosynary institutions.
I 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
Epileptics.
Missouri State %Sanitorium.
l 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
advisability 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 a demand that def
mite steps be taken for building a
system of state highways. The nee
essary legislation can be enacted
within 30 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-
tenn 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 compensation, 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
a mar of high attachments 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
ing1y drawn.
Our roads should 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
the early part of the session.
Under the provisions of the federal
aid law an appropriation of SIS, 000,-
900 is made for superintendent 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 S0G.15. 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 CON-
prehensive period of construction for
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 with
the secretary of agriculture on the
roads to be constructed and the
character of construction, and the
highway department must fur
Their agree to maintain the roads con-
structed under the provisions of this
act.
With a bipartisan commission, the
elimination of politics, encourage
ment given to us by the national gov
eminent, and a revision of our road
laws, I believe that within one year
work on a statewide plan will be far
enough advanced to reach directly
every county in the state.
The employment Of convicts on the
building Of roads in Missouri has not
met with general approval in the past.
The creation of a state highway COM
mission would remove this objection.
This would give a very wide fielG Of
operation for the convicts as they
could be employed not only in the
building Of roads but in the produc-
ton Of the materials that go into
road building. The state highway
commission should use whatever
number of men the prison commits
sion may offer at fair compensation.
I recommend an increase in the
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