The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-11-08
G~o5vERNoR,s MESSAGE
r1rru LEaIsLArIvE OF wYoM1NG.


FIFTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WYOMING.
Gardener of The Legislative Assembly; q Ue .Hr
During the two years intervening since the adjournmento of
the last legislature, the affairs of the Territory have generally
been in a prosperous condition. Business has enlarged;
branches of industry have increased, and additional capital has
found investment in different sections. The depression which
has weighed so heavily upon the country at large, has not been
felt by our people. The administration of justice has been
efficient, and successful, and the laws have been faithfully exc
cuted, with one exception upon our extreme northern border.
The present year has been a marked one in some respects.
During the. past summer, most serious difficulties arose be-
tween several corporations and their employees, bringing on a
conflict between the civil power and clements of lawlessness and
disorder, which proved disastrous for a time to business inter
ests, and destructive to human life. The lessons to be drawn
from'these events should be impressed upon the people of the
whole country. +% x ~ ~ a.
Labor is entitled its full reward. Such compensation should
be given as will enable the working man not only tosupport
his family, but to lay aside something at the end of each year
as a little sinking fund against future needs, for it is the moral
right and duty of every one to improve his condition if he can.
Every legitimate means should be used to elevate the condition
and advance the interests of the working classes. Corpora
tions and their employees should be brought into nearer rea-
tionship with each other, and be led more fully to appreciate
the fact that the interests of each are the interests of the other.
While this is so, tits equally true, that the remedy for wrongs
is in the law, and in the formation of enlightened public opin-
ion. No combinations of men can be permitted to accomplish
their purposes, by unlawful means. Resistance to the civil
power can remove no wrong; violations of law can work no
remedies; acts of disorder can improve no ones condition.
On the contrary the cause which resorts to such agencies
works an irreparable injury to itself. The law must be main
tanned under all circumstances, for in this rests the security of
society and the maintenance of government.
The auditor and treasurer are required to make their reports
to your honorable body. They wil.be submitted in due time.
The reports of the superintendent of public instruction, and
the Territorial librarian are herewith transmitted. Your
attention is respectfully invited to the suggestions and recon-
mendations contained in these several reports. -EFE
FINANCES. tfb ~ "a
The auditor has furnished me with the following abridged
statement as to our financial affairs:
Ssss e. e. e. I fss@ sHs ys e #' TERM a 1851 SO ss ,sss.ss
Balance on hand !. .............. l,s4452
The bills, amounting to about four thousand eight hundred
dollars, for keeping the convicts during the months of August,
September and October, have not been settled. After paying
out the amount in the treasury, it leaves a deficiency of two
thousand nine hundred and ftyfive dollars. This fact is
explained by the increase in the number of prisoners, and by
the payment of S~7,911.37 for the compilation and publication
of the laws.
The total valuation of property as assessed for the year 1877
is S9,275, S11.. The rate of assessment for Territorial purposes
is three mills on the dollar. The amount of tax levied for
this yerr is 27,s37. This amount will, in my judgment, be
sufficient to meet all expenses, if certain recommendations
herewith submitted are carried into effect.
@.# LittE KEEPING OF PRISONERS. ErB .HFTt1.
At the last legislative session an act was passed creating a
commission composed of Herman Haas, James, France, W. II.
Holiday and the Governor, whose duty was to investigate the
relative cost of transporting to and keeping prisoners in the
penitentiary at Laramie and other penitentiaries beyond the
limits o the territory; IN II their keeping coulu pc secured
in the latter, at less expense, it was authorized to make the
change. Their report will be submitted. I will, however,
briefly state, that the cost of maintaining prisoners in the
House of Correction, at Detroit, was found to be far less than
at Laramie; but the commission met with an unexpected diff
Guilty. 1t was found that the tariff of charges allowed to
sherifs for transportation of prisoners was SO large that the
greater portion of the appropriation for their subsistence
would be exhausted in their transfer to Detroit. To take SIX
prisoners there would cost nearly two thousand dollars. 1t
was therefore deemed best to postpone any action in the prem
Uses till the next legislature should have an opportunity TO
reduce the charges down to the expenses actually incurred in
their transportation, which is earnestly recommended.
There are now sixtyseven Territorial prisoners in the Uni
ted States penitentiary at Laramie at a cost of one dollar per
day per man, which is the contract price with the government.
1t will thus be seen, the Territory is paying sixty-seven dollars
a day for their keeping. have had a correspondence with
the Attorney General of the United States at different times,
claiming a reduction, but without success. A portion of the
prisoners have been hired out to labor during parts of the last