Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-01-31

GARDENERS SPLENDID RECORD.
Governors First Year in Office
Shows Efficiency and Financial
Improvement

Improvement
Frederick D. Gardner has been in
the States GubernatOrial saddle a
year. Twelve months ago he walked
into the old shack of Capitol, shed
his coat, rolled up his sleeves and went
to work. Because of the example he
set and because of his sincere desire tc
make good, he inspired all branches of
the States activities under him and
the showing in twelve months has
been wonderful. The record made has
not been unappreciatively received |
by the people of the State, regardless
of party affiliations. He has tried-to
be the Governor of all the people and
in this desire he has succeeded ad-
mirably.
After all, it takes business man to
work out business problems. This is
the day of the efficiency expert.
When the laymen has a sick business,
he. calls in an expert. Then with his
keen business eye he makes changes |
which in the end produces satisfactory |
results. Occasionally a political state
calls to its head business man; Mis-
souri, did this in January, 1917. The
well posted Misourian knows that our
present Governor did not make an en-
trance into the political arena from
ultra-selfish motives. He was honest |
when he said he wanted to be Cover
nor because he thought he could do
something worth while for the people |
of this State. He had his wish graft
fled and we ask now-is he making
good? The record speaks. AS chief,
the button of information is pushed
and behold, a blackboard of twelve
months produces some astonishing
facts for our review
A good business man invariably
keeps his eyes on the cash drawer.
Governor Gardner, when first induct-
ed into office, requested the State
Treasurer to make daily statement
and this has been gladly furnished by
Mr.. Middlekamp; so every day Gov
ernor Gardner knows every detail of
the receipts and expenditures of each
department.
In January, 1917, State debts unpaid
amounted in round numbers to ST.
100000. These were paid through a
loan obtained by Governor Gardner
from the st. Louis Clearing House
Association. At the beginning of the
year 1918, we find that all bills and
salaries for the year were paid in
full and fund to the amount Of
|
S147,0 900 was set aside for schools.
Governor Gardner effected saving
during the past year, which, added to
the increased revenue receipts,
amounted to more than $1,0OO,OO0.
If the increased tax measures pro-
duce the sum anticipated, the old
debts of the former administrations
will be liquidated before Governor
Gardner's term of office expires and
it is predicted, by those who know,
that the State will be out of debt
with all bills paid and handsome bal
ance in the treasury inside of the
next thirty-six months. 1t is thought
that the Inheritance and Income Tax
Laws will produce 100000 in rev.
enue in 1918. Another large rev.
enue measure, the Corporation Tax
Law, will bring in returns after Feb
ruary 1st. Notwithstanding a de-
crease in the. Beer Inspection Cor
poration. st. Louis Excise and Public
Service fees in 1917, the State col
lected almost 100000 more revenue
than in 1916.
Our State Penitentiary for 1917
earned early $2,OO0,0O0. 1t is pre-
dicted by Chairman VIM. R. Painter
of the State Prison Board that by
March 1st of this year, our State Pen
itentiary will be self-sustaining. The
State abolished contract labor July
1st, 1917, and went into business for
itself, employing its own prisoners
and marketing its own output OF man
ufactured goods. Unless this insti-
tuition is run on a business basis, 1t
does not take many days to show a
tremendous loss. In December, 1917,
the institution was without coal for
two or three days and loss Of $4,000
was sustained. This was due to
freight conditions and no blame can
be placed on the men in charge Of the
Penitentiary for this item of loss.
The returns from contract labor al
the Penitentiary have exceeded a dol
: lar a day, where as formerly the Stats
received but seventy-five cents pei
day for its prisoners.
The total receipts in the road func
for 1917 were $913,S35.54. There was
expended $42S, S,S29S7, leaving a bal
ance of $4S5,OO6.17.
During the year there was set asid'
from the revenues for the publi'
schools $S,142,853.16, of which So,
} S6s ,Os3.33 was paid to the school
with balance of $774,76O.50 to thei
} credit in the treasury.
The Tax Commission have mad
good in its work. Out of one hundre'
] fourteen counties in the State, on
hundred counties have complied sub
! stantially with the law as interprete
by the Tax Commission in the assess
, ment of property. The tax program
J includes reduction of the tax rat
. for schools for state purposes an