The Anaconda standard., 1895-01-09

1890.
Executive department ent.................. ; 4i,2Il
Judiciary department ..................., t,@JJ
state officers (appointive) ................ 30SOO
state boards and Institutions ............ 23RO2O
MISCELLANEOUS .......-................'. o-'Oo
Total siis, ,929
UNUSED BALANCES.
Section of an act to appropriate money
for the ordinary expenses of the state
government, approved March 6, 1891,
page 100 second session., provides that
at the end of each fiscal year the unused
money appropriated for any specific pur-
pose shall be covered into the general
fund. This provision works hardship
on the state, as il compels the eXpendl-
ture of money within a specified time or
its loss to the purpose named, thus in n
great measure defeating the object of tho
appropriation. recommend the repeal
of section of this law; and that n pro-
vision be added TO section i OF an act to
cover certain surplus moneys back into
the state treasury, approved March z,
1891, (page 143, second session. making ii
lawful to use the balance in any fund, at
the expiration of the fiscal year, in de-
fraying the expenses incurred in either of
the fiscal years for which the appropria-
tion is made.
PROTECTION OF LIVE STOCK.
The live stock industry of this state is
entitled to the benefit of q carefully con-
structec and effective bounty law. Ii is
believed that from % per cent. to 33 per
cent. of the annual increase of our herds
is destroyed by wolves and coyotes, that
the percentage 10 growing rapidly, and
that unless relief is afforded, tho live
stock industry must be abandoned. There
has been much experimental legislation
along this line, productive of little good to
the stock interests, yet involving the eX-
penditure of large sums of money. ltwas
necessary in 1887 to reconvene the leglsla-
ture in extraordinary session, to repeal
bounty law that threatened to bankrupt
the state. Two years ago was compelled
to withhold my approval of a bounty law
passed by the Third legislative assembly
on account of tho condition of the state
finances, and because said law would
have largely increased tho deficiency al
ready existing by reason OF outstanding
unpaid bounty warrants, without corre-
spending benefit to the stock interests.
To be effective, bounty law must not
only provide for the destruction of stock
destroying animals, but must be so adj
justed with reference to the state finances
as 10 insure the prompt payment of those
entitled TO bountIes under its provisions.
A law that provides for the payment of
bounties, without creating n permanent
fund from which these bounties can be
paid, will necessarily be of short duration.
and whatever benefit has been derived
from the killing of animals under its pro-
visions will soon be swept away. recon-
mend the enactment of n bounty law that
will stimulate tho destruction of wolves,
from which our herds chiefly suffer, the
repeal OF the bounty on bears and other
animals not so destructive TO stock, and
the creation of a permanent fund to pay
the warrants issued therefor.
Such fund can be provided for and
maintained by setting apart per cent. OF
the licenses nov retained by the counties,
n n fAH
with tho sheep indemnity fund, TO which
the state can add by appropriation from
5000 Ito $4,000. 10 illustrate: five per
cent. OF the licenses for the fiscal year will
reach approximately $4,000; the - mill
set spart for the sheep indemnity fund
will reach $1,000; $4,000 added by appro-
priation will make an aggregate sum of
$4,000, from which about $1,000, on an av-
erage, Will be required to meet the actual
demands on the sheep indemnity fund,
leaving balance of $4,000 to be applied
on bounties.
The law of 1891 should be so amended
as to provide for the counting and punch-
ing of the hides of ~k-destroying ami
mails by the county clerk in the presence
OF tho county treasurer and clerk of the
courts, without compensation. A saving
OF 70 cents on each pclt could be affected
thereby and the opportunity for collusion
done away with. If, at the end of the fls-
cal year, there should be any money re-
tulS COulu DO uSH1 10
hquidate outstanding warrants that have
been issued in payment of bounties,
should any part of the present deficiency
OF about S65,0O0 remain unpaid at that
time. Should II be deemed necessary to
still further strengthen this fund the -
mill levy made on live stock under the
provisions OF section 80 OF the fifth d l.
vision OF tho general laws could DO in
creased to 1 mill. This. a alded to a state
appropriation of $4,000, would swell the
bounty fund TO such proportions as to
make bounty law effective i'm the highest
possible degree, as well as 10 cancel the
deficit existing under the present law. At
the same time no appreciable burden
would be laid upon the treasury of tho
state.
i concur in the views expressed by the
Montana state board of stock commits
sioners that 1.-THE stock industry almost
leads the industries of the state in the
amount of revenue derived from it, and
in actual cash worth to the state. and 1t is
deserving OF radical protection from this
most destructive evil"
STOCK INDEMNITY FUND.
The laws. in regulating the levy and
collection OF the stock indemnity fund,
should be so amended as to more equitably
distribute its burdens. Ii is evident that
some of the counties which pay the least
into this fund realize the chief benefits
derived from II. thus taxing one commu-
nifty TO aid another. While the general
good OF the commonwealth requires that
one section of the state lend assistance
10 another, through equitable forms OF
taxation. care should be taken TO so adj
just the levy and collection of such taxes
as TO intiict the least possible hardship
upon those communities that derive but
little benefit.
To keep contagious diseases under con-
troll they must be dealt with promptly.
in whatever county they occur, irrespec-
tive of its contribution TO tho stock iu-
demnity fund. In no other way can the
stock interests Of the state bo properly
protected. Nevertheless. It would seem
consistent with the best interests Of all.
that counties making large draft upon
this fund be required 10 contribute .i5cI-
ally TO IL, ia proportion Co she magnitude
of ITS live stock interests. IL has been