The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-01-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

sentatiyes..
Throughout the year which has just closed
| the people of Montana have prOspered in al
unusual degree. Agriculture has been pros
porous, business has iourished, rich mines
have been developed, stock growing has beer
remuneratiye, and many public improve
ments have been projected and successfully
prosecuted.
| In advance of any general legislation, !
| will submit to you a brief statement of the fl.
nancial condition of the Territory, and the
| several counties, and briefly present my views
| upon certain questions which appear to me
| require legislative action.
| We omit publication of table relative to
the valne of live stock ~ shown by the re.
| turns of the assessor of the several counties
for the year 1890, and a statement showing
the net Indebtedness Of the counties, March
| l, 1880, and increase or decrease, compared
with March /, 1879 These showings were
published heretofore in the New NORTH
WEST.
fReferring to this exhibit the Executive
US 1t is by no means a gratifying one and is
| ar from sustaining our boosted ability for To-
cal self governing. If our local indebtedness
increases in the same ratio as heretofore the
Territory will not favUrably impress Congress
when she applies for admission into the I'm
ion as State. This unfortunate condition of
affairs cannot be attributed to our present.
forms OF Territorial government, or the sys-
TEN OF appointments which has grown up
been made, but must be chargeable to the
people of the several counties in their capac-
ity rs citizens. i think much of the evil in
county management results from the action
OF the county commissioners in assuming to
exercise legislative functions in paying pre-
tended claims against the counties without
authority of law. The Territorial Auditor
cannot draw warrant for the payment of a
claim against the Territory without express
authority of law Now, why not apply this
W N mi Sip mars AM
stop leak which has done much to create
the present Indebtedness? | do not think
county commissioners should be allowed so
much discretion, for bad men will take adj
vantage of it to serve their own purposes and
that OF their partisans. If a discretion il al
lowed, maximum limit to such discretion
shout be fixed by law.
TAXATION AND FEES.
The fees and salaries of district and county
officers are far in excess of a reasonable com
pensatiOn for the official services performed,
and their reduction shoald receive your i'm
mediate attention. An examination of coun-
ty records will show that county officers gen.
orally receive salaries far in excess of any
other officers in the Territory. For example,
the county clerks in some of the counties re-
ce1Ye more compensation than the judges of
the Supreme Court, and in many of the coun-
ties the annual compensation of the county
treasurers is one thousand dollars larger than
the salary of the Territorial Treasurer. The
remedy IL in your hands, and submit to you
whether the substance of the people shall
continue to be consumed in the payment of
nigh salaries. "A large local indie btedneSs and
a high rate of taxation will deter immigra-
ton and seriously effect every industry in the
Territory. The owners of live stock in many
instances have changed their stock from
counties where high rate of taxation exists
to those where taxation il less, and this
ehanRs VII Us, rqAt 81 81 fax &
plicate. The counties having the smallest
debt and the lowest rate of taxation will, and
should be, the most prosperous. / have al
ways favored statute limiting the power of
The several counties to contract debt beyond
a certain amount and trust you will concur
with me if any new county is organized at
the present session.
In my opinion every pnblic officer should
receive II fixed salary, AMI the whole system
of compensation by fees should be abolished.
The value of the services of clerks and sher-
itis can be as easily estimated as can those of
the Territorial Auditor and Treasurer. and
when parties litigant are to be taxed with
costs, let it be taxed in favor of the county,
and collected from such party as the court
may direct, and under suitable regulations,
paid into the county treasury. The fees of
clerks and sheriffs heretofore charged against
htigants. can by a proper classification be
committed to a fixed sum and be paid into the
county treasury on the certificate of the clerk.
| believe this system both practicable and jul
dicious with repect to all officers who hereto
fore been compensated in whole or in part by
fees.
The officers of the Territory in charge of its
finances having discharged their duties with
so much fidelity, and the finances being in
such an improved condition. that the Terri
torial Treasurer was enabled to place on the
market the per cent bonds authorized by
your predecessors / and 1-l6th per cent
above par, redeeming all of the outstanding
10 per cent bonds, making an annual saving
of 81 100 interest on the bonded debt. This
is very gratifying showing, in view of the
fact that ten years ago the bonded debt of the
Territory was drawing l5per cent per annum
and the debt was much larger than at pres
ent. The Territorial debt on the first day of
the present month was:
Seven per cent bonds outstanding. so 600 90
Interest on same. ................... 2,45O 90
One outstanding warrant. 161 90
Total liabilities. S72 6l1 90
cash balance in treasury. ........... o., 40 65
Net Indebtedness. ............. $50, 40 80
The money in the treasury applicable to
the redemption of the outstanding bonds can
not he applied until Jan. ], A. ID. 1888, when
the option of the holders expires. ! therefore
recommend that the Treasurer be authorized
to expend said money in the purchase of out
standing bonds at not exceeding par, or that
he be authorized to safely invest the same
until the option of the holders OF the bonds
expires. l think il not advisable to divert
the money to other purposes, but to reduce
and authorize the transfer of so much of the
Sinking fund to the Warrant fund rs may be
necessary to meet the current expenses of the
Territory. The levy suggested will be suffi- |
Gent to meet the current exposes of the Ter
ritory and pay the bonded debt when it ma
lures in 1888. i am convinced that you should |
reduce the rate of interest on Terrific |
rial and county warrants to per cent The |
present rates OF interest are in excess of rates
paid by banks on deposits, and in some conn |
almost nf hn Hah Ia ia ,,eI
accrued interest on warrants / also recon- |
mend that the bonded debt of the several |
counties be funded ut a lower rate of interest |
than Is now paid and that county warrantsbe |
bonded ut a lower rate of interest than ten /
per cent per annun. / think by iudicious |
the bonds of the several ccun- |
ties can be negotiated Mt seven per cent. per |
annuIn
PROTECTION OF GAME.
i respectfully suggest the propriety of addi- |
ional legislation for the protection of game |
In the Territory. In many parts of the Terri |
tory deer, antelope and elk are openly killed |
for the hides only, and no part of the carcass
used for food. III this wholesale slaughter
the game of the Territory will soon
be exhausted. 1t is recommended that the
law be amended so as to prohibit, under Sc
we're penalties, the killing of elk, deer or an
telope, except for food. This subject is sub
mitted for your earnest consideration mt thu
request of many OF our best citizens
The law prohibiting the firing of prairie
grass has not been enforced, although many
destructive fires have occurred during the
past year in almost every section in the Ter
fitory. You should provide such legislation
~ will secure the punishment of the Offenders
and prevent such occurrences in the future.
The protection Of the stock ranges and tim
Der are now matters of paramount Importance
70 the people, and the subject demands some
legislation, and trust you will give IL such
consideration as its Importance demands.
The laws of the Territory Drohibitinp the |
'ale of Intoxicating liquors to the Indians il
openly violated by parties in the vicinity of
Fort Maginnis and Carroll. The lives and
property Of citizens in that section are seri-
'usly endangered by drunken Indians who
,btain liquor from traders, in violation oflaw.
The county authorities do not appear TO have
bower or disposition to enforce the law and
suppress the traffic. Appeals have been by
'itizens to the military and the civil officers
II the United States, but they appear to be
,owerless TO enforce the laws of the United
states prohibiting the sale of liquor to In
I10O$. il hae hn Il