of it. The stockholders in that case would have been entitled to it as a dividend.

The net balance for the last year's business amounted to $396,954.99. That is to say this amount was received above the disbursements and may be called the year's profit.

OFFICERS REPORT.

I call your attention to a number of recommendations in the respective reports of the State Auditor, the State Superintendent of Education and the Attorney-General as being worthy of your interest. Copies of these reports will be distributed among you.

A FINAL WORD.

You may be interested to have, in a word, the more important changes which have come to the State in the last six years or during the terms of the present administration, and the more important results of the State's activities in several directions.

You have a new constitution. I place it first in importance. Experience will prove and has proven that it will need some amendments, but I class it above all the other blessings of these years.

You have a uniform text book system, which effected a large saving to patrons of schools and furnish a vastly better average book for the pupils.

You have now monthly paid teachers, whereas six years ago they were paid quarterly, and this reminds me that the unfortunate men and women on the pension rolls might get their pittance as often as half-yearly, or perhaps quarterly.

There has been an increase of real and personal property from $266,000,000.00 in 1900 to $384,000,000.00 in 1906.

The years have brought a reduced tax rate. The reduction from 7 1-2 to 6 1-2 mills was effected four years ago and has amounted to a saving to the tax payers of about $300,000.00 a year.

The old soldiers have had in six years one and a half million dollars more than for any other six years in the State's history, running from $115,000.00 in 1900 to $473,000.00 in 1906.

The schools have had better support. There has been paid out to teachers in this State and from the State treasury alone, in the last six years two and three quarter millions more than the aggregate of any other six years in the State's history, practically doubling the amount used in any other six years.

There has been retired $300,000.00 of the State's debt. The bonds to this amount have been paid and await your committee to burn. The money for this purchase repre sents perhaps the first dollars paid out on the State debt since the war.

Whereas we paid as interest on the public debt in 1905 $448,880.00, we will pay as interest on the public debt in 1907 $357,650.00. Here we have an actual saving of $91,230.00, and for each of the coming years.

The net income from the Convict Department in six years has been $1,200,000 more than for any other six years, running from six thousand in 1900 to $384,000 in 1906. This last sum probably amounts to as much as the net aggregate from the same source in the thirty years ending in 1900.

The purchase and payment of additional grounds for an extension of the Capitol site and the building of a harmonious and sympathetic addition to the beautiful old building.

A vast treasury surplus.

I want here publicly to extend my thanks, and to express my appreciation, of the uniform courtesies shown me in the conduct of this great office. Not only was the Legislature which preceded you considerate of me in every way, but I have met with nothing but courtesy from the heads of the executive departments and their clerks during my entire administration. It gives me exquisite pleasure too, in speaking of them to say that in my opinion, no more loyal, efficient and

patriotic set of public servants has ever surrounded aud· aided any Governor. My own immediate official family has been most exceptional and remarkable. I will remember their singleness of purpose and uniform courtesy and kindness always.

If the administration of the State's affairs for six years has been a success.I am only entitled to share iu the praise with the heads of the departments of the State Government, my own, and their loyal force of helpers.

You will allow me to express the hope that the stay of each of you in Montgomery may be pleasant; and profitable, as I am sure it will be to the State. Moreover, and further, that the days of your after life may furnish you no regrets for your course here, but on the contrary, that you may be able always to feet that, every day, you rose to the height of your great opportunity and your great duty.

WILLIAM D. JELKS.

MESSAGE

OF

GOV. B. B. COMER.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

In accepting the great trust conferred upon me by the people of Alabama in nominating and electing me governor, there seems little need of extensive statement of the principles which shall guide me in the discharge of my official duties. On many occasions, in numerous addresses to the people and in frequent communications through the press and by circular I have expressed my views views concerning State affairs and existing conditions. You will understand that in the last campaign for State offices there practically was no disagreement as to the vital issues which concern the people of Alabama. The selection of officials turned largely upon the question, who the people thought would best carry their demands into statutes and into execution for their benefit. Not only was there no pronounced disagreement as to vital issues before the people, but none developed in the state convention of September 10, 1906, which was one of the most representative assemblages of Alabamians since the civil war. That convention without a dissenting vote adopted aud promulgated a platform, clearly setting forth the views and defining the demands of the people on the great issues of the times. So forceful was this platform, so clear cut and mandatory to you and to me, and to all loyal democrats, that I feel it incumbent upon me to reiterate its demands, suggesting, advising and praying that you enact them into statutes, thereby placing the responsibility of their execution upon the administrative and judicial branches of our state government. I most earnestly recommend and urge that you make the strongest laws possible, embracing all these demands, making them so plain as to render understanding of them unmistakeable and their observance and enforcement easy and cer

tain. There were many things, of course, not touched upon by the convention, nor alluded to in the debates in the campaign, nor embraced in the platform, which are very important, and must be considered and acted upon with prudence and wisdom.

THE STATE HAS PROGRESSED.

The state has progressed wonderfully within the last twenty years. Formerly a strictly agricultural people, marketing only cotton, now we have added coal, iron, steel, cement and lumber, and cotton, wood, iron and steel manufactures, and largely advanced mercantile interests; to properly develop and exploit these, and properly place the people of this state in a position commensurate with the full development and utility of their advancement, it will be necessary to change in many respects the economic laws of the state. We should place our benevolent and educational systems on a much higher plane, with broader scope, making the former adequate, and reaching with the latter from the remotest rural schools, through grades of higher and still higher education, to our university. We should come to understand that money spent in these causes, though apparently lavish, is not misspent because we must meet these great responsibilities in the most liberal way.

We should make our judicial system adequate to the advancement of the people. We should enforce, with strong hand and sufficient protection, the quick and sure execution of the laws, driving out of our borders those with criminal instincts, habits and practices. We should remedy that tardiness of the law which has become a part of our court procedure, on account of inadequate facilities, and should insure to the people justice, speedy as well as sure. We should disbar the technicalities of the law, insofar as proper execution of justice demands, making of our courts such prompt and complete administrators of the law and justice that even those who suffer from the most heinous offenses will be willing to trust to this great protective design of civilization and eliminate a disposition to again violate the law by taking the execution of the law into their own hands.