268 THE FISCAL PROBLEM IN MISSOURI

present needs for a large building program.” It is difficult
to see how the two statements can be reconciled, particularly
in view of the information in regard to penal and eleemosynary
 institutions contained in the report of the Commission.
It is believed that the several reports concerning penal
and eleemosynary institutions are accurate. They reveal
conditions of a kind that the state cannot afford to tolerate
for any period of time. Reference to Table 82 indicates that
more than 50% of the total recommended for capital outlays
and extraordinary repairs is needed for penal and eleemosynary
 institutions. The exact amount as recommended is
$20,687,000 out of a total of $39,615,000. It is not claimed
that the entire amount of $20,687,000 represents an accumulated
 deficiency in capital outlays for these institutions.
The evidence presented by the State Survey Commission
indicates, however, that the deficiency is unquestionably
large, and it is difficult to see how the state could justify
deferring any part of the necessary construction and repairs
for any length of time. Missouri has recognized its highway
needs and has provided and is continuing to provide a
splendid system of highways for the use of its more fortunate
citizens. It is, however, proposed to spread the financing of
the needs of the less fortunate who are in state institutions
over a period of years, on the ground that a pay-as-yougo
 policy is desirable as well as less expensive. For humanitarian
 reasons 1t would seem that the state should endeavor
to provide immediately for those needs which are in the
nature of an accumulated deficiency, and to accomplish such
a result without resort to borrowing would scarcely be
possible.
Although it is extremely difficult to forecast the needs
for penal and eleemosynary institutions for a number of
years, there is no doubt that the state will have to provide
for financing such needs beyond those which represent an
accumulated deficiency at the present time. To endeavor
to provide for the additional needs that may develop as well
as for the accumulated deficiency out of current revenue
would present a most difficult problem. If such a policy
were attempted, it seems more than likely that another
1 Report of the State Survey Commission, 1929, p. 168.