Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-01-09
SYNOPSIS of the Governors Message.

Itirc makes 4 pafnpnIet OF bS pages. =
he Message opens with this neat refer ~
ice to the illness of Gov. Ferry:
1t is with a feeling of profound regret, :
18th which the hearts OF the entire u
eople of the state Of Washington throb
! sympathy, that I announce to you the
erious indisposition If our lonored GOV /
rnor, Elisha p. Ferry, which has seemed 4
D render ii ;inpeta,ivcly necessary ior
i'm temporarily to absent himself from
mong US, seeking that perfect condition {
f restored health which complete Cessa- ,
ion from physical and mental labor
lone can give him. That he may
pcedilv recover, and that this lcgIsla- ,
ure and the people of this conror-
wealth NAV soon again reap the benefit
If that varied experience and wise
,ounsel which have SO cinphatCally
his former administrations,
s nv earnest and sincere wish: a wish
which, believe. voices the sentiment of
very citizen of this grand new state,
hat owes so much to his untlring energy
and ability.
The first subject treated is the code. He
speaks highly of Code Commissioner
Hill and the work he has performed.
He recommends the acceptance of the
code i'll its entirety as presented by the
commissioner.
Next he recommends the Australian
ballot law as eminently satisfactory i'll its
operations. He says, however:
Complaint has been made that the
Of tl,a ,a,pac nf Candid atac 4
alphabetical order upon the certified
ballot as provided in section Il, tends to
confuse the voter in making his choice.
To meet this objection, would recon-
mend that the law would be SO amended
as that the names of the candidates to be
voted for shall be massed in separate
political groups for the respective offices.
He says that there should be a speedy
enactment of a law providing for the
working of convicts for the benefit Of
the state.
Upon the "Harbor Lines and Tide
Lands" he expresses the opinion that
article IS of the constitution is ambigu-
Gus, unsatisfactory and uncertain i'll its
terms He believes the commissioners
have done well and refers to the fact of
the arrest of their work by the superior
court of King county and the judicial i'll
terpretaton of the constitution that will
| follow. Makes no recommendation.
Under the head of Educational
Matters" he says: The superintendent
of public instruction is in fact, and
should be made by law, the active head
of educational matters in the state; all
facts and statistics relative to these mat
tiers should be referred to him and dis
seminated to the public through his
office.
The law should be so changed as to re-
quire the boards in charge of the various
state educational institutions to make
annual reports of the operations of the
same to the superintendent of public in
struction, as we'll as to the governor.
It should also be amended so as to
harmonic the duties of the various edu-
cational officers and boards in this state
The proper officers of town and city
school districts should be invested with
of truants.
The question as to whether the line of
text books used in the common schools
should be purchased from the public
fund, instead of by the parents or guard
of the legislature. The text books are
as necessary a part of the equipment of
the school as the teacher or school build
ing. The public pays the one and builds
the other. Why not also provide the
books? He concludes his chapter with
an unequivocal Endorsement of the pro-
position of free text books
Upon the state university and its land
grant, he discloses this valuable but I'M
fortunate information:
The original government grant of as,
oSo acres has all been selected and sold
but 32I acres. Grave charges have been
made concerning the disposition of these
university lands. The lists of the lands
selected and sold are inaccurate and in
definite. Quoting the language of a
former board of regents of the university,
''the whole matter appears to have been
neglected for years, to the great detri-
ment of an institution which is eminently
worthy in itself and in its plan, and the
future prosperity of which should have
been assured beyond doubt by early and
judicious selection Of all its lands by their
strict and entire retention from private
sale"
He recommends committee of inves.
tigation with power to send for persons
and papers.
He mentions the fact that the agricul-
tural commission has failed to agree
upon site, and thinks it a matter Of re-
greet.
The trustees of Cheney normal school
ask for maintenance for two years.
$27, o2o, and new building, $4,000. The
Ellensburgh normal school board has
failed to send in report in time for men,
ton in the message.
The state library, valued at SO, 900. is
insured for 5000, and the governor asks
that it be increased to $2o, 900.
He says: We have every reason to be
proud of the personnel OF the National
Guard of Washington. 1t consists, a,
present, of seventeen companies of in.
fantry and two troops of cavalry.
The able report of Brigadier General
r. 6. O'Brien, the adjutant general, to
which your closest scrutiny is directed,
shows deficiency in the funds of 1889.
1890. occasioned by the services of the
troops at the disastrous fires in Seattle
! and Spokane Falls at which our volun'
teer soldiery did effective service. A bill
to cover this deficiency was introduced in
the last legislature and passed the senate
but it failed to pass the house. I recon-
mend that an appropriation to meet the
deficiency be made by you.
: He is warm in his commentator Of
, the work of the state geologist.
invite your especial attention to the
report of the state geologist, 1t is com.
prehensive, voluminous and lucid. II
indicates vast amount of work and re.
search on his part The industry and
intelligence which he has displayed in
, the performance of his duties deserve
special mention and recognition. He
has shown thorough zeal in the develop.
ment of our mineral resources, and has
bestowed great care and attention upon
every detail of his official duties. In the
short time since his appointment he has
builded up a department of our state
government which promises to be OF
surprising importance and benefit. He
has collected a cabinet, not only of great
intrinsic value to the state, but of ines
Unable interest and worth to the student
and investor.
1 approve his recommendations and
urge your favorable consideration OF
them. The sum appropriated by the act
creating the Office of state geologist has
been foand inadequate, owing to the pro-
portions and importance Of this work
and the Inevitable expense attending the
organization of an Office of this char
acter.