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 eleemosy- 
nary 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 eleemosy- 
nary 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 ac- 
cumulated 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-you- 
go policy is desirable as well as less expensive. For humani- 
tarian 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.