The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-01-19

mlls on Lne dollar ana anInOrlze TIE transfer OF so
much of the sinking fund to the warrant fund as may
be necessary to meet the current expenses of the Ter
ritory and pay the bonded debt when it natures in
1888. I am convinced that You should reduce the
rate of interest on Territorial and county warrants to
seven per cent. The present rates of interest are in
excess of rates paid by banks on deposits, and in some
counties almost one half of the debt is made up of &C
crued interest on warrants. | also ~ecomnend that
the bonded debt of the several counties be funded ats
lower rate of interest than is now paid and that coun-
ty warrants be bonded at a lower rate Of interest than
ten per cent. per annum. I think BY judicious man
agement the bonds Of the several counties can be ne
gotlated at seven per cent. per annuEn.
I respectful suggest the propriety of additional leg
islation for the protection of gamein the Territory. In
many parts of the Territory deer, antelope and elk are
openly killed for the hides only. and no part of the
carcass used for food. If this wholesale slaughter is
to continue, the game of the Territory will sooD be ex-
hausted. It is recommended that the law be amended
SO as to prohibit, under severe penalties, the killing Of
elk, deer or antelope, except for food. This subject ls
submitted for your earnest consideration at the 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 of the Territory. You should provide such
legislation as will secure the punishment of the often
ders and prevent such occurrences in the future. The
protection Of the stock ranges and timber are now
matters of paramount Importance to the people, and
the subject demands some legislation, and I trust you
will give it such consideration as its Importance de-
n1ands.
The laws Of the Territory prohibiting the sale of in
toxicating liquors to Indians is openly violated by par
ties in the vicinity Of Fort Maginnis and Carroll. The
lives and property of citizens in that section are seri-
ously endangered by drunken Indians who obtain
liquor from traders in violation of law. The county
authorities do not appear to have power or disposition
to enforce the law and suppress the traffic. Appeals
have been made by citizens to the military and the
civil officers of the United States, but they appear to
be powerless to enforce the laws OF the United States
prohibiting the sale ofliquor to Indians. It has be-
come the duty Of the Territory to enforce the law, and
| I therefore ]ecommend that you authorize rewards to
| be offered for the arrest and conviction of persons en-
! gagged in selling or trading Intoxicating liquors to In
dams, and the consfcation Of all property found in the
possession Of the offenders, or used by them in carry
ing on the illicit trade. The traffic can, and should be,
| suppressed; and I trust the Legislature will not hest
tate to give the subject the attention its Importance
demands.
Since the adjournment Of the last Legislature / OBJ
| tanned from the Attorney General Of the United States
areduction in the compensation for keeping the Terri
torial convicts. The per diem now paid is seventy-five
cents. The number of convicts is steadily increasing,
and you viii be required to make some provision for
additional prison room, as the prison at Deer Lodge is
now overcroWdeda and there appears to be no proba-
| bility that the United States will increase its capacity.
I recommend that you authorize the confinement in
county jails OF such convicts as cannot be kept at the
Deer Lodge prison. The number of Territorial con-
victs now confined in the United States prison at Deer
Lodge is ~ffty-six.
The amount realized from prison labor FOR the last
fiscal year has been very small; the amount will ap-
pear in the reports Of the financial officers of the Ter.
ritory.
The reports of the judges of the Supreme Court,
with vouchers accounting for the annual appropriation
for the law library, for the years 1879 and 1880, are
transmitted as required by law. Also the reports OF
the officers of the Historical Society. with vouchers,
covering the same period, accounting for the annual
appropriation for said Society.
The contractor having charge Of the insane has per
formed his part of the contract to my entire ~satisfac.
ton. The number now receiving treatment is SO.
The number that have died or been discharged since
January list, 1879 is 26. I respectfully ecommen
that you appoint a joint committee to visit the Asy.
lum and report fully upon it's condition. The present
contract will expire in March of the present year, and
/ have no intimation from the contractor that he
wishes to renew the same. This subject ! commend
to your earnest and careful considerations.
The evils resulting from the practice Of opium
smoking should be suppressed by law. Secret places
of resort are kept where the habit is encouraged anc
the evil effect Of the practice will soon be apparent or
the youths Whossfrequent these dens.
The annual reports Of the Territorial Auditor a6
Treasurer are hereby submitted, to which your atten:
ton is respectfully directed, I suggest that you at al
early day in the session appoint q joint committee OF
the two Houses to examine the books Of said officers
and their official transactions during the past two
years.
The report Of the Superintendent of Public Instruc,
ton, which will be submitted to you by that officer
viii give full information as to the condition Of the
public schools in the Territory. The policy of free
schools is SO firmly fixed in the affection of the people
that | do not anticipate any opposition to its continu
| ance.
The advantage to society derived from the education
of the masses is not now seriously questioned by any
one. Lord Bacon has forcibly illustrated that learned
States have been usually prosperous States, and that
an instructed people have been tor the most part, q
rich, laborious, energetic and powerful people. Mr.
Horace Mann, in one Of his reports to the Board Of
Education in Massachusetts, showed by precise Stats
teal details, collected from superintendent OF manu-
featuring establishments, that throughout the whole
range Of mechanical industry, the well educated oper.
alive did more work, did it better, wasted less, used
his allotted portion of machinery to better advantage
and greater profits, earned more money, commanded
more confidence, rose faster and higher from lower to
advanced positions, than did the uneducated opera.
tive.
Another educator says: Education is economy,
and ignorance means waste; that the skilled workman
so forecasts and plans his work that every blow tells,
while he economies his strength and stock; that even
IN humhlest labor he will do more work. in better