Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-03
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

HIS oXcellenCy, IONeIIlOT INOpell d.
Smith, submitted his biennial message
to the Sixth legislative assembly today
and it was read for the edification of that
body. In his issue of the Inter Noun
tain will be found the larger part of that
interesting document, lack of space COM
polling us to omit the less important
portions. The message is of unusual
length, comparing favorably in that re-
spect with those issued from the grey
matter in the White house. Few ques-
lions of general Importance to the COM
monwealth, coming within the purview
of the legislature, are overlooked. The
governor has aimed at ~thoroughness and
in it's entirety the message is an able
state paper.
His review of the financial condition of
the state is interesting, taken in con-
nection with his statements as to the dis
bursement of the public funds. In refer
ring to past obligations, however, that
had to be met from current funds, his
ex%cellency, Internationally perhaps, con-
veys the idea of previous extravaganza
in the management Of state affairs. This
is due to his failure to explain the nature
of those obligations-to indicate that the
support of state institutions in their
formative period, in the trying times of
decreased revenues following the panic,
made necessary a draft on the future.
In no other way could some of the state
institutions have been maintained.
The governor is also tempted into at
tributing to the legislation of two years
ago a comparatively large proportion of
the general prosperity which the state of
Montana enjoys. He evidently overlooks
the important fact that if the conditions
of poverty that prevailed under the ad-
ministration of Grover Cleveland still
existed, no amount of legislation would
appreciably enlarge the revenues of the
state. Better national conditions have
brought to Montana a new era of pros
perity, n the ability of the state to col
lect it's revenues has been correspond
ingly increased.
In discussing ways and means to still
further increase the revenues of the state.
his excellency makes some very pertinent
suggestions. Among other
tons he advocates amending the laws
relative to the Incorporation of COM
panies and the increasing Of their capital
stock. Under the present law the pay
ment of S. will enable a to in
crease it's capital stock to any amount
desired, after the first pro rata fees have
been paid to the secretary of state. The
governor could have strengthened his ar
currents along his line by citing several
SNDS' "ASA AlSh III pOSllIOIlS
have evaded the spirit of his law-cases
that fully justify his excellency in recon-
mending prompt action on the part Of
the legislative assembly.
The way the governor gets after the
banks and express companies would
seem to indicate that when he was re-
baptized into the democratic faith a lit
tie populistic virus was inadvertently left
in his veins. Another evidence Of over
sight on the part of the regenerating in
fuences that worked him over, is brought
out in his recommendation that the legis-
lature memorialize congress to provide
for a system of electing United States
senators by direct vote of the people.
This endorsement of the platform de-
claration of the silver republicans of
Montana, leads up to the fear Nat his
excellency has within the deep recesses
of his political cuticle the germs of an
other flop.