The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-23
GOV.FERRY'S MESSAGE
Legislation Provided for In the
State Constitution.
EMPLOYMENT or CONVICT LABOR


OLYMPIA. Nov Following IL the text
cf the message OF Governor Ferry, read IN
the legislature today
Geatkensa ef sk< Ssnass asd Hoase AZ RsprtseEi-
asfres: The eonvsniag OF the arst Legislature OF
tie state Of Washington Il a most important
eyent In car history, and as the representative
Of the executive department. ! extead % yon
Eiy sincere co2gfAsniassons. Tue great hoaor
which has been cOnferred upon you bT yoar tel
k3w-ei izens Is marked one, which cannot fail
- awaken uy0u pardonahle feelings Of pride
and qualification. Other legislatures Of WASH
layton there viii be. but this IL the frst You
are the pioneers uk state legislation 10 y0u has
been assigned the work Of laying the foundation
npoa which the lawmakers OF the future VIII
built: OF 70 establishing the institutions Of the
Stale that they win be in keeping with the mod
est present. yet capable of expansion 20 meet ne
requirements Of the failure; and you have the
great privilege Of bearing most important part
IN the founding of the state goyernment
While the position which you occupy Is one OF
peculiar honor, the duties pertaining 70 it are
also OF peculiar responsibility. The pcwers
possessed by you are hmfted only by The coRssi-
fatioE Of the United States and Of this state II
- youR ps0rlnce 70 marx presidents. aos 70 tol-
bow them; to nsAe the way, that others may
walk sn the path that yuu have made. Your po-
sition Is unpaFa llaled, 50 far as tafs common
wealth is concerned. The situation oI the state
q Washington Is Ike that Of young man enter
fng upon the serious busfne ess of life. In his mind
ere the preeepts which be has lesarned In child
heed and in youth. Before aud about kim are
the examples Of others who have entered upon
their tive career under similar circumstances
10 those in which he ss placed Behind him are
Incomplete aud unsatisfactory experiences
which are totally inadequate 20 serve ss guides
for future acts ar 20 furnish rules for future con
duet The commonwealth OF Washington has
arrived as manhood. Its childhood, It's south
are passed. II has 70 guide IT the example OF
c6her states. which have been similarly Sit
mated, together with the incomplete experiences
cf sts own period OF territorial existence. e Is
your high pFesogative and imperative duly to
start II Alright in the larger life upoa which IL is
now enfering.
coxsrrTuTIesAL RxopIKKMESrs
The constitution Of the state OF Washington
cesignases certain legislation which should be
enacted. Although thfs duty is not directly i'm
posed upon you. yet It is evident that itwas in
Il ded that the subjects ref FRED % should be
considered - tbe first Legislature. Oh the mat
tiers to Will b your attention Is thus polnfedly
directed. I viii refer briefly In tls order in
which they are presented in the constitution.
eosvTcT LABOR.
After the Ist day Of January next. the labor Of
convfcts in the penitenfiery can not be let out
10 AIRY person or corporation. aud yen are re-
quired TO provide for the working Of coHyiets for
the benefit OF the state. Early legislation upon
this subject Il necessary In order that the sys-
TEN Of labor adopted by you msy 20 into opera
iian on tse hrst DAY OF the coming year, which
is clearly Intended By toe constitution.
BUREAU or sTATfxTies. AsRIcuLTURE AND IMA-
GRAFTON.
The constitution provides TART ?, SEC 81 that
'4hrre shall be established IN the oaice Of the
secretary OF state bureau OF statistics agrfcul-
itse and immigration. under such regulations
as the legislature nay progi @ It becomes
your 6uty, therefore 70 establish such bureau
and 10 prescribe sAe duties aud 70 provide for
the compensation Of sueh officers ~ may be-
@ me necessary for its successful operation. The
name given 10 the proposed bureau by the con-
stituticn sufficiently indicates its general scope,
ana il is your duty 70 make such provision az In
your irdtment viii best attain the end which is
obviously designed.
