The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-13

Following is the fun text of the mes
sage of Governor Heber NJ Wells to the
legislature:
TO the Legislature of the State of Utah:
The constitution Of this state directs
the governor TO communicate by mes
sage, the condition Of the state to the
legislature at every regular session, and
recommend such measures as he may
ueeln cNpedlent- In pursuance of this re-
qulrcment. ! have the honor to submit
my views concerning some of the i'm
portant subjects that viii claim your
consideration. and also to present "A brief
resume o: the condition and needs OF
The several departments OF state The
transition of Utah from territorial life
into the brOadened functions of state
mood has been attended, I think. with
fewer complications than in most of the
surrounding states Upon the first state
legislature devolved the duty of provid-
Ing necessary laws TO set in motion the
machinery of state government. The law
makers Were confronted with subjects of
great Importance. Problems which may
hc permanently and successfully solved
only when experience has matured into
Intelligent judgment. had to be met and
solved at once. Old precedents We're
found not ALWAYS to he a true guide old
methods had To be quite generally dis
carried. and in the reimbursement of laws.
of methods. OF institutions and under
AsAkiit-N. CONSCIENTIOUS regard TOT the
public welfare and the rights Of the Deo-
pie WAS the only safe criterion bOtn for
The legislator and the executive. tt was
inevitable that the work could not be
fully completed and that some mistakes
would occur. The responsibility of taking
mp the labor where the first state legisla-
fure desisted. of correcting errors and
omissions IN existing laws. and of an
ricipating needs for the future. has been
transmitted to YOU. and ] have no doubt
that the obligations resting upon YOU,
rs Legislators. will he faithfully honestly
and intelligently discharged.
ELECTION OF SENATOR.
The selection Of one Of your fellow citf-
Zens to the exalted position of United
States senator from Utah will be an i'm
portant duty. in the discharge OF which
great discretion and patriotism viii be
essential ] have no doubt YOU viii rise
to the occasion and that your choice will
reflect honor upon yourselves and the
state
EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS.
Among your earliest duties will he the
necessity 10 provide for the immediate
needs of state institutions whose apprO-
Driations are exhausted These include
the University OF Utah. the Agricultural
college. the State Industrial school. the
School for the Deaf. Dumb and Blind,
the state prison, etc.
THE CODE.
The report of the code commission will
be laid before you. In my opinion its
work has been well done. and the code.
as arranged and presented to YOU. should
b accepted in its entirety SO that its
harmony may be preserved. and then
revised as your wisdom may direct. The
members of the code commission arc
gentlemen of ability. Of character and
standing in the community. and il is
matter OF public knowledge that they
have devoted their time and talent 10 the
work. 10 the exclusion of their private
practice. and with cOmmendable energy
and a conscientious regard FOR duty. The
various state officers. including a ma
joritv of the district judges and also
many of the county clerks. have made
suggestions from time TO time to the
commission. relative TO such errors and
omissions IN the laws as have come under
their immediate observation. So that
in this way the commission has con
stituted 4 reservoir of the best thought
and experience in the state. Subjects of
great public concern. such as the recent
contest over the election. and the decision
OF the supreme court thereon. and the
recommended ton Of the grand jury of
subjected TO state inspection. have been
II ken coCriZance of. and wholesome pro-
visions for correcting existing defects
recommended IT has taken into account
the needs of the state in the direction
OF new legislation. but only whore il has
been convinced of the absolute necessity
thereof. in view OF the requirements of
the constitution
All these considerable are guaran-
Tee that entitle the code 10 that respectful
ccnsidera ton at your hands which |
have no doubt it viii receive. With the
presentation of its report. the contract
with the code commission ceases. and If
Il is desirable that tie members thereof
he available FOR consultation and advice
during the session. Or that they be con-
finued for the work of compilation.
new arrangement for such service will be
essential.
FINANCES.
Owing 10 the short interval elansing
between the end of the fiscal year and the
meeting Of the legislature tonly II days..
the report OF the state auditor. which
when presented. will disclose the exact
financial condition OF the state, is not yet
available. From his preliminary figures,
however. ! am enabled TO give you a
fairly accurate idea of the present finan-
ciaI status. The bonded debt of the state
Is $500 000. as follows:
TERRITORIAL ISSUES.
Series by authority of the act
of the legislative assembly of
1855 $50 20-year. per cent
bonds of 81. eco each, issued July
= 1SsS. payable July ?. 1905. but
with right of redemption after
ISIS .,.....'.-,............,..;......s1 $4,000 90
Series 2-sy authority of the act
of the legislative assembly of
1890 200 29-Vear. . per cent
bonds OF $1,000 each. issued July
l. 1890. payable July ]. 1910. but
with right of redemption after
ten years, viz: after July !.
1900 100000 90
Series S-By authority Of the act
Of the legislative assembly of
1892 80 20-year. per cent
bonds OF 81. coo each. issued July
., 1892, payable July l, l9l2...... 100000 %
STATE ISSUE. Il
Series by authority of the act
Of the state legislature Of April
:. 1896 go 3l-year. per cent
bonds of 81 900 each. issued July
/. 1896. payable July !, 1916. 5000 90
Total SdVu-VON w
The current resources ana liabilities are
as follows;
RESOURCES.
Due from counties on tax ac-
Cash in the treasury January !,
1877 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 1885 %
$ss4,s71 Al
LIABILITIES.
Warrants outstanding January !.
Unpaid jurors and witness fees
for 1876 Gesiimate dl--.--..-.....-.. 5000 %
One-half salaries of county off,