to the requirements of the exalted position to which I have been called.

The people of Iowa have been most liberal and wise in the establishment and management of her State institutions. Many of these are for the unfortunate, and are the result of necessity. So long as the necessity exists, the demand for their liberal support is expected and should be cordially given. Our institutions of learning, also, are most worthy the sustaining power of legislation, and a wise and ample provision should be made in the direction of a definite and permanent support. While this is true, the greater lever of intelligent power, the common school, must not be overlooked or its interests neglected. These institutions shall be dealt with as your personal inspection shall suggest. There are conditions in our common citizenship which offer much for your meditation. A just and loyal protection should be accorded both labor and capital, as in their harmonious employment peace and contentment is the portion of each. The miner down in the earth who sees but little of the beauties of the day endures his hazardous employment with cheerfulness, realizing that pay-day brings its compensation. But in his particularly hazardous occupation his protection and safety, together with his frequent and prompt payment, places a responsibility upon the legislative power of the State. Wholesome guardianship should also be exercised for the health and happiness of all classes, and for operatives in factories and children in the public schools the greatest protection should be given that the firetrap be removed as far as possible from their surroundings.

Almost thirty years ago the surrender at Appomatox shut down the curtain upon the scenes of war, in which

to sustain the Union the young State of Iowa sent forth seventy-five thousand of her best and bravest. Many returned and many are ever mourned. As a State, except in the hearts of our people, no mark as yet has been completed as a suitable public tribute of memorial to their undying fame. Let this matter be brought to a speedy and liberal termination, not for the present generation alone but to the millions yet to come, that they may take pride in the nobility of the fathers and keep watch that the glories won shall never tarnish, and their glorious deeds shall be an inspiration to patriotic fidelity to our State and Nation.

In closing, let me congratulate the people of Iowa on the conditions of plenty and comfort which surround them. While looking with sorrow upon the more unfortunate conditions that bring suffering to the people of other States and other lands, let those who have in plenty and to spare remember the less fortunate both at home and abroad. Let the suffering of the few be relieved from the abundance of the many.

The year 1893 witnessed the strength of Iowa. The great financial institutions of our State withstood the shocks and disasters of the year with complacent security. Their reliability and integrity are firmly fixed upon the solid foundations of agriculture, unequalled in those inherent elements of wealth found in richness of soil, purity of water, and reliability of climate; and these forces controled by an industrious, intelligent and moral people. With confidence in this people, and an abiding faith in the continued blessings of a Divine Providence, I predict that the present is but the index of the future greatness of our State. [FRANK D. JACKSON]

BIENNIAL MESSAGE

JANUARY 14, 1896

From the Iowa Legislative Documents for 1896, Vol. I

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Twentysixth General Assembly of Iowa:

In pursuance of law I herewith present for your consideration such suggestions and recommendations as I believe to be for the best interest of the state, together with the special reports of the many and varied departments of official activity in our system of state government. These reports contain the record of duties faithfully performed and exhibit a condition of affairs highly creditable to the state, and one which should be satisfactory to its people.

The total population of Iowa, as given by the census of 1895, is 2,058,189. This includes a school population of 606,495; children less than five years old, 253,189; insane, 3,802; blind, 799; deaf and dumb, 1,124; feeble-minded (estimated), 2,800, making a population of 868,209, which in its very nature is more or less of a dependent character; thus leaving a self-sustaining adult population of 1,159,860, with which rests the responsibility of society and the proper maintenance and care of the dependent classes. To the general assembly of Iowa this adult population has delegated its powers to provide such laws as shall in the highest degree benefit every member of society and protect in the fullest sense every inhabitant of our state.

In the fulfillment of this responsibility a free public school system has been established and is maintained at an annual expense of over $8,000,000, an institution which reflects the highest credit upon the state and is accomplishing a lasting benefit to its people. In the direction of the progress and betterment of society sixteen different institutions have been created and are maintained by the state, the benefits of which are being received by 8,678 persons. The higher educational institutions are the State University, Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm, and the State Normal School, and have a total attendance of 2,391; the schools for the blind, the deaf and the feeble-minded have a total population of 1,108; the three hospitals for the insane have a population of 2,406; the two penal institutions, 983; two reformatories, 589; Soldiers' Orphans' Home, 452; Soldiers' Home, 605, and Home for the Industrial Blind, 44.

The state has a property investment in these institutions of over $10,000,000, and is expending annually nearly $1,500,000 in their management. It has been my duty as well as pleasure to visit all of these institutions, and most of them I have visited several times, and I take pleasure in attesting to the honesty and economy of their management. There is nothing that reflects more credit upon the intelligence of our state, nothing of which the people of Iowa can be more proud, than the magnificent results which they have accomplished. Governed as they are by non-partisan boards, the members of which are selected by the general assembly, the freedom from scandal over a long period of years, as well as the high standing which they have attained, demonstrate

the wisdom of Iowa's early law-makers who first established this principle for the government of state institutions.

It has been proposed to change this present form of gov ernment for that of a single board of control. I believe the proposition to be against the best interests of these institutions. It would be an experiment fraught with injury to the state to place $10,000,000 of property with $1,500,000 expenditures thereon in the hands of three or five persons, who, from the very nature of things, have never had experience in the control of other than small properties or the handling of other than small amounts of money. A board possessed of the highest ability to govern the state university is liable to have the least ability in managing the state penitentiaries or the hospitals for the insane.

Under the present management the state institutions of Iowa are receiving the highest business ability attainable and at a nominal cost.

They are governed, not only by the application of good business principles, but by that which is equally as valuable, the application of the principles of sympathy and love dictated by able and representative men and women who are members of the governing board, and who are giving their best energies, their best abilities, to the state, not for the per diem which they receive, but in many cases because of the fact that those near and dear to them are inmates of these institutions. I most certainly recommend that the present method of government of our state institutions be permitted to remain.

I am fully aware of the fact that good business principles demand that before apportioning the appropriations to the