The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-01-06
Read to the Sixth Legislative
Assembly OF Montana in
Helena Tuesday.
THE STATES FINANCES
And Laws Needed to Increase Reye-
nues-Railroad Commission Sug-
g~ested-Changes Necessary.

delivered before the Sixth biennial ses-
sion of the Montana legislature, held
in the Auditorium in Helena Tuesday:
To the Sixth Legislative Assembly Of
the State Of Montana: 1t becomes my
duty, under tie constitution and law Of
the state, at this time to present to you
the condition of our commonwealth,
especially as to what has transpired
during the past two years, and what
will be needed to meet the demands of
the state for the ensuing two years.
Before proceeding with this undertak-
ing, l desire to congratulate you upon
the suspicious condition in which we
find the general tone Of the state as a
body polite, and the improved condi-
tion Of our people individually. Not
w~ithstanding the fact that our country,
within the past twelve months, was
compelled to engage in a foreign war,
which has been successfully terminated
n concluded, we find that the condi-
ton of our people and The state at large
has no been injured on such account.
Neither has the prediction, made by
many, that the commonwealth was des-
tined to destruction by reason Of the
fact that the political control had
passed from the republican party,
proven true. In many respects we can
truthfully say that the tone Of conf
dence displayed toward the state two
years ago has greatly improved since,
that time. and by wise legislation at
your hands the condition of our state
may yet be further improved, and with
it's general improvement will be an inn
provement of each individual compos-
ing the state.
The n thing necessary to maintain
the good credit and standing Of u
commonwealth before the world is to
be able to meet -our obligations, and
pay them with cash as they are in
Cured. In order to do this, the reve-
nue of the state must, at all times, be
adequate to meet it's imperative de-
mands.
Financial Condition of the State.
During the past two years we have
been able to meet all demands with the
revenue at our command. But this
result is due, in part to certain legisla-
ton enacted by the Fifth legislative as
sembly, and, in part, to the economical
methods pursued by the state board Of
examiners. But under the increased
burdens imposed upon the state, this
condition of affairs cannot longer be
maintained with the present legislation.
At the close Of the fiscal year in
1895, there was outstanding, warrants
amounting to three hundred and sixty
six Thousand, nine hundred and seven
ty-four dollars, fifty seven cents $780,
974. 81, and deficiencies, not represent
ed by warrants. amounting to fifty-one
thousand, two hundred and thirty seven
dollars, fifteen cents ($51, 1877. 15).
To meet this indebtedness, was the rev.
enue of 1896, yet uncollected, amount
ing to two hundred and eighty-six
thousand. nine hundred and two dol
lars and seventy-six cents ($286, 902.76
and cash in the treasury on the first
day of December, 1896. amounting to
I twenty-on thousand, two hundred and
thirty nine dollars and thirty-eight
cents ($21, 239. 3s).
Tt thus became necessary for the pres
ent administration TO pay off AND dis
charge. the large deficiency Of fifty-one
Thousand, two hundred and thirty.seven
dollars and fifteen cents ($51, 1877. 15).
in addition to the running expenses of
the state for the next two years. Dur
ing 1897 there was collected from all
sources five hundred and sixteen thou
sand, seven hundred and nineteen dol
lars and eighty-one cents ($516, 719.S 1),
which, added to the cash on hand
December the first, 1896, gave a grand
total of FIVE hundred and thirty seven
thousand, nine hundred and f~ifty-nine
dollars and nineteen cents ($537,-
$50. 19).
The warrants drawn during 1897
amount to five hundred and twenty
five thousand, five hundred and twenty
dollars and seven cents ($525. $40. O7).
During 1898 the warrants drawn aggre-
gate four hundred and seventy four
thousand, six hundred and fifty-eight
dollars and forty cents ($474, Cos. 4O),
n the total revenue for 1898 amount
ed to five hundred and twenty thou
sand, four hundred and ninety-seven
dollars ($520,497); and during 1898
there has been paid out on warrants
and interest five hundred and twenty
Thousand, four hundred and n~inety-four
dollars and seyenty-six cents $780,
1914 76), leaving the cash balance on
hand December the first. 1898, two dol
lars and seventy cents ($2. 10Y, but
there were warrants outstanding, on
December the first, 1898, amounting to
three hundred and thirty-seven thou
sand, six hundred and forty-nine dollars
and twenty-one cents 1887, $40. 21).
And the total amount of deficiencies for
the two years aggregates forty two
Thousand. two hundred and seventy
dollars and forty-three cents ($42.
270. 49,.
By adding together the outstanding