, 1886-01-20

knowledge of county affairs would
be available to the other. members of
the board.
AssEssMENT LEVY ~ COLLECTION OF
TERRITORIAL AND COUNTY REVENUE.
The county assessors in the more
populous counties experience consid-
cradle difficulty in being obliged to
make uptheir assessment rolls within
the limited time allowed by law (; and
the county commissioners and county
clerk are not given enough time to
perform the work Of equalization.
The territorial board of equalization,
by al act passed in 1869, are required
to convene on the fourth Monday Of
July, TO equalize the territorial taxes (;
and by a further act, passed In 1879,
to meet on the first Monday of
August as a board of assessment of
railroad and telegraph lines. 1t has
been the custom of the board to adj
journ until the latter day, but a
slight amendment in the law would
enable the board to perform both
duties on the last mentioned date,
and at the same time afford the
ty commissioners and county clerk a
longer time in which to prepare their
returns.
In this connection I wish TO cali
Your attention TO the law In regard
to paying poll tax, which though pro-
vided forupon u statutes is not prop
erly enforced. The collection of this
tax Is devoted to the school fund of
our territory and IN all cases should
be insisted upon. AS a matter of
fact MOI one-third OF those who vote
pay the pon tai required by law.
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
There are occasions constantly
arising when the advice of an attor-
new general wonid be OF great value
TO the territory. At the request of
the governor IL would be his duty to
prosecute any official bond or ON
tract in which the territory is inter-
ested. When required he would
give his opinion in writing without
fee, upon all questions of law sub
mittcd to him by the legislature, or
by the governor, auditor, treasurer.
or other territorial officers, relating
to their official duties. He might be
required to advise with the county
attorneys, when requested by them,
in all matters pertaining to their Of
fetal duties, and would be expected
10 prepare proper drafts of contracts,
forms or other writings, which may
be needed for the use OF the territory.
The attorney general would examine
from time to time the official bonds
of officers to determine as TO the suf-
f~iciency Of their surities, which may
be affected by the death or insoiven-
cy of bondsmcn.
1-si JuRfEs. a
am informed by members of the
bar that the jury law passed by the
last general assembly, though open 20
some criticism, is generally conceded
to be a marked improvement upon
the old jury system. Where the
county commissioners are careful in
selecting the list to he drawn from.
there Is little delay In securing a COM
potent jury IL is somewhat more
expensive than the old system, for
the reason that the regular panel rs
composed of twenty four members,
many of whom come from a distance ;
but this additional expense Is more
than compensated for by the i'm
proved service. | understand that
this subject has received the careful
consideration Of the gentlemen who
compose the compilation committee,
and | respectfully call your attention
to their recommendations upon this
subject. iH i
THE JUDICIARY. r'
The bill for the appointment of
four judges in the territory instead
of three. as at present, was defeated
in congress last winter. There are
many reasons why our territory
would be greltly benefited by the
q -
tice. A provision which would al
low appeals to be tried by three
judges, neither of whom had heard
the case below, would be satisfactory
to liiigants. There is Il feeling now
that the ease is prejudged ina meas
ure by the Justice who has heard the
case before appeal The creation of
new counties, and consequent increase