PROTECTION OF MINERS AND OTHERS.
You are also directed IArF 2, Sec S5l 10 "pass
nee ssary laws for the protection OF persons
working in mines factories and other employ
meats dangerous 20 life or delateTious 10 health
and 10 .'tx pains and penalties for the enforce
Inent OF the same" There Is a mining law now
In feree which has given general Subtraction 20
those most Interested In its operation. This law.
modified in some particulars aud 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 eonsti-
tut O. and give protection 20 those Tor whom II
is GeSigned This is 10 subject 90 which / would
earnestly direct your attention. The citizen has
right 10 look 70 the state for the fullest possible
protection against bodily injury in bis efforts 70
secure = livelihood. no less than against injury
which ia designed and malicious The enact
H.. .fsxf..
sionS OF this section 10 their fullest extent would
be as acceptable 90 the people Of the state as Il
would be beneficial 20 those who are engaged in
dangerous esnploynents.
FREx PAssKs.
direct your attention 70 section 50, Of article
3, which is ~ follows:
''it shall not be lawful for any person holding
ozice in this state 70 accept or use pass, or TO
purchase transportation from any railroad or
osAer corporation. other than ss the same may
be purchased by the general pablie. and the
legislature shall pass laws to enforce this pro-
VISION
Teu viii observe that this section specifically
ssinccfS you 10 enact law for the accomplish
ineus Of a states purpose. Ia conBeetion Win
this subject. also direct your attention 10 sec
iaon 20. article y. and suggest the enactment Of
lay % carry those sections Into effect
eoMxIsssesER oF PUBLIC LANrS
I, viii be necessary for you 20 prescribe the
duties and fx the compensation at the eommis-
isoner Of public lands
This eFsice s created by the consultation: the
incumbent has been elected by the paegie: bat
no powers have been conferred upoz him eE
duties prescribed II Is 20 be inferred frcfn the
title given 70 sAls osficer th4f ft Was designed
that he shoaid have the management anA con-
tyol Of al lands donated by the general govern
iseui % the state. bat the powers and duties TO
a
0veF which yon havs fall co. tFu9. II - needless
faF ne 70 say thai untl there Is legislation. this
0Fsees, although elected and qualified, can per-
foFm no tatie&
JUSTICES or TBK PEAcK
You are required 20 determine the naraeeF af
Justices 81 the peace 10 be elected ia corporate
cities and towns. and IN precinets." aud 70 pre-
ieEibe taesr powers. 6stses ard jurisdiction.
EIscTsoSS
In the matter OF elections The constitution
sssniers apon ysu large powers. prescribing Tor
t1se nest paHs however, IN what direstion they
saals De used Yea are instructed 80 provide 3
aEeshed Of voting whsck VIII secure 10 avexy
tlees1r ahse.Hse secrecy In prepariRg and espes-
itiag his haltnt n aevfstug such mstkcss yoa
ara allowed TIE largest freedom Of asssan, the
only iln1tsssaa hesng TIE provfssaa shAs esec-
isoEs shall be hy ballot I, Is nos necessary, nor
do desire q indicate ehOsee eeEwees any 81
the neshssss sor secarzzg . secret ballet which
lzsg Ae ErEc3 zpon yea In tfxts matter yea
ssseaia exercsse sac Esnosa care. sox upon tAe
IsreNervattoz 81 tAe teFsy ef the h&siat dsFea1s
IN a gTeas measure tas succeSs es CIR snsfkEa-
lsoas sn1 without ahsesais ssczccy ss c&anoz
hoge 10 stain aTen 3 reasonAsae degree Ct par
isx 10 oar eAecxsaas. fsa are Klao disected 20
issscf reas tEKslan Lar 70 BE ensasce1 10 cities
nna Fowns a&vsnx popasafsam os En0Ee sn8a
I've Aan4red In asaIsen 70 tAts yeE SAY -
yOAr Gxsrcfaaz provide fer he rewsssrAtioE Of