Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-01-15
GOV. TOOLE's MESSAGE.

more important recommendations
made by his excellency. The message
is regarded as an able state paper and
is regretted that the Legislature is
not in shape to heed the earnest de-
mand made for immediate legislation
affecting the various interests OF the
The governor starts out by referring
to the material advancement and
owth ofthe state, which has increased
in one yearfrom so, OOO, OOOto $112.-
600, 600 and the wealth from all
sources from S149. 900, 900 to $780,
oO0,O 900. "This remarkable march OF
progress" says the governor, ''when
augmented by federal legislation look
ing to reclamation of our arid lands
and the increase ofthe circulating med
ium which will surely follow the free
and unlimited coinage OF silver, will
reach a point far beyond the expecta-
tions OF the most sanguine." But the
governor insists that our great re-
sources and wealth should not tempt
the legislature into mprovident expen-
diture OF the peoples money.
The governor thinks it would be well
to take early action toward the loca-
ton of the several state institutions
but does not deem it advisable to
make appropriations for theconstruc-
ton OF buildings at this session.
The governor thinks 5000 a year
might be saved by reducing the COM
panies OF the state militia and dispens-
ing with annual encampments. A
good suggestion.
Attention is called to the condition
OF state institutions and the action by
the governor, to meet emergencies in
the absence OF laws or appropriations
TO maintain the penitentiary and in
sane asylum. Contracts were let by
the governor for maintaining these in
stitutions to Conley and McTague and
DIR. Musigbrod. There is now due the
first named about $685. 900 and the
latter $1,000 The governor asks
that his actions be ratified and the
money necessary to meet these obliga-
tons he appropriated. Various other
necessary obligations incurred are also
cited and authority for their payment
asked.
During the past year 80 Applications
for pardon we're presented to the gov
ernor, and OF this number but five
were granted.
The governor urges prompt action
looking to the early selection OF lands
granted to the state. He observes
that if the federal government or the
state shall ultimately aid in the estab-
lishment OF a system OF irrigation and
the storage OF water by means OF reser-
voirs no man can approximate the
value of these lands to the state in the
future. Railroad grants and mineral
lands are exhaustively discussed and
prompt action to protect the state
urged. The legislature is also urged
to memorabilia congress OIL thesublect
of desert lands and irrigation.
The governor recommends the seal
ing down OF fees of county officers. He
suggests a complete revision and ad-
justment OF the present law fixing the
fees oil county officers so as to make
them approximately commensurate
with the services rendered, and that
all fees when collected be paid into the
respective county treasures, and that
in lieu thereof, salaries be paid to such
officers. This proposed law to take
effect January LIST, 1898.
The governor dwells at some length
on the registration and points out the
hardships of the law. Among other
things he says:
While the legislature ought to throw
around the ballet every safeguard against
fraud and repeating. and "a proper registra-
tion law is conducive to this end, the pres
eut system overshoots the mark and o,er-
ates to disfra ncliise many good citizens of
this state whose votes are entitled to be
cast and counted In my opinion no regis
tration should he required as a condition
precedent to voting in remote and sparsely
settled communities. The facilities for
TRANSPORTATION in such sections ofthe couu-
try are inadequate and those afforded are
expensive and often beyond the means of
the voters. Mountain ranges a re sometimes
required to be crossed and the distance re-
uuired to be Travelled has been shown To he,
in some instances, one hundred miles, and
not ipfrequently from twelve to twenty
miles. The result of this is that the n nch-
man, the stock-herder, and the prospector,
who form a la rge per cent of our population,
a,I who are ImperuuI0us anil nunhIe tn
bear the burden of such au expense and loss
of time as the present system necessarily
entails, are compelled tn remain at home
aud are thereby disfranchised on election
day. To obyiats this wrong done to the
citizen, | CONNIE that the present regis
~tration law he SO amended that registrt-
ton shall not be required except in incor-
porated cities and towns having n given
population. IL is in the latter places, the
centres OF population, where lawbreakers
and maleiactors congregate, that repeating
and fraud are practiced, and not in remote
precints, where every man knows his neigh
Dor and a stranger is at once observed.
believe that it ID an undue and unnecessary
burden on the citizen to require him to-
register every time therai s II general election.
Having once registered that ought to be
sufficient for at least six years.
While the governor favors the Aus
tralian voting system as a whole he
thinks it could be improved. He says:
The present law would be just as effective
as it was designed to be i" instead OF print
ing the names OF all the candidates ON one
ticket, their nal should be on separate
tickets representing the party whose politi-
cal principles they avowed and which might
be taken into the voting place by the voter,
or upon the same ticket in separate columns.
| recommend this modification of the law.
The present system is tantamount to
an educational qualification on the one
hand, or a complete surrender upon the
other to the judges detection, who, in many
cases, are Incompetent, and in seine cases