The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-12-15
IDAHO CITY, 1. T.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

to the meeting OF Tue Leeioi''"io' ~
unon Hon. Z. J. Curtis Secretary and Acting
Governor, to communicate to the two Houses II
Joint convention the biennial message of the
Executive. 1t being lengthy document, want
of space IN this issue compels us to refrain
from publishing it entire, as we otherwise
should have done had we received it few
days sooner.
The first subject to which his Excellency
calls the attention of tn. members of the pres
ent session, is the financial condition OF the
Territory He states that the biennial report
of the Territorial Treasurer, bearing date No
yember 80, A. d. 1870, exhibits falling OFT IN
receipts of that office. during the fiscal year, OF
$24,6lS 90, and an increase of Indebtedness OF
S2O,120 95. AS we have not yet received the
Treasurer's report, we of course have no com
ments to make upon the exhibit made by that
document The wide ference in the amount
of revenue paid into the Territorial Treasury
during the past fiscal year and that of the pre-
cedng year, can easily be accounted for in the
abolition by Congress of the Foreign Miners
license tax For that the Democracy cannot
be held responsible, and our Radical friends
who complain most in regard to the condition
of our Territorial and county finances were
the very persons who favored such action upon
the part of Congress. The result is before the
people in an increase of the Territorial debt
and decrease in revenue receipts.
The next subject to which their attention is
directed, is our mining interests and the Gov
ernor advises that careful examination be
made of the laws now in force regarding our
quartz mines in particular, with the view of
remedyipg any defects and supplying any omis-
sions that may be found in the law relating to
the discovery of gold and silver Quartz leads
and of the manner of their location.
The system of special legislation is handled
without gloves, and the views of the Governor
upon that subject will doubtless meet with
hearty response from members of both parties
Exceptional cases sometimes arise wherein the
special interposition of the representatives of
the people, in the nature of legislative enact
ment, becomes almost necessity, or at least
is the only way in which an act of justice or
equity can be accomplished to meet particu-
lar ase,-every general and uniform rule be-
ing subject to exceptiOns,-but such instances
are OF rare occurrence where the general laws
have, previous to their enactment, been thor
pughly and carefully considered, with the aid ,
of precedents established after fair trial in ,
older communities
Retrenchment and Reform receives a fair :
share of the Governors attention, and his
views and suggestions are sound, pertinent and
well-timed. He says:
am free TO confess that have the utmost conf v
dence in yonr wisdom and integrity. and indulge
the nope that the Sixth session Of the Legislative
senby Of Idaho will leave a record honorable to I
themselves subservient TO the best interests and
prosperity OF the Territory! aud which will meet
the full expectation of the people, and secure their
honest and hearty endorsement.
We concur with his Excellency. and earn :
estly hope that such may be the result of their
deliberations.
In regard 70 the Reyenue Act, he recon- =
mends that the ambiguous provisions be cor. -.
rected and the law made more definite and GER
tain; calls upon them to tighten the burden of
taxation, and reminds them that the people
will hold them to strict accountability should
they fail to comply with the public demand in ;,
that respect. The Revenue Act should be
thoroughly revised, and the reforms made
therein should be with the view NOT only of :,
lessening the burden Of taxation but of re- .
trenchment in the cost Of collection.
The subject Of Common Schools is partcu- . y
arly referred to, aRd the cause of education has
jealous advocate ip the person OF our present ::
Acting Governor. No one will dispute the i'm y
portance Of 2 thorough, comprehensive and :, q
efficient school l system being provided for the =
benefit Of the rising generation in our midst; y
'ut we must remember that in older comlnu. !"
lities and in States hayipg fifty times the pop. ID
'lation ard wealth Of Idaho, it has required =
ears to build up and perfect system which -
would even approximate toward meeting the v
demands and requirements of the people. The
Importance of the subject cannot be overesti. m
mated, but at the same we must not underes. IN
innate the great expense attending the practi. ~
al working ip new Territory of thorough wi
nd complete system of Common School edu. H
ntion. Itis a trite saying that "a man should lie
ut his coat according 70 his CLOTH" and while g g
70 maxim is applicable in the present instance st.
. hope the Legislature will make the most of an
70 cloth on this subject. he
The importance Of additional appropriations be