seed coming into the state with commercial feeds and farm seeds. It is also of interest that we note a stimulation to the dairy industry and the protection afforded producers in the sale of dairy products on a butter-fat basis, and the guarantee to the public against adulterations and the lowering of food value through the Department's inspection of dairy products.

I am pleased to note that the plants of the nurseries of the state, which are to produce the fruits and ornamental trees of tomorrow. are being rapidly brought to higher standards of health and productiveness, through the service of the technically trained men of the department. This service is holding in check the spread of insect pests and plant diseases, and is reducing their devastating affects in areas covered; as for example, the dreaded sweet potato weevil of the Gulf Coast region, which threatened the potato production of the entire state.

Due to the elimination of foul brood and other bee diseases and other assistance rendered by the department to beekeepers in improving the methods of production, the package bee industry of the state has risen to first position among the states and is bringing into Alabama thousands of dollars from the other states and Canada.

One of the greatest needs in profitable marketing of farm products is standardization and official certification as to grades and condition of carlot shipments at the points of origin and terminal markets. Much progress has been made in setting up standards for our agricultural products and in providing official certification, such as is being done for Johnson grass and alfalfa hays. In addition to standardization and certification as to grade of farm products, one of the pre-requisites to orderly marketing and financing of agricultural products, is a properly supervised warehouse system. Never before has the state set up a supervised system as is now in operation, and which has received wide recognition and approval of the banking systems of the country, This warehouse system has furnished aid in financing the orderly marketing of crops at the lowest rate of interest ever received by the farmers of the state.

One of the new services of the department and of the state is that of a weights and measures service. Through the operation of this service equal justice to buyer and seller has been established under able supervision of weighing and measuring devices. This service, which was never before provided, is doing pioneer work of the South along this line and has received high recommendation by the U. S. Bureau of Standards and by weights and measures officials of states engaged for years in this work. Among the services being rendered I will mention that of protecting the farmer against losses in the sale of his products; such as

cotton, and automobilists against losses from defective and improperly operated gasoline pumps. Reports of the work show an estimated loss to the farmers of more than $400,000.00 annually, due to the incorrect cotton scales, and an estimated loss of $340,000.00 annually to automobile operators, on account of incorrect gasoline pumps, at the beginning of the work. These instances furnish concrete examples of the savings to the public through the enforcement by the department along this line. In addition to the proper supervision of devices, further savings have been accomplished through the examination of the weight or measure of commodities sold in all lines of trade.

After experiencing the enforcement of these new laws by this newly organized department during my administration, I find that certain further legislation is desirable. The Department of Agriculture and Industries has so many different activities based upon the provisions of one Act that litigation of a technical nature is continuously invited and threatens to retard and handicap the work of the department. The inclusion of a part of the agricultural laws in the Code of 1923 and the omission of others, causes many questions to arise. I am therefore of the opinion that the public statutes of Alabama which pertain to agriculture and industries and related subjects should be codified. Since the constitutional provision, under which Article 40 of the Agricul tural Code relating to drainage districts was rendered null and void by the Supreme Court of Alabama, has been amended so as to remove all constitutional obstacles to such an Act, I recommend the restoration of this important Act and adoption of remedial legislation to restore the legal status of bonds sold and purchased in good faith under provisions of the drainage Act.

I recommend for consideration the further use of the inspection fees of the department for the purposes for which they are collected in extending the services and their benefits to those who pay the fees and make it possible for the state to provide conditions most favorable for their legitimate and profitable opera

tions.

THE PORT OF MOBILE

Through the amendment of Section 93 of the Constitution of Alabama which became effective November 22nd, 1922, the people of Alabama avowed, in most solemn form known to our Government, their deliberate purpose to promote, develop, construct, maintain and operate a seaport within the State, prescribing that such work or development should always be and remain under the management and control of the State, acting through a governing agency of the State's creation.

In my inaugural message to your predecessor, the Legislaturė of 1923, it was said:

"The people of Alabama by almost unanimous consent at the polls decided that the State of Alabama should lend its credit to the building of a Port for Alabama at Mobile. Our people have great hope in this development. To my mind, this is the most important legislation with which you will have to deal. The people have been promised returns on their investment. You will be charged with passing the enabling Act carrying into effect the constitutional amendment In my judgment, a great day will dawn for Alabama when this port is completed. Every section will be benefitted, and the product of field and mine, of mill and factory, will cause our industrial life to throb with new energy. New markets will be opened-transportation will be cheapened and all our people will feel its benefits. We should not delay the matter unduly,-but every care should be taken to the end that the people will be assured that the matter is being carefully and properly handled This problem is ours; let us meet it thoughtfully, prudently, with the best advice obtainable."

The Enabling Act, designed to carry into effect the Port Amendment to the Constitution, became a law on September 18th, 1923, by Executive approval.

