CHILD LABOR LAW.

The law which you passed at your last session restricting child labor in the mills was not sufficiently reformatory of old methods and has not been very effective. I take it this subject will be carefully treated by you in the interest of the future manhood and womanhood of this State.

GOOD ROADS.

Our dirt roads, with a few exceptions, are a disgrace to the State. We all recognize that. How they may be im proved will challenge your attention. I have no sugges tions or advice to offer except to say that any legislation that will advance this cause in a single county in the State will be eminently worth your while.

RACIAL TROUBLES.

I think we can felicitate ourselves on the comparatively kindly feeling existing in this State between the races. While it is not such as it might be it is better than in other States and is altogether an improvement on the feeling which existed a few months ago in this State. I am in receipt of many letters from leading negroes and have had very many conversations with members of the same class, pledging themselves to stand with the conservative and law-abiding white citizens for the preservation of law and order. I have talked the matter over with leading white citizens and both agree that there must be a still better feeling or we are in danger of a race clash much to be regretted. It will be very wise for us all to understand that as we are to live here together there is every reason for the thoughtful of each race to consult together in the interest of mutual helpfulness.

The tremendous number of vagrants and thieves among the negroes, more than ever before, admonishes all of us that this must be the result of the precept of preachers. and school teachers. We cannot escape the convic

tion. While the State cannot interfere with the right of free speech in the churches it can interfere to see that the State's money is not expended to keep teachers in the schools who turn out a tremendous proportion of children who look upon manual labor with abhorence or believe they can live decently here as thieves, or have an idea that there is a pleasant thieves home in the hereafter. This brings me to say that it is well for us to consider if there is not some better way of providing teachers than by depending on moral perverts, supplying them with the State's money to do a destructive work. Stealing and vagrancy are the greatest disturbers of race peace peace. They are the primary disturbers of that peace. This is a great question which you have for consideration, and I am sure tha any legislation you may see fit to pass touching it, or both races where they come together, will be considered conservatively and wisely.

I must not be considered as opposing negro schools. I am merely undertaking to say to you that the State will be better served when we can produce more honesty and a larger inclination to labor, even, if it be, at the expense of the text books.

AN ECONOMICAL GOVERNMENT.

It is believed that you have the most economical government in the world. Exclusive of the appropriations for pensions, schools, asylums and interest on the public debt the total disbursements are less than 20 cents per capita. The four items vary greatly in different states and for the purpose of comparison I eliminate them. These left out of consideration there is no state government in America so cheap as this one of ours and I believe no government covering an equal number of men in the world will show such a small disbursement. The fact is, exclusive of the four items, the tax payer contributes nothing to the support of the State government. The profits from the Convict Department alone, as now managed, will more than pay every other item of governmental expenses. This statement, I am sure, will interest you.

ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD.

The State's Military arm consists of three regiments of infantry and one battalion each of cavalry and artillery. The three regiments are better equipped than at any time in their history perhaps, and they make a very magnificent appearance. The artillery lacks some necessary guns. Speaking of them as a whole-infantry, cavalry and artillery-I am sure that they have never been so well supplied with the mere mechanics of war. They appear to be and I think are, as well-officered and show as good discipline as at any time in their history. I have had occasionally to call out a company here and there and once or twice during my term, several companies. Any and every portion of the guard has always responded promptly and cheerfully to every order given them. I cannot speak in too high praise of their soldierly spirit.

In this connection, it is suggested in some military quarters, that a permanent camp ground be selected. This would have its advantages and disadvantages, but in all probability is the best thing to do under the circumstances. One must ask himself the question, however, if the advantage gained by permanent mess halls and kitchens and water-works will more than compensate for the naturally smaller attendance on encampments year after year. The boys, wanting with their outing, a change, and not getting it, will be likely to fall off in inclination and enthusiasm.

PUBLIC EXAMINERS.

The Public Examiners now cover the whole state every twelve months; looking into such matters as effect the state treasury alone. Six years ago the counties averaged as many as three years from the dates of the respective last examinations. About four years ago the present Examiners caught up, that is, got to where they could, without taking on too many purely county examinations, cover the whole state, including the Superintendents of Education, a practically new field for their

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endeavor, in one year. Since then, practically every county is examined in the State's interests every twelve months.

I believed that frequent examination would prove that there were not many officers who wanted to defraud the State. For a greater part they are honest, entirely honest. A poor book-keeper could explain an error in one year, when in three or four years it might escape him. I learn that officers do not complain of the coming of one of the Examiners. They are pleased to have their books looked over as often as possible. The Examiners have been finding very little to report; very much to my satisfaction and to the satisfaction I think of all good citizens. The work, however, on state matters, makes it almost impossible for the examiners to go into county matters, if they would make the rounds in one year.

If you think this work should be diligently pursued as to county funds, you will be compelled to provide some additions to the present force.

TAG TAX LAW.

The present tag tax is 30 cents on the ton. The sum gathered from this source after paying the expenses of the department and the prescribed amounts to certain schools, usually leaves a balance. For the last fiscal year it was about $18,000. It seems to me that it is time the tax was reduced to the actual cost of inspection, and that the schools now supplied out of the fund, be cared for as other schools are, either by direct appropriation, or out of the general school fund. It must not be understood that I think they should be crippled in any way. On the contrary, they should be given, with all other established schools, ample support.

In the event the tax is so reduced then you would have to provide a special appropriation for State exhibits at fairs and other advertisements of the State's resources. In the past few months the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries has expended, as he had a right to do under the law, and with my approval, $12,500 for the as

sembling of county and individual exhibits at two State Fairs, which Fairs have been of immense service to the farmers of Alabama.

STATE DEPOSITORIES.

The plan of keeping a large sum of money in the Treas ury is subject to criticism. The balance of the past fiscal year, many times and for weeks and months, stood around two million dollars. It is a great care, and besides, and what is more important, it is out of circulation. Four years ago, a bill calling for State Depositories was introduced in one of your bodies, which had my approval. It failed to become a law. Had it passed, providing as it did for State bonds as a basis, the late bond sale would have been at a better figure. You will have an opportunity to vote on a bill providing for State Depositories at your present session. I unqualifiedly advise the passage of such a bill when properly drawn. In this connection I am minded that the Constitution does not allow the loan of the State's funds. This clause. seems now to be unfortunate.

In this connection it might be well to require of insurance companies doing business in the State a deposit with the State Treasurer of State or Government bonds as, in some sort, a security for the insured in Alabama.

IMMIGRATION.

Some practical plan should be put on foot looking to the attraction to Alabama of desirable immigrants. Something has been done in the last year or two by the railroads, land companies, factories and furnaces. The State Government, while willing to do what it could, had no funds at its disposal. It is probably fair to say that we have received during the past four years something like ten thousand home-seekers from the continent and the north and west. The National Government is spending a large sum of money at New Orleans providing an immigration station like the one at Ellis Island and this will furnish better opportunity for the south to se