The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-07
charge Of it's duties. An OK
animation Of the authorities noon
Auffafied fha hoard TINT the f6Hennin0 mn

~
satisied the board that the foregoing pro-
visions we're imperative without the neces-
sary Ie0isIation. " proceeded, however,
basinR it's action in nearly every instance
upon an agreement with the railroad com
panies by which the assessments we're made
and the taxes paid.
The labor involved in securing the neces-
sary information. preparing the proper
blanks, together with travel, conferences
and correspondence hiss been great; and all
done and performed under great Difficult
ties.
The whole subject has been thoroughly
considered and legislation recommended
by the board Of equalization in it's first an
nuai report which has been printed and
which will be hereafter submitted. / will
not, therefore, cucumber this message with
them but fully endorse the report and re-
commend the legislation proposed as proper
and necessary.
Hoard Of PardOns.
The constitution has provided for q
board of pardOns consisting Of the secre-
tary Of state, state auditor and attorney
general.
No legislation has ever been enacted pro-
viding for the time Or place OF it's meetings
oridefning the procedure in any respect.
Tho board, however, deemingi it had suf-
fcient authority 80 to do organized and
have proceeded TO act upon various cases
passed on by the executive, making its own
rules, ETC., etc. These rules or similar ones
should be enacted 10 law or direct authori-
ty conferred upon the board to make the
same.
During the year twenty-nine Applications
for pardon were presented to me. Out Of
this number twenty-five were rejected by
me; five were granted and two committed.
These latter cases went before the board Of
pardOns for it's action, which resulted in
the approval Of five and disapprovaI Of two.
The report Of the board showing it's or
ganization, rnles Of procedure, cases con
sidered and other information in detail will
be hereafter presented.
The present system of pardons il q Yadi-
cal departure from that which has existed
since our organization as a territory; yet
nothing has come Under my observation to
subject it to criticism.
- State Board Of Education.
= Section II of article II ofthe constitution
is as follows:
Sec 1.-THE general control and super
vision of the state university and the vari-
GUS other state educational institutions
shall be vested in a state board of educa.
ton, whose powers and duties shall be pre-
scribed and regulated by law. The said
board shall consist Of eleven members, the
governor, state superintendent of public in
struction and attorney general. being MEM
thereof shall be appointed by the governor,
subject to the confirmation Of the senate,
under the regulations and restrictions to oe
provided BY law.
This section evidently contemplates that
legislation shall be passed defining the term
would suggest that in formulating the
law provision should be made for the expi.
ration OF one term every year, which would
secure the service of experienced men at all
til es on the board.
State hoard OF Examiners and Prison Com.
missioners.
Section 20, article 7, of the constitution,
ia as follows:
Section 20LThe governor. secretary Of
state and attorney general shall constitut,
9 Board of State Prison commissioners
which board shall have such supervision OF
all matters connected with the state prisons
as prescribed by law. They shall consti
tute a board of examiners, with power t.
examine all claims against the state, ex-
cept salaries or compensation of officer.
fixed by law. And no claim against thu
State except for salaries and compensation
of officers fixed by law, shall be passed Idol
by the legislative assembly without frs
having been considered and acted upon b,
said board.
board should be prescribed by law. Tn.
numerous claims filed against the stat,
have not been examined or passed upon b,
the Board of Examiners, nor has anything
been done by the Board of Prison commits
sioners except to organize, visit and inspec
the penitentiary with a view of ascertainin(
the in which it was conducted ant
what additions and repairs should be mad,
thereto. A separate report upon that prop.
osition will be hereafter submitted.
Labor.
Provision is made in the constitution fo]
a bureau of labor and industry. to be 10
Gated at the capital, and to be under th,
control of a commissioners to be appointed
by the governor, n subject to confirma
lion by the senate. l regard the creation o
this Office as of the greatest importance +,
the state. 1t will be the medium through
which can be collected and preserved au
thentic statistics and information general,
of great value in the adjustment and per.
lection of future legislation. While on
population is small n our industries com
paratively few, the salary should be mod
crate.
Public Examiner.
Section 8 of article 7 of the constitution
makes it your duty to provide for a stat
examiner, n in addition to the dutie
specifically enjoined upon that official b,
the constitution, he is required to perform
such other duties as the legislature ma,
prescribe. His compensation shall be fixel
by law.
A~pportionment and Representation.
Section 2 of article 6 of the COL stitutior
provides as follows:
Sec. 2-The legislative assembly shall pro
vide by law for an enumeration of the in
habitants of the state in 1895 and ever,
tenth year thereafter; and at the session
next following such enumeration and ais,
at the session next following an enumera
ton made by the authority of the Unitet
States, shall revise and adjust the appor
tionment for representatives or the bash
of such enumeration according to ratio,
fixed by law.
From this it appears that the present leg
i~slature will be called upon to revise anC
adjust the apportionment for representa-
tives, and in SO doing they are required tG
take rs a basis the enumeration last made
by the United States, an enumeration,
which, so far as this state il concerned wa
a complete and elaborate failure. 1t will
furnish the basis for an unjust apportion-
ment which must be tolerated until after
1895, when an enumeration may be made by
the state as provided by section =, above
referred to, if legislation to that end is
enacted.
Compensation of Members Of the LegisIa-
turc.