Increase in revenue for four (4) years $18,968,640.00, or a average increase of Four Million ($4,000,000.00) a year for the four (4) years of my administration.

Thus it will be seen that there has been a steady increase in revenue for education, both during my term and the term of my predecessor. May we not then confidently hope if the same policies are pursued that under our tax system as now administered there will be a like increase during the four (4) years to follow. While this increase has been made, more needs to be done. Our demands are greater, our school population is increasing Our facilities are lacking. Alabama is rapidly developing, and the more industries we encourage and locate in the State the more revenue we will have for our schools. The source of revenue from which educational funds were derived is as follows:

1.

2.

3.

Mileage Tax, State, County and District.

State Appropriation.

Sixteenth Section Funds.

4. Fees, donations, etc.

Under the Constitution 3 mills of all the advalorem taxes go to the common schools. In addition, the Counties and Districts levy a tax-Hence it will be readily seen that as tax assessments advance, school revenue will proportionately advance. Increased revenues reported above come from this tax largely and tax assessments have been increased by virtue of exempt properties being placed on the tax books and new industries coming into the State.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

The beginning of education is in the Elementary School and this should be our first care. The country school must not be neglected and should be guarded with zealous care, for from these schools come our high school and college students, and many do not advance further than our high schools. I am informed by our State Superintendent of Education that much more money will be needed in developing our Elementary schools. I, therefore, earnestly recommend in order to give more money to our Elementary Schools and to enable every school in Alabama to have a seven (7) months school term, that One Million ($1,000,000.00) Dollars be appropriated out of the Treasury to be known as an Equalization Fund, to be used exclusively to bring every school up to a seven (7) months term. I further recommend that every safe-guard be thrown around the disbursement of this fund so that it may be used for this purpose and this purpose alone. This fund when raised should be sacredly guarded and used to give to the people in the poorer and re

mote sections of the State a school in keeping with more favored communities.

A State's first duty is to develop its citizenship and strengthen its manhood and womanhood, and, until we realize this, we will not measure up to our duties. With the exception of our three higher institutions of learning, the State Board of Education has charge of and supervision over our schools. The State Superintendent and his professional assistants exercise general control and supervision over our public schools. The personnel of the STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, in addition to the Ex-officio members, as now organized is as follows:

Supt. John W. Abercrombie, Secretary and Ex-officio Officer,

Montgomery, Ala.

The State Superintendent of Education, clerical and professional assistants are the agencies through which this Board acts, the Superintendent being Chief Executive Officer.

The State Board of Education has adopted a Budget and made certain recommendations which will, no doubt be transmitted to you by the Executive Officer. I invite your careful consideration to same and sincerely trust that their recommendations will meet with your approval.

HIGHER INSTITUTIONS

The University, Auburn, Montevallo and our Normal Schools are in great distress for lack of buildings and equipment. Students are knocking at their doors clamoring for admission. High Schools are yearly turning out young men and women yearning for a college education. None of these institutions are adequately provided for. Alabama should be second to no State in giving our sons and daughters every advantage.

The people of Alabama have recently responded liberally to the call of the University, Auburn and Montevallo, to a building fund. The authorities should not be forced to this procedure.

These Institutions belong to the State and the State should amply supply funds for their maintenance and needs. The needs of these institutions are so apparent that we must meet squarely the responsibility-Unfortunately these institutions are now maintained out of the General Fund of the Treasury.—The sources of revenue to this fund, not otherwise appropriated by Constitutional provisions, are meager and insufficient to meet the active needs of these institutions. While the public schools have received much more revenue during the last four years (due to a constitutional provision) our Higher Institutions have not received an advance, although their demands are greater than ever before. A careful and impartial study of the situation will show that if we appropriated the whole of the General Fund to these institutions it would hardly meet their immediate needs. These institutions will never receive what they really need until they are placed in a position to receive a portion of the millage tax. I do not believe that the people of Alabama would turn down a proposition to tax themselves for the maintenance and support of these institutions. I, therefore, renew my recommendation of four years ago that a Constitutional Amendment be submitted to the people for a millage tax to be equitably divided among the University of Alabama, Auburn and Montevallo and our Normal Colleges as their needs may appear. To my mind, these institutions will never receive sufficient revenue to meet their demands, until same is fixed by the Constitution and not dependent upon annual appropriations. I believe that the people of this State are willing to support their Higher Institutions of learning. The Legislature can submit an Amendment to the people, which, if adopted, will put at rest forever the question of appropriation and fix in the Constitution a provision that will secure ample revenue for these institutions without each Legislature trying to find some way to raise funds to give these institutions a scan support-If this plan were followed and our people were advised as to our needs for these institutions, I believe the citizenship would rally-The people are willing to tax themselves if they know where their taxes are being spent.

