Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-11-29

oOiuiCis iioiiic IOT IOnOraDly DIS
charged Union soldiers, sailors and
mariners and members of the State
militia disabled in the line of duty. |
would recommend that the scope of
this projected institution be so en-
larSed that its benefits may be shared
10y citizens OF the State who have been
honorably discharged after service in
any OF the wars Of the Republic and
who have been disabled while serving
the United States or the Territory OF
Washington in any OF the Indian
wars that have taken place within the
borders of the State.
COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
desire to direct your attention to
sections 4, D, s and 10 of article nj of
the constitution relating to the sub
Ject of county and municipal govern
ments. In accordance with those sec
tions it will be your duty to provide
UNIFORM system of county and town
ship government; to provide for the
election OF county, district, township
and precinct officers and to fix the
compensation by salaries of county
officers and of constables in cities
having population of five thousand
or more. 1t will also be your duty to
provide by general laws for the incor-
poratlon, organization and classitica-
ton OF cities and towns. You have
the power to permit cities containing
a population of twenty-five thousand
inhabitants or more, to form charters
Tor their own government according
to the method prescribed by the con
sututlon. 1t Is well-knOwn that sew
eral cities of the State have outgrown
their present charters and will seek to
avail themselves of this provision of
the constitution. The subject will
doubtless soon be brought before Won
by the action Of these cities.
CORPORATIONS.
On the subject of corporations the
constitution is very explicit. Anv
legislation bearing upon this subject
must be so framed us to meet numer-
Gus requirements and to come within
numerous limitations. No subject
which will come before you will be
more worthy than this of careful con.
sideration. On the one hand Won
should avoid the passage of laws which
will have the tendency to prevent the
investment of foreign capital in the
state and discourage the inception of
large enterprises. The development
OF the resources of our State has lust
begun, and any legislation which is too
restrictive upon corporations will ma
terlally retard the advancement of the
| commonwealth. On the other hand
1t Is your duty to enact laws which
will prevent so far as possible. the nm
Just use OF the greatest powers which
are necessarially conferred upon corpor-
tlons: You have in this respect a
double duty toward the people. You
should sti";H.a:e the DEVELOPMENT of
our resouie. "y encouraging the in
vestment oi capital, whether it be that
OF corporations or that of individuals
but you should also enact legislation
which will eflectually protect the indi-
vldual against every probable appres-
SION ON the part of corporations. You
are specifically directed to "pass laws
establishing reasonable maximum
rates OF charges for the transportation
OF passengers and freight, and to cor.
rect abuses and prevent discrimina-
ton and extortion in the rates of
freight and passenger tariffs ON the
different railroads and other common
carriers IN the State, and to enforce
such laws by adequate penalties" You
also have power to establish a railroad
and transportation commission.
REFoRMATORY INSTITUTION.
There Is one duty directly imposed
upon you by the constitution to
which l desire to direct your attention.
You should, without unnecessary de-
lay, enact legislation looking to the
establishment of Il reformatorv institu.
tion ior depraved and vicious youth.
The fact that no institution OF this
KIND exists has been a reproach to our
commonwealth. Youthful offenders
must either be confined in the peni.
tehtlary with hardened criminals or
permitted to be at large. Against the
iormer OF these alternatives Judges
and Juries are disinclined, and sIcb
offenders are usually dismissed with a
reprlmand or confined for short per
iod IN the county Jail, no matter how
serious the Oflense may have been
Inc effect of such leniency is bad. both
upon those to whom it is extended
and upon their friends and compan-
ions. Further than tlis, there is to be
found in all our large cities class of
young boys who defy parental author
ity and have little regard for rights
and property. They are well acquaint-
ed with the police court and have no
lear OF arrest, as it il too frequently
followed by release with no further
punishment than 1eprimand 1t is
most pcrniclous to permit such youth
70 grow to manhood in vice and ignor-
ance without an effort to reclaim them
An institution in which such efforts
would be made is imperatively needed,
and the first Legislature of the new
State should not adjourn without en-
acting necessary legislation for it's es.
tablislImcnt.
HARBoa COMMISSION.
The duty is imposed upon You by
article XVI of the constitution to an
point commission to locate and es
tablish harbor lines in navigable wa
ters in front of the cities in the State
and to provide BY general laws for the
leasing OF the right to build wharves
docks and other structures within the
harbor lines that may be established
This Is very important subject and
should receive your early attention.
Any legislation assertive of the rights
OF the State to the areas referred to in
article XVI will be also CARRYING out
the declaration in article XVII of the
constitution, and will facilitate an
early settlement by judicial tribunals
OF the conflicting claims to what are
designated in the constitution as
tide lands"
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Article XX provides for the organ
ization of a State Board of Health and
bureau of vital statistics with such
powers as you may direct; and for the
enactment of laws regulating the
practice of medicine and the sale of
drugs and medicines. The benefits
arising from laws enacted in other
States of the character here indicated
have been so apparent that I need
only direct your attention to the sub.
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