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how the state should protect itself in those semi-public
interests in which it had invested so unwisely on those
many occasions.
It was the function of the board of Public
Works to see to it that the Board did not go into too
heavy a public debt and it is said in one of the
committee records in the 1867 Constitution that the
effect of public debt upon communities is the same as
debt upon individuals. It shuts the door of hope. It
dispirits and paralyzes their energy.
The public debt is a public calamity, and ori ani
on the record rolls to talk about the state unwisely in-
vesting in these internal improvements in which there was
a great deal of private money and unhappily a great
; deal of public money as well.
I simply say to you that the presence of the
Board of Public Works in the Constitution of 1867 was
predicated upon the State interest in these subject
when
matters and over the years/the legislature has looked
for someplace to dump various duties or to place various
duties it has decided it would add to the duties of the