The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-01-26
SIXTH BIENNIAL MESSAGE
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3 E. POTTS.,
GOVERNOR OF MONTANA.

Representatives. =
The Thirteenth Legislative Assembly Of
Montana Territory assemblies upder more
favorable auspices than any Of Its predeces-
son. The Territory for the fret time in It's
history Is froe from Indebtedness, aud with
surplus of si4,9o5 80 In its treasury. The
tax duplicate Of the Territory has reached
the sum of s93,z11,3l9.12, and the revenue
for territorial purposes for 1882 was $780,
s93.47. The assessment Of property for tax
alton in 1882 was So, AIS, Os2's2 greater than
that Of 1881, and an increase OF Sl4, ool ,5l7.l2
since the adjournment Of the last Legislative
Assembly.
From the financial condition OF the Terri
tory your attention Is called to. that OF the
several counties, whose aggregate indebted
mesa Oh the lst of March last reached the
startling sum of Se5s,974.32, and five coun-
ties of the eleven increased their indebted
ness during the year ending March !, 1882. l
here repeat the language addressed TO the
Twelfth Legislative Assembly upon this
subject:
"This exhibit is by no means a gratifying
one, and is far from sustaining our boosted
ability for local self.government. II our
local Indebtedness increases in the same ratio
As heretofore, the Territory will not favora-
bly, impress Congress when she applies for
admission into the Union as State. This
unfortunate condition Of affairs can not he
attributed to our present form Of Territorial
government, or the system Of appointments
which has grown up under it, about which so
much complaint is made, but must be charge
able to the people Of the several counties in
the capacity Of citizens. / think much Of
the evil IN county management results from
the action Of county commissioners in as
Stunning legislative functions in paying pre-
tended claims against the counties without
authority of law. The Territorial Auditor
can not draw q warrant for the payment OF
claim against the Territory without express
authority of law. Now, why not apply this
provision of law to county commissioners,
and stop leak which has done much to Gre
ate the present indebtedness do not think
county com missoners should be allowed so
much discretion, for bad men will take adj
vantage of IL TO serve their own purposes and
that of their partizans. If discretion Is al
lowed, . maximum limit TO such discretion
should be fixed by law.
"Yhe fees and salaries OF district and
county officers are far In excess Of reason
able compensation for the official services
nA hatr rndHrtian shpuld
eeive your immediate attention. An exam
nation of county records will show that
county officers generally receive salaries far
In excess Of any other officers In the Terri
tory. For example, the county clerks in
some OF the counties receive mere compsn-
satIon than the judges of the Supreme Court,
aud In. many of the counties the annual COM
pensation of the county treasurers is one
thousand dollars larger than the salary Of
the Territorial Treasurer. The remedy Is in
your hands, and submit to you whether
the substance Of the people shall con-
tinue TO be consumed in the payment of
high salaries. A large local Indebtedness
and high rate Of taxation will deter immi-
grafton and seriously affect every industry OF
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 Is less, and this
change will 30 on until some Of the counties
will have but little live stock on their tax
duplicates. The counties having the small
o.: debt and the lowest rate Of taxation will,
and should, be the most prosperous. / have
always favored statute limiting the power
of the several counties to contract debt be-
yond certain amount, and trust you will
concur with me If amy new county Is organ
lied at the present session. ..#...'
ain my opinion every public officer should
receive fixed salary, and the whole system
OF compensation by fees should be abolished
The value of the services Of clerks and sher
lifts can be as easily estimated as can those Of
the Territorial Auditor and Treasurer, and
when parties litigant are to be taxed will
costs, let II be taxed in favor Of the county,
and collected from such party as the cour
may direct, and, under suitable regulations
paid Into the county treasury. The fees o
clerks and sherifis heretofore charged agains
litigsnts, can, by q proper classification, b.
commuted TO fixed sum, aud be paid Init
the county treasury on tie certificate OF tn
clerk. believe this system TO be both prac
tlcable and judicious with respect to all OH
GERS who have heretofore been compensate
in whole or In part by fees"
The people naturally turn TO tie law-mak
ing power for removal Of the burdens Q
taxation. The increase Of .revepue shouh
reduce the burden, but under the present 10
cal management the expenditures are mad
70. increase in'the same ratio as the revenue
Ne people can prosper and pay the rate
taxation which is imposed upon property !
many localities In the Territory. Three pc
cent per annum taxation will repel the cart
full and frugal immigrant, and deter forcig
capital from seeking Investment In the TIE
ritory. IL is claimed that salaries have bee
reduced. ask that they be further reduce
In order that the Commissioners OF Lew
and Clarke county may DO prevented fro
paying the sum Of three thousand six hul
dred and sixty -four dollars and forty cents
the Assessor for not exceeding four month
work In 1888. This sum was paid the A
SCISSOR of that county the past year II tt
IL q fair specimen of county nanagemer
any school-boy can readily Determine wi
CONSUMES the hard.earned taxes Of the pc
pie. Asa rule the local authorities do n
exercise the discretion conferred upon the
by law TO reduce expenses but allow I
maximum. The Sheriff Of Lewis and Clar
county 10 allowed the maximum, one doll
and twenty Eve cents per 'day, for boardi
prisoners, the county paying wages Of
cook and furnishing lights and fuel for
jaIl. This allowance Ia In excess Of char
nj our best hotels and boarding houses, .
the criminals could be rs safely lodged the
In a they have been In the county Jail d
ing the past year.
Respectfully recommend that the Legis
tive Assembly revise the list of taxable pr
erty, and place upon that list all Props
except public. This believe TO be the u
principle of taxation, and ! hope you '
concur with me by placing oil private pr
srty, now exempt, upon the tax list.
earnestly invite your attention TO
question Of taxation Of railroad proper
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