The Montana post., 1868-12-18
THE GOVERNORS nEssAGE.

The Democrat of the 18th contains
the full text of the Governors Message
1t is the most comprehensive. practical,
aud sensible message the Legislature of
Montana, although there are some very
impractical suggestions in it, has had
presented to IL. He recommends some
amendments To the California Practice
Act. While they are amending. il is
deemed desirable by many lawyers that
the final chapters. stricken from the act
last year. be adopted, as they are the
chapters demonstrated to be essential
by it's practical workings. He recon-
mends amendment of the jury law. AS
the law exists, jurors, witnesses and
officers have no recourse TO obtain fees
from an insolvent party ordered to pay
the costs, and in no way except by suit,
from any obstinate party. The amt Uad~
ment of the Corporation Law is also
recommended, upon the proper premise
that roads and bridges should be public
property, and that the ravenous fran
chises are an evil To the Territory.
Considerable space is devoted to I'M
pressing the Legislature with sense OF
the Importance Of public schools. and
recommendation that men of experience
and ability be selected TO draft bill
providing for an improved common
school system. II the Legislature would
appropriate TO schools annually, the
amount they have voted hemselves for
extra compensation, and repeal the
Extra Conn ensation Act, il would be-
worthy of highest commendation, place
the common schools OF Montana on q
sure. prosperous basis and result in the
welfare of all The recommendation
for the Incorporation of a Univer-
sity of Montana, on the ground
that liberal act OF this character
would lead to its endowment by
citizens. is less open 10 serious objec-
tion than we had anticipated from the
kilograms. To have urged an endow-
ment from the Territory would have
been premature and i'll advised in its
present financial condition. The Com
mon School is the broad. solid founda
ton of universal intelligence, and to lay
that well requires all the energies and
ape opriatIons at present attainable.
The incorporation of a University that
is To be dormant in its functions for
years. as the Historical Society has been
scarcely commends itself as desirable.
The Governor dsvotes a large share
OF attention 10 the mineral interests.
recommending Fair for the exhibition
of minerals, similar to that tor agricul-
tural products also, premiums for the
best mill or furnace. most skillful feeder
or amalgamatOr, for the best proved
lode. deepest and most skilfully sunk
shaft, etc, the specimens of minerals TO
be exhibited to go into a Territorial
cabinet. The first part of the propOsi~
tion seems practicable enough. and
would be an Important adjunct TO the
Agricultural Fair, bat the mill, lode and
shaft business appears totally impracti-
cable except at enormous expense. The
committee would have To travel over
the entire explored mineral country to
accomplish the purpose.
The revivification of the Historical
Society is spoken of encodragingly. and
a memorial to Congress recommending
an appropriation of 5000 to provide il
with a library, as has been done for
other TerritOritories. This Historical
Society Is of the first Importance. and
should be a live institution instead of
the inanimate nothing il now is. The
day and the opportunity that can never
be recalled are gliding past and are un~
improved. Other features in the mes
sage will be referred to on to morrow.