The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-12-18


matters remain in the condition they are,
The force ofguar swill soon have 10 be largely
increased 10 insure the custody OF the prison.
ers. There IL now paid out for guard hire
hhuni Sl,AO per month. the interest on $40
Vn would he about 500 per month. Every
hddliiunal guard costsHt the government rate
| of pay for salary and board about SIO5 per
month; there ought 10 he added now al
least two more guards, and had the United
states retained control Of the penitentiary,
my request therefor would have been
| granted.
There are about twenty prisoners confined
/ IN an mpr0wsed log jail building, situate
| WITHIN the present yard aud perilOus ms il il,
! they and maay others to come must be con
fined this why until the legislature meets
tho cNigeucy of the situntion. Unless
prompt and efficient aid is given to the state
management ot the penitentiaTy, a whole
! ehlc delivery "a not among the grave inn
! probabilities, The shotgun ami rifle is Just
now the most necessary auxiliary in the de-
| tentlun OF bnd characters confined in the
| Mpntnna penitentiary Without endorsing
! these recommendations commit the subiect
10 your careful consideration and investiga-
non, with the hope that speedy and proper
/ legislation may Ice had on this subject.
INSANE
| The insane ~ tie state nre supported under
/ a contract between thp territory OF Montana
hnd Doctors Mitchell and Mussingbrod az
! Warm Springs Deer Lodge county, at So per
| week ,inaking an expense 90 the state of about
srventy-fye thousand dollars per annum.
| The number is increasing rapidly, the last
! report showing lSi patients maintained al
public expense. The maintenance of the
Insane aud the ponitcntary will form the
| largest Item ~ expense under our state
government The proper treatment of those
untoftnnnios committed 10 the asylum ne
the least possible expense 10 the state calls
for the exercise Of your best Judgment. |
am not prepared at this time 20 say that
| any new arrangements would be advantag-
cous to the state or the persons confined
therein, but IN view of the great and grow
ing expense IN that behalf. urge ths most
thorough investigation of the subject.
STAFF MILITIA.
! Section 3. Article lt of the Constitution
makes Il incumbent upon the state 10 main
| tam the militia 10y appropriations from the
state treasury. In view If this provision
ana the great drain which the organization
| n making upon the treasury, il becomes
question of the graycst concern how TO
maintain the militia SO as a. preserve its
olliclency IN cnse of danger, and at the same
/ imc reduce the expense TO the minimum.
submit that all salaries per diem and
other extraordinary expenses must be ma
tennlly reduced II not entirely done away
| with. The annual cncnmpments now pro-
udcd for by law may be beneficial as a
matter of discipline 10 officers and men,
bnt ] cannot heli,ye that the advantage is
at all commensurate with the expense 10 the
| people. II IL obvious that with the new
| burdens ot expense which state govern
mont imposes and which ARE absolutely
necessary tu the administration uf its af-
lars, the most ripid economy must be
pmcilced IN every department Vt govern
mcnt.
The expense of the state militia or ma.
tiural guard us Tar ug can he nsccrtained
Tor The pnst year, including the building of
an arsenal. will amount 90 St30D. an in
creise over last year of about $.i2,m0.
commend this subject 81 your careful
consideration, and earnestly hope thot YOU
may aud II practicable 10 materially re-
daco the eNprns. uf tins organization with
.'ut iInpairng lts usefulness This ia seems
in mo may he effected M the manner above
suggested, and 10y rcpealng the law pro
! Wding Tor nunnuhl cncnmpments.
slNE INSTITUTIONS ASD PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
With the exception of the penitentiary at
Deer Lodge and the arsenal now in course
ui construction nj the seat Of government,
| the state Has NO institutions or public build
lngs. Provision, however. Is made by Sec.
OF Art. 10 oi tlic Eouetitutiou for the estab-
lshment and support hy the state of cduea-
]
/ ANA thpHr iur the benefit ul the insane,
| band, dUHf and mute. soldiers homu, and
such other Institutions as the public good
! may require.
! While The establishment of these institn-
ii0ns IN mndc mandatory by the cuiatitu.
tlun. M time IL liked Wh.n legislative ac-
ton shall bc taken. Ia view of the incrense
oi expense Ia the people consequent upon n
! oungc from territorial lu state government
aud the limitation placed by the constitu.
tion upun the public expenditures | hope
no eliui! Will bc madc M this session to pro-
! vide Tor the cunsllu uc,lop OF such buildings.
II nlght not loo unwise, however, II the To-
cntlOn of these institutions should
be the subject of early consideration
| and settlement. The longer that il DELAYED
/ TIE greater will ho the struggle between as
pring sections uf the state for recognition
in that behalf aud pending such contention
| the interests of goud legislation may be
| subordinate. If moi wholly ignored. In this
| connection II II proper tu call your ntten
! tou 10 the fact that legislation will be re-
| qulred 90 give force and effect to Sec 2 Of
! An. lO of the Constitution. providing for
the permanent location of the state govern
mcnt, the manner of submission, the method
! ut chnVhs-ilg the votes, and the details gen
orally should be provided for.
PIES or COUNTY oFr1cEis.
Your attention il direcled 10 the present
Zee hill ot the respective county officers.
The complaint II universal that the fees
under the territorial lnws aud which are
now injected into the state statutes are un-
reasonable and excessive. While all officers
should have fair and Just compensation and
ought 60 be consulted IN the establishment
uf fees, the citizen ought not 10 be cOmpell-
ed 10 surrender entirely 30 their demands.
recommend, therefore, u complete rcvis-
ION and adjustment of tie present law fix
ing the fees of county officers SO AS To make
them approximately Commensurate with the
services rendered, aud that all fees when
collected bc paid into the respective county
trensuries and that in lieu thereof salaries
be paid Ia such officers.
STATE OFFICERS.
Such of the state officers as nre reauired
tu reside nj the seat 0f government are tenn
porarily quartercd NJ the court house, where
reasonably good accommodations are pro-
yided for most of them. No provision of
law exists 10y which any officer is permitted
10 contract for the renting OF leasing of Of
fees. The county commissioners of Lewis
and Clarke county, relying upon the state
TO tatify the action of the occupants have
furnished and delivered the possession of
offices to the following persons; the COVER
nor, state auditor, chief justice, state treas
urer. secretary Of state and attorney gen
ernl.
Many Of the officers are without furniture
and others are inadequately supplied
shall have occasion 10 refer to these items
IN nm estimate Of the expenses Of the gov
ernment for the ensuing two years, which
will be hereafter fu nished. II becomes
necessary that provision should be made
for the continued occupancy of the present
or other quarters of the state officers. and
that the necessary contracts should be- au-
thorized and made 10 that end
ttrttt ~ o a,,r,a