and in a beggarly way. It is a great State and should be presented in a way becoming a great State.

FOREIGN LOANS.

I recommend that section 4193 of the Revised Statutes of 1879 be repealed. This section of the law adds nothing to the material wealth of the State, and has been recently the source of such an apprehension in financial circles that large amounts of money have been withdrawn, by foreign corporations, from the State, thereby seriously affecting its commercial interests.

EXECUTIVE MANSION.

This building is in better condition to day than it has been in for a number of years. In order to make it a pleasant and comfortable home for the outgoing and incoming Governor a number of bills have been unavoidably made, which should be paid. They will be presented before the proper committee. It is now one of the handsomest Executive Mansions in the United States, which has been as carefully managed and preserved by the better part of the executive office as if it had been her individual property.

CATTLE DISEASE.

Some legislation should be had to protect the stock interests of this State against infectious and other deadly diseases. I suggest that the Executive of the State be invested with the power, under certain emergencies, to issue his proclamation quarantining this State for a specified period against cattle and other stock from localities infected with dangerous diseases. Such legislation exists in Illinois and Kansas and possibly other surrounding States, and Missouri should be equally as vigilant in guarding its large stock interests.

PUBLIC HEALTH.

In pursuance of the provisions of the act of the General Assembly, I appointed seven physicians as the "State Board of Health of Missouri." The board has performed a large amount of work since its appointment, the report of which will, in due time, be laid before your honorable body. This board is composed of active and intelligent physicians, who have given their time and labor to the cause of humanity without compensation. The beneficial results from the action of the board so far surpasses in value to the State the meagre sum appro

priated for such purposes that I strongly recommend an increased appropriation for the use of the board. It is thought by many wise men that this country will be visited by cholera during the next season. If those apprehensions are well founded this State should be prepared to meet this pestilence "that walketh in darkness," and is the cause of such terror to the people. No State should be without its external and internal defenses against its approach, not only upon the principle of humanity, but also of commercial policy. I advise a readiness to defend against it. In such a contest money is no consideration. Dr. Rauch, at the National Conference of the State Boards of Health, held in St. Louis in October last, stated that the disease had cost Southern Europe this year upwards of a hundred million dollars. I appreciate the fact that there is here and there some dissatisfaction with the Board of Health, and there will be with any board, but at this time the State cannot afford to dispense with its intelligent services, while greater power should be given it to meet any extraordinary emergency that may arise. Dr. Gregory voluntarily retires from the board on the 1st of January next, which will be a great loss to it, as he commands the confidence and love of his professional brethren.

SUPREME COURT COMMISSION.

Since the creation of this Commission by the last General Assembly, it has done excellent work, fulfilling the expectations of the court and the friends of the respective Commissioners. Since it entered on its duties, Judge Charles A. Winslow-one of its members-died, and Judge H. Clay Ewing was appointed in his stead. Judge Winslow was an honor to his profession, the Commission and the State. The Supreme Court is still much behind in its work. I think the Commission should be continued for two years more. With the conjoint labors of the Commission and the Court of Appeals, just established at Kansas City, I think, the large number of cases so long postponed, will be heard and decided within the next two years, and there will no longer be a denial of justice to those engaged in legal controversies. The hardship of these delays fall the more heavily upon those who are unable to stand the postponement, and are necessarily driven to any compromise rather than prolonged litigation. After those deferred cases are determined, then the services of the Commission can be dispensed with, leaving the appellate duties upon the courts of St. Louis, Kansas City, and the Supreme Court. It will be a day of gratification, alike to the litigants, the lawyers and the courts when it can be said that the appellate courts are fully up in their business.

By the adoption of the last Constitutional Amendment, the St.

Louis and Kansas City Courts of Appeals have jurisdiction in all cases of misdemeanor. No provision exists for the State to be represented before these courts in such cases. Many of them are quite important, involving intricate questions of law. This Assembly should cure the defect in some way, either by requiring the Attorney-General or the attorney representing the State in criminal prosecutions in the county or city into which such appeals are sent, to represent the State before the appellate courts. A reasonable compensation should be paid by the State for such labor. Some provision should also be made to pay for printing of briefs made in behalf of the State. Both should be paid from the fund set apart for the payment of criminal costs, when certified to the Auditor by the court in which the prosecution is had.

COURT OF APPEALS.

The amendment to the Constitution establishing the Kansas City Court of Appeals, having been adopted at the late election, it devolves upon this Assembly to enact such legislation as will make the amendment operative. Section 9 of the amendment reads as follows:

"The State shall provide a suitable court room at Kansas City in which the Kansas City Court of Appeals shall hold its sessions; also a clerk's office and furnished offices for the judges."