I give warning that until a fixed revenue is worked out for our Higher Institutions of learning that they will never receive proper and adequate support for their maintenance and needs. Lets take the people into our confidence bravely and honestly and go to them with our needs and watch the unanimity with which they will respond to the State's call. In the meanwhile, some provision must be made to take care of their immediate needs. The present appropriations are insufficient and I recommend that you appoint a committee to take care of the Budget furnished by the President of each institution and as nearly as possible, and in such sums as the Treasury will stand, make these appropriations.

It might be well for this committee to call into conference the heads of each of these Institutions and ascertain their urgent needs.

I desire to state further that some of these institutions are carrying interesting bearing notes and I most earnestly urge that appropriations be made to these institutions in order to enable them to pay off this indebtedness, thereby saving the interest which is being presently paid out of the maintenance fund. I cannot too strongly urge that these appropriations be made as early as possible and the debts be liquidated. This recommendation is intended to include the Agricultural School at Sylacauga, Alabama, who incurred a heavy debt in erecting a building on the campus for State purposes.

Let me say that our higher institutions of learning are doing the best work in their history and deserve your most careful consideration.

SCHOOL FOR DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND

The Industrial School for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb at Talladega, Alabama, should receive our earnest and active support in order to take care for those who have lost their sight and who are unable to communicate by sound with their fellowman, these call for our heartfelt sympathy and every opportunity should be given them and their infirmities removed as far as is possible. The needs of this institution are grave. Senator Oliver will present a bill for their relief and I earnestly recommend its passage.

ALABAMA BOYS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

No institution is doing more for the youth of this State than is the ALABAMA BOY'S INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL at East Lake, Alabama. It is making high typed men of boys whose tendency was toward crime and idleness. The Superintendent of this school and his able assistants are rendering efficient service and I cannot too highly recommend them. We must prevent crime by saving the boy before he becomes a criminal. This school is doing that. The State must not neglect its wayward youth. This school is perhaps the outstanding school of its kind in the South. I ask that you send a committee of visitation to this school to find out its needs, and if possible, supply them. I know of nothing that is more conducive to our future citizenship, than the reclaiming of the wayward boy from the environment of crime and educating him to some honorable vocation. Let us then nurture and care for these wards of the State and thereby render a service to humanity. In this way crime can be lessened, morals

can be uplifted, homes can be made happier and communities strengthened, by caring for the wayward and outcast and training them for honest endeavor.

STATE TRAINING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The State Training School for Girls located near Birmingham, Alabama, is on my heart. It is doing a good work but not functioning as it should. The plan of its organization has not been properly worked out. It needs thoughtful investigation and a more definite plan worked out for its administration. I recommend that a special committee be appointed, to be composed of a member from each House, the Director of the Child Welfare Department, the State Health Officer, a member of the Board of Trustees and the Governor-elect, and after a careful investigation submit to you a bill for its future management, control and supervision. This school is badly in need of funds for replacing buildings recently burned and enlarging their facilities. This same Committee could work out these plans. This School appeals to us as deserving your every consideration and I commend it to you as an institution worthy of your very best thought and help.

ALABAMA SCHOOL OF TRADES AND INDUSTRIES

There is a State Educational Institution at Gadsden, Alabama, known as the Alabama School of Trades and Industries established to educate and train our white boys in their life's work in all the trades and callings which their talents and desires call for, to raise their earning power and better prepare them to share in the division of wealth of the State which properly belongs to them, and at the same time, add to the State's wealth and resources. This institution has passed the experimental stage and is doing a wonderful work.

I would recommend that the incoming Legislature provide sufficient maintenance funds and funds for buildings and equipment which will enable this institution to function in the way it was intended, as early as possible.

In view of the effiicent and patriotic work of Honorable Watt Brown, who has made this school his life work and has made sacrifice for its success, I recommend that the name of the school be changed to BROWN'S ALABAMA SCHOOL OF TRADES AND INDUSTRIES.

In conclusion let me add that during my administration all school teachers have been paid promptly and no educational appropriation has been delayed, nor have teachers been forced to discount their warrants.