The Dickinson press., 1885-01-24

! appraised at $123,4l5. Seven hundred and
dfty OF these lots remain unsold, beside $50
acres OF land adjoining the townsite. The
commission owe on the building proper, I
am informed, about ,0O0. This does not
include the heating and furnishing. which the
citizens of Bismarck do not regard as coming
within their contract to erect a capitol build
ing. The appraisement of real estate con-
veyed to the territory by the city of Bis
marck was made at q time when property
values were high. When the times became
less prosperous this property would not sell
at the price fixed by the commission; as there
was no authority Of law for a retaliation
or selling ut a figure below the minimum
selves embarrassed for lack of funds, hence
the debt of $4,000 alluded to. I advised
the commission to issue warrants on the
building fund for the amount, but there be-
Ing no balance i'll this fund, of course the
creditors must wait. The real estate named
Is the property of the territory. 1t was in
tended to be disposed of to pay for the cree
ton of this building. TIL fact that it has
appreciated IN value is a misfortune, but it
does not alter the obligation entered into to
pay the men who contributed time and ma
terial towardt the structure and to pay them
promptly. 1t may involve q sacrifice to sell
the property now and some of the creditors
may. feel disposed to wait, but they should
" NC SOAApClACa 10 uulS unUcT DIOUCSC.
They did their work in good faith. They
know only the single fact that the legislature
of the territory had authorized the work and
relying upon this authority they went for
ward. The act OF one legislature may be
overturned by a subsequent one, but the
faith and credit n reliance that the out
side world place in the lawmaking power
should not be shaken by anyfailure to com
ply with contracts honestly performed under
the color OF law and under the direction of
1 those chosen fn OAniOicfor IL rooopo
mend, therefore, that the legislature confer
upon the present or any future COM
mission that may be appointed, the power to
rsappraise and sell the lands remaining to
As have said; the heating apparatus is not
included in the debt of $40, 600. The
steam. of course, takes the place of stoves,
except that so large a structure could
scarcely be made comfortable with the lat
ter: The properly remaining unsold ought
to be amply sufficient, and will be, l doubt
not, under proper management, to pay all
the debts, including the expense of lighting,
heating and furnishing. Such expenses,
however, as properly belong. to the territory
should be liquidated by the legislature, with
the provision, if thought best, that the
amount be charged to the building fund and
paid out of the future sales of real estate. 1
take occasion to say here that the lights and
furniture placed in the capitol are not
furnished under any contract and stipula-
ton, but are here simply for the inspection
of the legislature, and for their use if
they wish to secure them. So far rs
L know, no assurances of purchase nave been
given to the firms that have undertaken the
work, and the legislature can consider the
subject without the slightest embarrassment
growing out OF any promises, though l hope
with perfect Justice and fairness. Imay say
further, because the subject has been dis
cussed somewhat in the newspapers, that I
understand this building to be the free gift
OF the people OF Bismarck to the territory. l
have accepted this assurance in good faith,
and with no thought of any mental reserva-
lions or evasions. l am sure the thought of
asking for any return of the money expended
has not entered the minds OF the donors, and
that no scheme or device for such return is
contemplated; and 1 hope 1 need scarcely
assure this legislature and the people of the
territory that, relying upon the terms of the
no measure for repayment will meet the APP
prevail of the executive while Ioccupy the
office and Bismarck remains the capital.
pARDoNs
Ihave granted two pardons. On the 23d
of December l pardoned William Decker and
Joseph Young. who were convicted of "rob-
berry by w or more persons" and on the
21st OF April, 1880, were sentenced to i'm
~prisonment for life. I was impelled to dc
this by the fact that the men had served
nearly five years, that their conduct hadbeen
good, that the amount was small, but $51,
OaASO VAS SlIN OSSdDCSl ~ II
ing states evidence, that the presiding Judge
at the trial, the district attorney, the sheriff,
clerk Of court, all the jurymen who could be
found, the present district attorney, county
commissioners and many prominent citizens
of Burleigh county, where the men were
convicted, Joined in a request for their re-
lease. The following pardons were granted
under the administration of my predecessor,
as appears from the records of this office, the
list being furnished in obedience to the re-
quiremcnts:
John Bennett. grand larceny: sentenced April
9, 1881, for one year: pardoncd Jan. 81, 1852.
Jacob Schauk, grand larceny; sentenced Dec
IS. 1880, for eighteen months; pardoned Feb.
1880, to death; pardoned Feb. IL, 1882.
James g. Lee, grand larceny; sentenced Sep
81 :s.i iss2 .'''' ''' '"f'' years. pA''0neo april
Charles F. Stone, forgery; sentenced Jan. 10,
1850, Tor fye years; pardoned May, 1892.
sentenced March, 1882. forthreey years; pardoncd
Aug. %, 1882.
L.. H. Stone, forgery; sentenced January, 1882:
sentence suspended Aug. 81, 1882.
N. Gague, grand larceny; sentenced Dec. 80,
1881. for twenty-eight months; pardoned Aug.
j. L. Gilmore, murder; sentenced, August.
1881, tie death; respited Aug. 25, 1882.
Brave Bear, murder; sentenced, November.
1881, to death; respitcd September, 1882.
j: L.Gilmore, murder; sentenced August, 1881,
to death; rcspited Nov. 6, 1882.
j. L.dllmore, murder: sentenced August, 1881,
to death: respited Nov. 10, 1882.
il. Gilmore, murder; sentenced, August, 1881,
to death; respited Dec. IA, 1882.
A. v. Corson, manslaughter: sentenced August,
1877, for seven years; pardoned Nov. %, 1882.
n. b. Ford, manslaughtcr: sentenced January,
1879, for fifteen years and six months.
u. Durham. manslaughtcr; sentenced June,
1873, for twenty-one years.; pardoned October,
1883.
S. Kleinsaser, aiding escape of prisoner: SEN
fenced September, 1881, for four years; pardoncd
Dec. %, 1888.
James Johnson, cmbezzle1nent; sentenced No
ycmber, 1881, for fourteen months: pardoned
Peter I. Sbuya, grand larceny: sentenced July,
1883. for four years.; pardoned june, 1884.
Jay Hall, embezzlement; sentenced June, 1884,
for four years; pardoned June, 1884.
ID. Brazzill, robbery; sentenced March, 1882,
for i've years; pardoned July %, 1854.
II NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION.
Almost the first matter that required nv
attention after assuming the duties of the
governors office was the question OF repre-
sentation at the New Orleans exposition. 1t
seemed very difficult to go into the exhibit,
and equally embarrassing to stay out. Every
state and territory in the Union was to make
a display more or less elaborate. and for Da-
kota to attempt to compete without making
a show commensurate with her Importance
appeared as undesirable as to maxi none at
all. On the other hand there was no appro-
Driation available, times were hard, none
scarce and a general disposition manifest to
economic as much as possible. Finally a
circula letter was issued from the executive
Office recounting the facts, and asking the
various counties of the territory to con-
tribute, in their discretion, a sum which in
the aggregate would enable the commission
to make a creditable display. The circular
letter was issued in time to permit the ques-
ton to be submitted TO a vote of The people
Il .F A1n ~-s- -l-..Jl =.