As the court is required by the amendment to commence its labors on the first Monday in March next, a bill should be passed without delay in conformity with the requirements of section 9, regulating the fees of the clerk and providing for the appointment and compensation of the necessary officers of the court, and appropriating a sufficient. amount of money to supply the court and clerk's office with all the necessary records and stationery.

As there is a lack of such text-books as the court may require in the law library at Kansas City, I recommend the appropriation of one thousand dollars to be used for the purpose of purchasing such books under the direction of the presiding judge of the court.

MILITIA.

I think the State should no longer neglect this branch of its strength. It inay not be required to-day nor to-morrow nor next year, but the time may and will inevitably come when it will be badly needed. It was only the foolish virgins who put no oil in their lamps. The only way to upbuild and maintain a militia force is to encourage its members through reasonable appropriations for necessary and legitimate expenses. There is a commendable disposition among the young

men throughout the State to enter into military organizations and to donate a reasonable portion of their time for purposes of drill and encampments, without compensation, but few of them can afford to give of their small means a sufficient amount for uniforms and outfits. This should not be expected by any liberal State. No State is safe for one day without such organizations. In this respect, the present and future are not like the past. Times have changed and so have the minds of men. There are many turbulent spirits constantly engaged in stirring or attempting to stir up strife and disobedience to law among the wage workers of the country. With credit, be it said, that up to this time, that large class of industrious and law abiding people has disregarded their reckless appeals, fully understanding that alone under good government and quiet times, do the laborers receive just compensation for their work. This disposition should be encouraged by good government and reasonable compensation; and these workers of evil should be held in subjection by the terrors of the civil law. If that is not sufficient, then by the armed forces of the State. Let the State be ready for any emergency. While I am opposed, under our system of government, to a large standing army; believing it to be inimical to the best interests of the country, I am in favor of an adequate volunteer force, skilled in the arts of war, that may be relied upon should circumstances demand the services of armed troops. I urge upon this body to make a just and reasonable appropriation to this important object.

COSTS IN CRIMINAL CASES.

There was appropriated by the last General Assembly, for the payment of costs in criminal cases, in 1883-84, $360,256.42. The basis of this appropriation was made upon that of 1881-82, without making allowance for the increased ratio of crime with the rapidly increasing population. The appropriation for 1883-84 was exhausted on the 13th of December, 1884. The increased number of prosecutions and convictions had, in the last two years, together with the payment of the board of prisoners and jurors, are sufficient justification for this large expenditure of money, the board of the prisoners and jurors being about $80,000 in the last two years. $400,000 should be appropriated to pay the costs in criminal cases in 1885-86. There should be no delay upon the part of the State in the payment of the legal fees due the officers of courts, jurors and witnesses. If possible, the causes of the accumulation of criminal costs should be diminished. A general complaint is heard from every part of the State, favoring in this respect a reformation of our criminal laws. Every safe-guard should be given

the prisoner, and every facility to be heard in his defense, but the courts should see that those rights are not abused by trivial causes presented for the sole purpose of delay. As a rule, the most guilty are the most fruitful of resources to secure continuances. In 80 per cent. of such cases the State at last is required to pay the costs of the continuances, thus imposing an unjust tax upon the industries of our people. The evil calls loudly for legislative remedy.

EXAMINING AND VISITING COMMITTEES.

These committees are appointed by the Governor under an act of the Legislature, the former to examine into the accounts of the Audi tor's and Treasurer's offices and the latter to visit the various public institutions of the State and investigate their condition, wants, success and management. The work of such committees is invaluable to the State and especially so to the General Assembly. I suggest that appropriations be made to pay these committees as soon as their work is done and they are discharged. As it is, they and their clerks have to await the passage of the general appropriation bill after their work has been completed, which is usually one or more months, and this ne cessitates the more needy to have their accounts discounted at enormous rates. This should not be the case. The reports of these committees for this assembly will be comprehensive, imparting such knowledge as will be essential to intelligent legislation. I commend them to your closest examination.

FISH COMMISSION.

I call the attention of the General Assembly to this important branch of our State's wealth. The commission is composed of men of popular standing in the State, of great fidelity to this work, who serve without compensation, giving their time from a sense of duty and a devotion to the expansion of such an interest in the State. Heretofore there has been appropriated three thousand dollars for the use of the commission. The work has attained such proportions that the appropriation should be increased to five thousand dollars, and also $2,000 for the construction of an aquarium car, in which to distribute the fish. Experience teaches that they cannot be as safely and economically delivered in any other way. The railroad managers will have the car transported without cost to the State. I submit the following, recently received from one of the members of the commission:

The work of this year is shown by the following synopsis of reports of the superintendents of the two State hatcheries, one of these hatcheries being in Forest Park, St. Louis, and the other near St. Jo