, 1899-01-11
STATE PROBLEMS
MATTERS WHICH COME UP FOR
DISCUSSION IN THE LEGIS-
LATURE.
Bounty B~ill-Revision of Laws
Lander's Agricultural College Bill
-Penitentiary Removal-Johnson
County Invasion Bill.

tSDOIIutlCt.D " lie ltBlSldlult
which convened at noon today will be
called upon to enact laws of more i'm
portauce to the people of our state
than have ever been presented to a
lawmaking body in Wyoming.
The election of a United States sena-
tor being disposed Of, the legislature
will be called upon to consider the re-
moval of the prisoners in our state pen
i%tentiary from Laramie to Rawlins; the
der for the agricultural college; a bill
submitting to the people the question
of the location OF all our public institu-
tions, such as the state capitol, univer-
sity. etc; the reimbursement Of John
son county for expenses in connection
with the invasion; the appropriation
of thousands of dollars for bounty on
predatory wild animals; the revision of
our laws, and for extensive and neces-
sary additions to the insane asylum,
hospital, state university and the fish
hatchery.
Let the average reader and taxpayer
look candidly oven this list and say
whether or not this is to be an import
ant session. or course, there will be a
multitude of other measures of minor
Importance, and SO, taken altogether,
the coming Legislative sea is very apt
to be a tumultuous one
The Carbon county delegation will
have their hands full with their pro-
posed bill for the removal of the
states prisoners, and all other matters,
so far as they are concerned, will be
subordinate to this one momentous
feature.
The Fremont people, of course, have
their customary pet measure on hand,
and as lei as can be learned at this
writing the bill prepared by them has
for dts salient points the following:
They propose a general tax of one
eighth of a milrto rrn for sucha time as
will produce $50, 0OO-'the amount they
claim is necessary to erect and equip
the necessary buildings for the state
agricultural college. The tax is to be
levied from year to year, but no portion
of 1t is to be touched until the full
amount shall have accumulated. When
that time arrives, the buildings are tc
be commenced and pushed rapidly tic
completion. Based on present assessed
valuation, this will require about four
teen years.
By no means the least important
measure ON which this session must
act is the question of location of our
state institutions. Under a provision
of cur constitution the seat of govern
ment was fixed at Cheyenne for a per.
icd of ten years, and as the time expire:
in 1900, or before another session of the
legislature will be held, the question
of it's establishment must be provided
for by the present body. This will
necessitate the enactment of a law sub.
bhJuliL5 W llS PCoPlC at uiC hSAl OlNS'
tion the proposition as to whether the
capitol, university, etc, shall remain
where they are, or be moved to other
points in the state.
The revision of our laws will doubt.
less be provided for at the present SEES.
sion, and the old committee has the
matter in hand and will present to the
lawmakers for their. action, a revision
similar to that which failed OF accept
ance at the session two years ago.
Most Of the Objectionable features
have been eliminated, and it is highly
probable the laws as they are now to
be presented, will be approved.
Johnson county villa ask somewhere
between $15. 900 and s25, 900 for the no
torious invasion expenses. ard those
qualified to speak predict success for
The delegation from the north.
The bounty bill will, of course, be in
evidence again, and it is impossible yet
to say how much will be asked for the
destruction of wolves and coyotes in
the next two years. The last appropri-
alton was $4,000 and it is probable
that the amount will be about the same
at this session. This bounty question
is a very serious one. The total state
taxes collected each year amount to
something less than 5000. 900 and with
these figures in view DIT will be seen at a
glance what a nice little lump this
wolf killing amounts to.
The %overdraft in the general fund
on January / was just above $24 900,
which means that without the bounty
appropriation the fund would have teen
even with the board instead OF showing
the deficiency above named.
The refining governor, Hon. VIM. A.
Richards. will deliver a message to the
legislature. In 1t, among other things,
he will pay a fine compliment to III
state v%eterinian. DR.. A. A. Holcombe,
on the latter's report covering the con-
dition OF live stock Within our borders.
This report is characterized by ex-Gov-
ernor Richards as one Of the ablest
documents of Its kind ever issued, and
he Will recommend the printing Of
thousands Of copies for distribution
among the stockgrowers and ranchmen
. hA~I