Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-01-06
Gov. Shortridge's inaugural.

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gentlemen of the Senate umd House Of Representatives:
My predecessor has given to you in his message a full
statement Of his official acts during his administration, and has
which show specifically and in detail the present condition Of our
State and its institutions; and !! respectfully suggest that you
therein. for the reason that, knowing the condition of our State
Se en a5 is1e to Understand %ssrs""S% their e; ne nsed RsSf iegis1 1aas; y "%d Ns the 'r propey
appropriations to be made for their support and maintenance
alton and adoption if thought worthy, such suggestions and recon-
mendations as have occurred to me since my election to the Office.
the duties of which L am about to assume, which suggestions, if
d 1"pp;ness S Of tn the sI people %s of oar ( s tnts' fTfhh Therefore re IN 1 ho %es'% t1et all a
of your legislation at this session will be such as to convince all
the present administration, to secure to the people of the State
and those who have interests here a safe, conservative and eco
In the discharge of your Legislative duties at the present session
it should be your aim to accomplish the greatest amount of good.
interests in common with us, at the least possible expense to the
This can be accomplished, to a considerable extent, by a proper
and economical use of the time assigned by law for the Legislative
It is too frequently, the case in legislative bodies that much
the consequence is, that in the latter part, bills are presented
which t have nc. not o,b been properly ns1pe1 pr prepared !? p re-? and thoroughly s co an%i
may only serve a a source Of needless litigation! and the people
are deprived of wholesome and needed legislation, all of which
might have been averted by a proper use of the whole time of the
iudicious selection of the various committees, through whom the
greater part Of the business Of the Legislature must necessarily
should be exercised to select persons who are peculiarly fitted to
serve on account Of their qualifications experience and acquaint-
The quality Of the legislation and the success of the session
which the several committees discharge their duties, and the
efficiency Of the committees will depend largelyupon the efficiency
This can also be accomplished in a large degree by practicing
committees. Much needless expense is sometimes incurred in
employing an unnecessary number of clerks, at the instance Of
some person who has rendered them some political service in time
past, and in some instances clerks have been appointed and
lmDIOvel who n I am led to believe were utterly nnuua1ife6 10
discharge the duties assigned to them, and in other instances, I
mo mo- service, and yet drew drS their per- r diem for for the heH balance ' Of the h
term. The III employment of clerks should also be confined to citi-
should be provided with such clerical assistance as may be necss-
session will be prepared by the committees, and the work of the
the disposition of business Of both Houses depending upon
the ! :. d fa be- hen care thgs ivG fho to sst ths matters namm;t under n sGn tidsaatiS'2
investigate all matters committed to them, and report their action
ss tgs s:r1is I VIII GHpS Ssrs itx R%SiS; yas, that A9d Wife if E th yh 1ar p i;%i9e the
1 Length of your h ssssi Smj it does fIa mot fal prohibit it you you 1 from adjournine
believe that more Offices have been created in this State than are
necessary to carry on the functions Of government and that in this
commend that you carefully consider this matter, and if you
find 1o such cnd to h be true nre..t that You yo"n apply yt the necessary nen n"y re remedy msEs IL. -
preparations for the maintenance of the several State Institutions
All State institutions should be So maintained as to make them
: st"ie %ss tG the th sn p"RGT eb ti vi yst t5 5ee :ye %fts Of e ts State So s f%S "a a tns
DE t;i or impaired p ne1an by {n making kin gu. Questionable site 10 app aoP aainnI
that a th eyf les pisi mn an S3' dsa ints ' asd I" eapa 9s 'e of Ssieg p %"de essged
and enforced; that they be just and operate on all persons and
CLASSES alike; that they be promptly and fully enforced by the
officers of the State.
If we have laws upon our statutes, on any subject, that are un-
Just and oppressive, and so defective in that respect, that they
cannot be remedied by proper amendment, they should be re-
peaed, and others enacted in place Of them. If they can be made
desirable by amendment they should be amended.
It is detrimental to the best interest of the State, to be con-
tnualy changing our laws, unless necessity imperatively demands
such change. The people of the State desire that laws be stable
and fixed, that they may know the law and be able to transact
business in reference to it. Inferior laws that are fixed and stable
are preferable to superior laws which are constantly being
changed by each successive Legislature.
A diversity of opinion exists among the people of the State IS
to the practical and beneficial results of the prohibition law. tits
not within the province of the Executive to question the propmety
of any law. It is his duty to see that the laws Of the State are