history. In this building might be furnished the ladies of the several chapters of the Daughters space for the interesting war relics which they have gotten together. The remainder of the Capitol square should be acquired. Hardly a reflective person looks at the surroundings who does not at once wonder why this has not been done before. On it a Governor's home might be built, if you, in your wisdom, are of the opinion, that the present condition has existed for a sufficient time. I, therefore, respectfully suggest, that you make an appropriation for a new roof to the building to be drawn when it becomes necessary to replace the old one; That you provide for an extension of the Capitol buildings and an extension of the grounds, and a Governor's home, either on the present square or elsewhere. REVENUE CODE. Under the Constitution, it is made the duty of the Governor, Auditor and Attorney General to prepare a revenue code for your "information." That duty has been discharged. The work was done under the more immediate supervision of the Auditor. In its preparation, we had the advice, for several days, of several county assessors, collectors, and at least two back tax commissioners. I hope you will find it an improvement over the revenue codes of the past. There is one startling innovation in it to which I call your attention. This is a stamp tax on mortgages. Under the operation of old Codes, there was no tax duty resting on foreign concerns lending money in the State. Our own people were thus discriminated against. There are several other important changes. This Code ought to have gone into you today but has been delayed for reasons which are excusable. You will have it on your desks in a few days. CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS. The habit may be decreasing in Alabama. I have not seen the statistics of convictions. If decreasing at all, the reform has not been of such magnitude as to attract attention. Since I have had the power, I think I have not, in any case, relieved a man of the fine imposed, though frequently urged to do so, and in some cases in which there was apparent merit. The only fault I find with the law is in its execution. As we progressed in other respects, the thoughtful and law-abiding have looked forward to a day when the carrier of a deadly weapon would meet a public opinion ready to consign him to a year or more in the State penitentiary. As it is, if he has money he can pay out in any county of the State except one. All honor to that county and to the righteous judge, though it may be said that he would probably not be so successful if a jury sat in his court. The average jury is not yet ready to have the embryo murderer dig coal or raise cotton for the State. IMMIGRATION. The State, as such, has met with little success in its advertising scheme to attract setters to its farm lands. In the very nature of the case, we can hardly expect to secure thrifty Germans, Swedes, or other valuable labor to our neglected fields through governmental agencies. The large railroad corporations could be much more ef fective. The railroad authorities could well serve their companies by organizing land corporations to secure and plant the settlers in given places along their lines and together. These people will want the promise of help when they arrive, which the State is not in a position to furnish. Our efforts heretofore to secure valuable additions to our sparsely settled country have met with disappointment. Practically all the new comers, who have pitched their tents among us, outside of the mineral belt, have come through the efforts of corporations. We have several settlements planted on our less fertile lands which are in a vigorous state of growth. Ore man or one great railroad moving energetically in an organization to bring proper farmers to us would earn the gratitude of our unsmiling fields. We have the soil and the climate. We need properly directed prirate capital which is willing to furnish new citizens with financial assistance on their coming. Sooner or later, however, we are sure to catch a tide steadily flowing. Our resources and advantages are too manifold and attractive to remain unrecognized and unappre ciated. I have thought that an officer speedily charged with an intelligent advertisement of the resources of the various farming sections of the State, with some small allowance for printing, might be experimented with. I have been waited upon by gentlemen who have nothing more than a general interest in the subject who tell me that there will be organized, immediately after the State takes a step, companies for the sale of small parcels of our most fertile lands, which companies will furnish the needed assistance to worthy foreigners seeking homes. Advertising in the abstract can do us little good, unless the people attracted can arrange for immediate homes and immediate care. CONCLUSION. Your attention is called to the report of the Auditor and several excellent recommendations of his. Printed reports from other departments will be laid on your desks which you will find of value. I want to bear testimony to the faithfulness of the State and helpfulness to me of the several heads of departments and their clerks. Most of them have certainly been equal to their engrossing duties. I shall from time to time furnish you with other recommendations and particularly will I be likely to address you further on the statutes necessary to harmonize the acts with the Constitution and to carry its various provisions into effect. Respectfully submitted, No. 1) GENERAL LAWS. AN ACT (S. 34 To provide for subordinate employes of the Legislature. subordinate employes. SECTION 1.—Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama, That the subordinate employes of the Senate, Senate shall consist of a Comparing Clerk, four pages, one messenger, committee clerks not exceeding nine in number, and assistants to the Secretary of the Senate not exceeding eleven in number at any one time, and assistants to the Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk of the Senate not exceeding nine at any one time, two servants and one doorkeeper of the gallery. House. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the subordinate employes of the House of Representatives subordinate shall consist of a reading clerk, six pages, three employes. messengers, and committee clerks not exceeding sixteen in number, and clerical assistants to the clerk of the House not exceeding eleven in number at any one time, and clerical assistants to the Enrolling Clerk of the House not exceeding fiften in number at any one time, and clerical assistants to the Engrossing Clerk of the House not exceeding nine in number at any one time, two servants, and one doorkeeper of the gallery. SEC. 3.-Be it further enacted, That the salary compensation of the Comparing Clerk of the Senate and Com- of Legislature mittee clerks of the House and Senate shall be employes. four dollars per day, and that of the assistants to the Secretary of the Senate and clerk of the House and the Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk of the Senate and Enrolling Clerk and Engrossing Clerk of the House shall be four dollars per day, for the time for which they are actually employed. Appointment Legislature employes. The compensation of the pages and messengers of the Senate and House shall be two dollars per day, and the compensation of the doorkeepers of the gallery of the Senate and House shall be three dollars and fifty cents per day, and the compensation of the servants of the Senate and House shall be two dollars and fifty cents per day. The compensation of the Reading Clerk of the House shall be the same as that of the assistant clerk of the House. The time employed and the compensation of all of said employes shall be certified as in case of other officers and employes of the Senate and House. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the doorkeeper of the Senate gallery shall be elected by the Senate, the pages and messengers of the Senate shall be appointed by the President pro tem of the Senate, the clerical assistants to the Secretary of the Senate shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Senate with the approval of the Presi and election of dent pro tem, and four assistants to the Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk of the Senate shall be appointed by the Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk of the Senate with the approval of the President pro tem, and the Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the Senate may appoint other assistants when necessary, with the approval of the President pro tem of the Senate, when in the judgment of the President pro tem of the Senate such additional assistance is necessary. The servants shall be selected by the doorkeeper of the Senate with the approval of the President pro tem. The Senate shall provide by resolution for the manner of seleeting committee clerks. The doorkeeper of the gallery, reading clerk, pages and messengers of the House shall be appointed by the Speaker. The servants of the House shall be selected by the doorkeeper of the House with the approval of the Sneaker. The clerical assistants of the Enrolling Clerk of the House shall be selected by him with the approval of the Speaker. The clerical assistants to the Clerk and the Engrossing Clerk of the House shall be selected by the Clerk and the En |