Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-03
MESSAGE OF Gov. SMITH
Continued from First Page.)

namely: Inc sher1ff Of Beaverhead county
and the sheriff of Madison county. These
latter named gentlemen waited until the
expiration of the several terms of court
held IN their counties, and then carried all
OF their prisoners at one time. The sheriff
OF Madison county at one time took as high
as hVe prisoners, carrying only one guard
with him, while l notice in the bills of the
sheriffs from Custer. Yellowstone, Silver
state, that they made their trips every
other day to the penitentiary, or just as
fast as they could make one trip and re-
turn with another prisoner. These charges
of transporting prisoners to the state prison
during the two years amounted to fifteen
thousand, six hundred and twelve dollars
and thirty-five. cents Gl5,612.35). This charge
should be borne by the several counties
as much as any other charge connected
with the prosecution and conviction of
criminals.
providing that in counties where they hold
only four terms of court per annum, the
sheriff should keep all Of his prisoners in
Jail till the close of each term of court, and
then be required to carry them all to the
prison at the same time, taking as many
guards as are actually necessary for the
safe keeping OF the prisoners, and allowing
the sheriff and his guard the actual eX-
penses Of transportation, which should be
borne by the county. Such legislation will
relieve the state from a heavy burden, and
at the same time relieve the counties from
these eXorbitant mileage charges; and what
l have said with reference to mileage as
to the transportation of prisoners, should
also apply in the matter of transporting
the insane to the asylum and the children
to the state reform school; actual expenses
for such work should be allowed and no
more, to be paid in each and every instance
by the county from whence the person is
transported. And in the summoning of
jurors, Witnesses, and all the other work
which a sheriff is called upon to perform,
actual expenses should be allowed.
There is no use in allowing this mileage
statute to remain upon the books, as an
inducement for officers, witnesses and
other persons to make public charges
against the state or the county.
Second-The constitution provides that
the state supreme court charges shall be
paid by the state, and that one-half of the
salary of the several prosecuting attorneys
throughout the state shall be borne by he
state, and the other half by the counties.
There is no constitutional provision as to
the salary, of district judges; therefore,, the
state has borne this latter charge, amount
ing to forty-iive thousand, five hundred
dollars ($45, .0O annually. l recommend
that you make at least one-half of this
amount a charge upon the counties, to be
paid proportionately where there is more
than one county in the district, according
to the litigation in such district, such legis-
lation as is now provided for the payment
OF court stenographers. This would re-
neve the state of twenty-five thousand,
seven hundred and fifty dollars (S22, 100. 0)
annual charge.
Third-Under the present law our state
warrants bear interest at the rate of six
per cent. per annllnl. They have been such
an inducement to Investors during the last
tive years that a premium CT one per cent.
has practically been paid for them. 1 earn
estly recommend that you reduce the rate
of interest on state warrants to four per
cent. The school fund belonging to the
state will be glad to get them at that rate,
and by so doing, you will relieve our gen.
eral fund of an annual charge of about five
thousand dollars (5, GOO. 00.
Fourth-The time has arrived in this state
when the LEGAL rate OF interest upon judg-
ments, notes and other debts should be ma
teTially reduced, and a law to this effect
and providing against usurious contracts
would receive my hearty approval, and, I
believe, the approval of our people gener-
ally throughout the state. The present law,
as almost all laws, looks to the interest of
the lender. The borrower needs more pro-
lection at your hands-the lender will pro-
tect himself.
fifth-Two years ago the legislative as
Eembly made an appropriation of six thous-
and dollars CSC, 100000 per annum, for each
of the two years, for public printing. This
has been consumed, and a deficiency Of five
thousand, ninety-seven dollars and thirty
one cents ($5, 097. 81 in that fund exists.
Something should be done to curtail this
cost of public printing. Our constitution
provides for the printing of the quarterly
reports made by the state treasurer. This
alone costs at least twenty-five hundred
dollars ($2, 5G0.C) d year, when it is of prac-
tiCally no benefit to any one. In the same
way, everything that is done by any state
or county officer is required to be printed
in some paper in the state or county, and
frequently in more than one paper. This
charge alone is an onerous burden to the
commonwealth, and the law should either
provide for a reduction in the advertising
and printing rates. or it should provide that
many of the things now required to be pub
lished might be dispensed with in the dis
erection of the state board of examiners. ]
am satisfied that this recommendation will
not be popular with the press of the state
but am impelled to take this step by rea.
con nf tho fart that the nl1hlr Drjntinp
charge is eXorbitant and out of all reason
for the good that it does to the common,
wealth.
Sixth-Again. before leaving this head Of
retrenchment and the reduction of ex'
penses, 1 must call your attention to the
fact that legislators too often set the pace
of exorbitant expenditures and appropria.
tions by their own action. l trust, however
that your sense of duty to your constituents
and to the state at large will, at all times
be sufficient to prevent any indulgence ir
eXtravagant appropriations or unnecessary
expenditures in and about the transaction
of your business while you are here assem-
bled. For it is upon your work. and the
character of the legislation that you may
give to the state, that depends to a grea'
degree the veal or woe of our common
wealth. The party now in the ascendenc5
in this state may strongly intrench itsei
and fortify it's position in the affections o.
our people by that wise and conservative
course which will give to the state and 1T
citizens the very best legislation possible
ana the most ecouoHiicdl uniliilStio'io y
public affairs consistent with efficient per
Torrance of public functions.
During this legislative assembly an ap
p~ortionment bill reapportioning the stat,
for senatorial and representative districts
should be passed. / trust that in such APP
portionment you will reduce somewhat tn
membership Of the lower house of the as
sembly. In my opinion sixty members i
the outside limit required at the presen
time. These, with the twenty-four senator
required under our constitution, would Civ
a membership of eighty-four in the assem-
bly,. This reduction in the number WOul.