Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-04
FOR RETRENCHMENT.
Recommendations Of Coy Smith 10
the Montana Legislature.
REDUCE STATE EXPENDITURES.
Curtail Offices and salaries on Account
of the Depressed Condition
of Business.

lative assembly Of Montana met at
noon today. Hon. Robert b. Smith,
fusion, took the oath OF office as
governor at ten O'Clock. HE message
to the legislature recommends various
reductions In tho state expenditures,
the curtailment OF i'll ces and salaries
and suggestions along the line OF
economical reforms.
Retiring governor Richards leaves
directly for California to spend the
winter with his family at Pacific
Grove.
GoNERNoR sMITH's INAUGURAL MES.
SAGE.
In his inaugural message to the
Montana Legislature GOV. Smith says
that on account of the depressed c0ndi-
ton OF business and lack OF prosperity
among the people the expenses OF
stete, county and city government
must be reduced.
That change OF political parties in
tho state does not mean anarchy,
reputation nor the enactment Of
vicious and hostile legislation, and
that hasty, ill.adyised or radical lawf,
hostile TO any interest or person, ale
not contemplated by his administra.
ton.
That the state revenues for 1896 were
not Buf1i oient to meet expenses, and
have steadily decreased during the
period OF financial strip2ency, thus
presenting the serious problems OF
raising enough revenue without In
creasing taxation, and curtailing the
expenses OF the state, county and
municipal government. To increase
revenues Gov. Smith recommends:
i. That state, county and city treas
urers be required TO advertise the pub
lie FUNDS for deposit, and compel them
to deposit such funds with such banks
as will pay tho best rate OF interest and
furnish good and secuIe bond Tor such
funds; the interest ON the moneys go
Deposited to be covered into the proper
treasures, and the treasures to be re-
lievsd OF responsibility Tor the safety OF
the funds.
2. Taxation OF the gross receipts OF
insurance companies, lees losses.
3. A better tax on corporations, 30
worded that corporation cannot evsce
the corporation ice by subsequently
increasing It's capitalization; also re-
guiding foreign corporations to pay the
same fees as domestic ones.
4. A graduated inheritance tax.
8. Payment OF salaries to court cffi-
GERS and turning all ieee Into the treas.
ury, making private Iitigants pay Tor
their own litigation.
To reduce expenses Governor Smith
recommends an extensive use OF the
pruning knife:
/. Reduction of the salary OF the
state examiner to such sum as will pay
good accountants and officials for the
labor, the state to pay actual travelling
expenses OF officials while in discharge
OF duties; anu abolish flee OF county
auditor. Give state examiner power
to enforce collections from delinquent
officers.
2. Reducing the expense of the bu-
reau OF agriculture, labor and industry,
by hbolishiDg 1t, the legislature desig-
mating plainly, If 1t ia thought advis-
able to continue the collection OF state
statistics, what data shall be collected,
and have the county asssssors collect
the data, the governor appointing a
competent person TO tabu late the mat
ter collected, this person being made
the immigration agent OF the state.
The results would be as satisfactory to
lab0ring men as are had from the pres
ept system.
3. Reducing salaries in the land de.
psrtments OF the state, giving the land
agent an assistant for u year or two
until the land can be selected and ap.
praised, and making the land register
clerk OF the board OF land commission.
ers, with authority to make leases or
sales; thus systematizing the work
increasing the revenues and saving
about 81 800 "a year.
4. Aboiishing the office OF city treas.
urer, and giving the duties to the
county treasurer.
8. Repeating mileage laws, and al.
lowing actual travelling expenses,
ilemizsd and verified.
8. Giving state board OF examiners
authority to direct and superintend
the cost OF printing for the state, con.
dsnsing such as need not DO printed In
full.
7. Greater economy In the matter OF
legislative expenses.
s. Reducing the cost OF the national
guard OF the state in the matter OF
annual encampment and allowance for
rent OF armories.
Q. Taking of the bounty on coyotes,
and combining 1t TO the gray wolf.
He recommends that appropriations
for the public institutions be carefully
looked into, requiring itemizsd state
mente.
Since the capitol land grant is nat
sufficient to pay for million dollar
capitol he recommends that the legis.
lature provide for bonding the land
grant to the extent Of $500, 900 at hve
per cent; that builuiD be erected at
once to cost not over $3.50, 900; that 1t
be so constructed as to present the ap.
pearance OF finished and complete
building, but so that additional wings
can be added without impBiring the
beauty or symmetry OF the structure.
Bonds are urged, rather than script,
because thoy are more commercial anu
bear lowe rate OF Interest.
It ia urged that board OF inaane
commissioners bs authorized, to pur-
chase proper site and erect suitable
buildings for the insane.
he recommends that the law be
changed in regard to the trial anu
commitment OF the Insane, 30 that
purely hospitable cases should not be
committed, and that persons having
estates or relatives legally bound to
support them shall not DO charged On
the state.
5tate cenvicts should be set to work
constructing Irrigation plants ami