Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-01-12
GOV. RICHARDS MESSAGE.
Brief Synopsis of the Most Important oues-
tions Dealt With.

HELENA, January, 5.-The only
business before the legislature today
was the reading OF thegovernor's mes
sage. Richards read it to the senate
and house in joint session in the hall
of the latter body, and 1t took him
one hour and ten minutes to do it.
| He recommended that proceeds OF
sale OF school lands be invested in
bonds or loaned on real estate for
one-third OF it's value so as to produce
a revenue. IT this is not done he said
the state would have to stop selling
the lands and simply lease them.
He estimated the expenses of the
government for each of the two fiscal
years ending Nov. 80, 1898, and Nov.
80, 1894, at S451, 800.
On the senatorial question he says:
"Among your most important duties
will be the election of one of your fel-
low citizens to represent Montana in
the United States senate. L indulge
i y
may elect one who will reflect credit
alike upon you and the state" He
said all interests demanded an early
settlement OF the question of locating
the state institutions and refers to the
agitation ofgrouping them, but makes
no recommendations on that point.
The governor recommends that pro-
vision be made for a state orphans
home and says that the promoters OF
such an institution in Silver Bow offer
to donate their property, comprising
16O acres and improvements, for the
purpose. He suggests the considera-
tion of proffers of this kind from the
different counties.
On the creation of new counties he
refers to the enormous outlay for
jurors and witnesses in some OF the
present counties where they have to
travel from 100 to 400 miles to the
county seat. He suggests the division
of the larger counties where the valu
alton and population justify it.
The maintenance OF state reform
schools is recommended that young
offenders may not be thrown within
the influence of older criminals; also
repeats the recommendation of Gov.
TooIe that the office OF state exami-
uer be established at salary sutii-
cient to command the services of cap
able men. He says 1t Is a common
fault with legislatures i'll creating new
offices to put the salary so LOW as to
make it impossible to secure the SER
vices of efficient men. 'While econ
omy should he practiced" he says,
twhen it is done at the expense OF the
service it is a mark OF demagogism."
He opposes any further delay in de-
termining officially the boundaries of
the state. In regard to the state
lands he urges the legislature to all
the state board of land commission
ers in their efforts to prevent the grant
OF the government from trespass.
He recommends prompt and effec-
tive steps to protect the people from
the threatened calamity involved in
he effort OF the Northern Pacific rail-
way to get possession of mineral lands
and suggests legislation to encourage
|
step in that direction will be the irri-
cation OF arid lands.
!, In regard to irrigation he says that
while the legislature should deal liber-
ally with the question, too many safe
guards cannot be thrown around the
rights of the citizen nor too ample
protection given the settlers depend
ent upon the irrigation system. Cor
porations encouraged by legislation to
push forward irrigation schemes
, should not be permitted to absorb
( the public domain on the one hand
: nor the income OF settlers on the other.
, The charges made by the companies
owning the bitches should be regulated
by law
: He recommends Gov. Toole's recon-
: mendatiop for a law compelling rail
road companies to burn their right o.
way annually to prevent prairie and
l forest fires.
He recommends more rigid enforce
4 ment of the fish and game laws.
4 He calls attention to the fact that
the constitutional provision against
the imI ortation of PInkerton force:
e is not self executing and needs legisla
: ton to give it force. He recommend
that the penitentiary be made a stat
= | INSTITUTION anu the Keep Ol the Coh
victs be no longer let by contract.
!. Under the head OF Purity OF tn
:. Ballot" he says that nothing so mucl
n tends to corrupt the public conscienc
as bribery. All good citizens look witt
contempt on the bribe taker, but ar
:; apt to condone the offense OF the brib
n giver He says that there is but on
d safe place for the bribe giver and tina
n is the penitentiary. He recommend
= some changes in the registration la'
'e for the benefit of thepeople in isolate'
IT sections; that registry agents be re
=, quired to sit in every voting precinct
:. that registry continue to within a fe'
days of election. On the Australia
u law he recommends changes that wi
le place names of party candidates in SCI
Of arate columns and enable by a mar
" TO vote their entire ticket. He favor
eliminating the use of printed card
+! and sample ballots, and oppose
le Judges marking ballots for voters eA
i cept in cases of blindness. He su.
=. gests that congress be memoriallze
for the early consideration of fire
, coinage bill.