The Act directed the appointment, by the Governor, of three State Docks Commissioners, no two of whom should be residents of the same Congressional District. Under that authority, I appointed these three well-known business men to constitute the Commission: Mr. George Gordon Crawford (Chairman) of Jefferson County; Former Governor Chas. Henderson of Pike; and the Honorable Frank G. Blair of Tuscaloosa County. Though sincerely interested in the patriotic service to which he was called, Mr. Crawford found it necessary to accept for a temporary service only-until a satisfactory successor to him could be obtained.

General William L. Sibert, a pre-eminent Alabamaian, was induced to succeed Mr. Crawford.

The organization of the Commission with General Sibert as Chairman was effected November 26th, 1923.

The Service and work of the State Docks Commission has been, in all respects, highly satisfactory; and the progress made toward the full development of the Port of Mobile has been as rapid as the magnitude of the approved plan would permit. This plan was so drawn as to provide for the ultimate expenditure of the entire ten millions authorized by constitutional amendment, and the lands procured are sufficient to meet the ocean terminal needs of Alabama for years to come. The people of Ala

bama, in every way that approval may be manifested have shown their fullest confidence and unqualified satisfaction with the service the State Docks Commission has rendered and is continuing to render to the State and its people in the development, construction and management of the Port of Mobile.

In accordance with the requirement of Code (1923) Section 2559, the State Docks Commission, through General Sibert as Chairman, has prepared a full report to the Legislature of its acts, services and operations.

I herewith transmit that report: commending it to your careful consideration and respectfully suggesting that, because of its illuminating character and great importance, it be at once print

ed.

Whenever a government contemplates or enters upon a development or enterprise that is related to or affects commerce or commercial activities, the first consideration, inspired by the wisdom of experience, is the inquiry whether "politics" will be or become a factor, in any degree, in the creation or operation of that public facility.

Realizing, as I did and as any Governor would have done, that, if "politics" had any part, play or recognition whatsoever in the formulation or execution of the State's great design at Mobile, the most disappointing and unhappy consequences would attend: I determined, in the very beginning, that in no way or degree should "politics" have any consideration or influence whatsoever in the planning or the consumation of the development of the Port of Mobile.

Such was the original policy adopted by me; and it has been, without the slightest variation, adhered to.

The State Docks Commission also has consistently maintained a like policy in its service of formulating and executing the approved plan for the development of the Port of Mobile.

This policy has merited, as it has deserved and received, the unqualified approval of all who feel a patriotic interest in the State's welfare and who entertain a real desire for the success of the State Port at Mobile.

Conscious of the enduring wisdom of that policy as there applied; aware of the anticipated success that has attended its observance in the work at Mobile, I earnestly recommend that that policy be made permanent through appropriate enactment.

A bill, prepared with the utmost care, will be presented to you, in which the permanence of that policy will be assured through provisions investing the State Docks Commission with the power to fill vacancies in that body. subject to confirmation of their selections by the Senate of Alabama. The plan designed is, in substance, that provided in the Constitution for the

selection of members of the Board of Trustees for the University of Alabama.

The approved plan for port development has not been completely executed. Such a large part of the five million dollars already made available has been necessarily expended in moving railroads and purchasing land, that the remainder will not build a port capable of handling all of the typically different kinds of commerce seeking an outlet at Mobile. The five millions remaining of the amount authorized by constitutional amendment should, in my opinion, be made immediately available.

If the policy is continued and the Acts passed as presented to you by the Chairman of the Docks Commission, the port will soon be a reality. I cannot then too strongly urge the immediate passage of these measures, which will insure the completion of the Port and give the Commission opportunity for its operation.

In conclusion, may I say that the people of Alabama owe a debt of gratitude to General William L. Sibert and his associates for the efficient and economic manner in which they have administered the affairs of Port Development and from no source has a single criticism come, and this Department and its work is an outstanding feature of this Administration-and my hope is that no policy will be adopted by which they will be handicapped in bringing to successful conclusion our dreams of transportation..

COMMISSION OF FORESTRY

The task of establishing a new but urgently needed department without levying additional taxes was accomplished through the Forestry Act of 1923. For many years the citizenry of the commonwealth had been aware of the paramount necessity of public action toward developing and maintaining the forest resources of the state as an appropriate and profitable use of our extensive areas of nonagricultural land and as a measure toward the continution of the forest and wood using industries which employ many thousands of wage earners. The Forestry Act recognized the highly specialized and technical character of this problem, and has been widely commented upon both in the United States and abroad as probably the best initial forestry legislation adopted by any State. Among its more important features are provisions for practical cooperatoon with the landowners, deferred taxes on timber grown under forestry management so that the principle of one tax for one yield may be applied to timber as to other renewable resources, and cooperation with the Federal Government in the prevention of forest fires.

In carrying out the State's forestry policy it was evidently most desirable to select a Commission of practical men with a