Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-11-29
GOV. FERRY's MESSAGE.

The following is the full text of
Governor Ferry's first annual mess
age, delivered last Friday to both
Houses Of the Legislature in joint
session:
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, The con-
vening of the first legislature OF the
State of Washington is a most import
ant event in our history, and as the
representative of the executive de-
partment | extend to you my sincere
congratulations. The great honor
which has been conferred upon you by
your fellow citizens is a marked one,
which cannot fail to awaken in you
pardonable feelings OF pride and graft
fication. Other legislatures of Wash
ington there will be, but this is the
first. You are the pioneers of State
legislation. To you has been assigned
the work of laying the foundation
upon which the lawmakers of tine fu-
ture will build; OF so establishing the
institutions of the State that they will
be in keeping with the modest present,
yet capable of expansion to meet the
requirements of the future; and you
have the great privilege of bearing a
most important part in the founding
of the State government.
While the position which you oc-
cupy is one of peculiar honor, the du-
ties pertaining to it are also Of pecu-
liar responsibility. The powers pos
sessed by you are limited only by the
Constitution of the United States and
of this State. 1t is your province to
make precedents, not to follow them;
to mark the way, that others may
walk in the path which you have made,
Your position is unparalleled, so far as
this commonwealth is concerned.
The situation of the State OF Washing
ton is like that of a young man enter
ing upon the serious business of life.
In his mind are the precepts which
he has learned in childhood and in
youth. Before and about him are the
examples of others who have entered
upon their active career under similar
circumstances to those in which he is
placed. Behind him are incomplete
and unsatisfactory experiences which
are totally inadequate to serve as
guides for future acts, or to furnish
rules for future conduct. The COM
monwealth of Washington has arrived
at manhood It's childhood, its youth,
are passed. 1t has to guide it the ex-
ample of other States which have been
similarly situated, together with the
incomplete experiences of its own
period of Territorial existence. 1t is
your high prerogative and imperative
duty to start it Alright in the larger
life upon which it is now entering.
CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
The Constitution of the State of
Washington designates certain leeisla-
ton which should be enacted. Al
though this duty is not directly i'm
posed upon you, yet it is evident that
it was intended that the subjects re.
ferred to should be considered by the
first legislature. Of the matters to
which your attention is thus pointedly
directed, will refer briefly in the Or
der in which they are presented in the
constitution.
CONVICT LABOR.
After the first day of January next,
the labor of convicts in the peniten-
tentiary cannot be let out to any per-
son or corporation, and you are re-
quired to provide for the working of
cOnvicts for the benefit of the State.
Early legislation upon this subject is
necessary in order that the system of
labor adopted by you may 60 into ope-
ration on the first day Of the coming
year, which is clearly intended by the
BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AGRICULTURE
AND IMMIGRATION.
The constitution provides (Article
ii, Section 34) that "there shall be
in the Office of the Secre-
tary OF State bureau of statistics,
and immigration, under
such regulations as the legislature may
provide. 1t becomes your duty, there
fore, to establish such bureau and to
prescribe duties and TO provide fer the
of such officers as may
become necessary for its successful
operation. The name given to the
proposed bureau by the constitution
indicates its general scope,
and it is your duty to make such pro-
vision as in your judgment will best
attain the end which is obviously de-
signed.
PROTECTION OF MINERS AND OTHERS.
You are also directed (Article IL,
Section 35) to "pass necessary laws
for the protection of persons working
in mines, factories and other employ
ments dangerous to life or deleterious
to health" and to I" fix pains and pen
alties for the enforcement of the same"
There is mining law now in force
which has given general satisfaction
TO those most interested in its opera
ton. This law, modified in some par
ticulars and so extended in scope as to
apply to persons employed in other
lines OF industry, as well as to miners,
would doubtless meet the requirements
Of the constitution and give protection
to those for whom it is designed.
This is q subject to which l would
direct your attention. The
citizen has a right to look to the State
for the fullest possible protection
against bodily injury in his efforts to
secure a livelihood, no less than
against injury which is designed and
The enactment of law
which will carry out the provisions of
this sections to their fullest extent
would be as acceptable to the people
Of the State. as it would be beneficial
to those who are engaged in dangerous
FREE PASSES.
direct your attention to Section
80 of Article IL, which is as follows:
at shall not be lawful for any per-
son holding Office in this State to ac
cept or use a pass, or to purchase
from any railroad or
other corporation other than as the
same may be purchased by the general
public, and the legislature shall pass
laws to enforce this provision"
You will observe that this section
specifically directs you to enact a law
for the accomplishment of stated
purpose. In connection with this sub
ject, l also direct your attention to
Section 20, Article IL and suggest the
enactment of law to carry those Sec
tiOns into effect.