The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-02-02

&c hemen Of the Council and House Of Rep
resentdtiUes:
Ny recent arrival in the Territory, and my
necessarily imperfect knowledge OF its neces-
stiles, would make long communication to
you on interests that you understand so well,
presuming-wbile the recent message Of my
predecessor fortunately makes 1t unnecessary.
But among the general questions that fore
IDLY strike me, are the registration or quallf-
cation of voters, railroad taxation, the Indian
question, and the more perfect enforcement
Of the game and timber laws Of tie Territory.
At the outset of my administration, however,
am particularly struck with the necessity
OF providing some security against tenn
porary paralysis of the legislative function.
If the Executive, or any officer under the su
preme general government, should attempt
10 prevent your lawful deliberations, you
would properly deDouuce him as q usurper;
why, then, should any single member or
any body Of members OF the Legislature ab-
sent himself or themselves with impunity,
TO prevent q quorum of your body? ear.
nestly suggest that this young, great, aud
uncorrupted Territory, while reyerencing
every safeguard that custom and Law have
thrown around debate, should provide some
penalty that would secure your legislation
against dead. lock organized for personal
enuS 10 prevent any ioRAi heCtibS. hc
people have q right TO the service OF every
member of the legislative BODY, as much as
any employer Is entitled to service for which
he pays.
REGISTRATION AND VOTING.
In country so vast and sparsely settled
as Montana, a rule Of registration of voters
might work hardship in some cases, but not
In the cities, towns or more populous dis
tricts. However this may be, the qualihca'
tioa of voters should be more sharply defin-
ed. II Is now we'll known that we are in
part represented through the votes Of men
who had no definite purpose TO become citi:
zsns. The county residence imposed by law,
is In my opinion, too short, and the declara-
tion Of intention too Informal. II Is not
credible that men really intending to weld
their fortunes with this Territory would
place in Office incumbents disqualified By
law.
earnestly recommend an increase Of the
| term reau ired by law for residence in the
county as . condition precedent 10 suffrage,
and also that identification with the Terri
tory shall be made to mean something more
than purpose to work upon . railroad
therein to the end Of Job.
The foundation Of suffrage should be high
and pure. All government Is corrupted with
| its corruption. Those only who are honest
citizens, In intent or fact, should touch the
highest privileges Of the Republic.
In this connection ! earnestly urge the
propriety Of repeating section b2S, article !,
chapter 81, Revised Statutes Of Montana, and
compelling Q voter TO have defined precinct
for voting purposes Is . security sgaiiist
1 fraud. As the law now stands, . dishonest
man may vote for delegate TO Congress in as
many places In the Territory as he can cover
while polls arc open. This provision may
have been kindly intended to prevent Q citi.
zen, whose interests carried him far from his
home, from lnsing'his vote. But the posi-.
bility Of abuse that results from this law, Is
sufficient to call for Its immediate repeal. II
| Is less hardship that an honest voter should
| lose bis vote, than that . dishonest one
should annul many honest ones by repeat.
ing.
RAILROAD TAXATION.
The vast benefits conferred by railroads
| upon this Territory In the Last year are but .
| shadow of what may be expected. Over
weening protection TO an interest armed with
delegated sovereign powers, and that may
| always become tor potent monopoly Is OF
course unwise. But The importance Of rail.
roads to Territory as large as New En-
land, New York, and Pennsylvania, both as
| inviting travel and settlement, and opening
our immense productive powers and resources
to the markets of the world, Is . standing
protest against any such destructive taxation
as should absolutely deter capital from this
essential investment. l respectfully invite
] your NEST wise and painstaking attention TO
/ the very important subject Of the taxation OF
| railroads, so that you may discover the just
and happy medium, which shall compel them
TO pay an equitable share Of their profits TO
| the people from whom they derive their
powers, and yet not deter the millions OF
i capital seeking investment from planting
their iron lines firmly in the soil Of our Ter
i ritory.
Iwould suggest, II possible, the propriety
/ of Territorial legislation that would SO ad-
| Just taxation a. TO. equally and equitably fos-
/ ter all railroad enterprises In their feeble
years, and impose heavier taxation rs profits
Increase. In this matter advocate system
that will secure the greatest possible increase
of taxable property 10 the Territory, and
tax II fully and equitably wherever visible,
| without regard TO county lines. To overtax
| the first hundred miles anywhere; may pre-
vent the incoming Of thonsand more that
| would increase real estate values through the
| Territory hundred fold.
THE INDIANS.
The Indian problem Il complicated by the
| duty on the one hand Of being just, and ever
/ generous, TO o people who once owned the
whole Territory, and on the other, BY thai
| Irresistible law Of nature under which Z
lower must yield TO higher civiiizaiion
| The vast acreage per capita now surren
dered TO tribes who neither mine, plough
nor pasture II, excites some dlscontenl
| smonc the white population. would no.
overlook the merit Of Indian schools, but
think the reclamation Il the Indian from
savage and idle ways, BY encouraging him q
| feed himself q . harder Of caitle-one stel
toward becoming an Observation-Disclosures
cfnere precariously by hunting, is more I'm.
uortsnt. Hunting tempts hin from his res
l s~~~xt~vx and II mimic war. IL 4Xcitoo tu1