The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-01-06
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Continued from Second Page.

u. 20 HsNS 'SS b AAN Va A4o r AAA ~
the actual expenses 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
orbitant mileage charges; and what
have said with reference to mileage as
to the transportation of prisoners,
should also apply in the transporting
of insane to the asylum and the chill
dren to the state reform school; actual
expenses for such work should be al
lowed and no more, to be paid in each
n every instance by the county from
whence the person is transported. And
in the summoning Of jurors, witnesses.
and all other work which a sheriff is
called upon to perform, actual expenses
should be allowed.
There is no use in allowing this mile
age 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 me-
half Of the salary Of the several prose-
cutting attorneys throughout the state
shall be borne by the state, and the
other half by the counties. There is
no constitutional provision as to the
salary Of the district judges; therefore
the state has borne this latter charge,
amounting to $45, 500 annually. I rec
Ommend that you make at least one-
half Of this amount a charge upon the
counties, to be paid proportionately
where there is more than n county in
the district, according to the litigation
in such district, such legislation as is
now provided for the payment of court
stenographers. This would relieve the
stat of 1929, $50 annual charge.
Third-Under the present law our
state warrants bear interest at the rate
of 6 per cent per annum. They have
been such an inducement to investors
during the last two years that a prem
ium Of / per cent has practically been
paid for them. I earnestly recommend
that you reduce the rate Of interest Oh
state warrants to 4 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 general
fund of an annual charge of about
5000.
Fourth-The time has arrived in this
state when the legal rate of interest
upon judgments, notes and ether debts
should be materially reduced, and a
law to this effect and providing against
usurious contracts would receive my
hearty approval, and, I believe, the APP
prevail of our people generally through
out the state. The present law, as al
most all laws, looks to the interest of
the lender. The borrower needs more
protection at your hands-the lender
will protect himself.
Fifth-Two years ago the Legislative
assembly made an appropriation Of
Sc, 900 per annum, for each Of the two
years. for public printing. This has
been consumed and a deficiency of
SIS, 097.31 in that fund exists. Some
thing should be done to curtail this
cost Of public printing. Our constitu-
ton provides for the printing of the
quarterly reports made by the state
treasurer. This alone costs at least
So, 500 a year, when it is Of practically
no benefit to anyone. In the same
way, everything that is done by any
state or county officer is required to be
printed in some paper III the state or
county, and frequently in more than
m paper. This charge alone is an
onerous burden to the commonwealth,
and the law should either provide for a
reduction in the advertising and print
ing rates. or it should provide that
many of the things now required to be
published might be dispensed with in
the discretion Of the state board of ex-
aminers. 7 am satisfied that this reg
o~mmendation will not be popular with
the press Of the state, but I am i'm
PEELED to take this step by reason of
the fact that the public printing charge
is exorbitant and ont 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 expenses, l must call your attention
to the fact that Legislators too often set
the pace of exorbitant expenditures and
appropriations by their own action. I
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 in extravaganza
appropriations or unnecessary expend-
itures 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 you may
give to the state that depends to a great
degree the veal or woe of our common
wealth. The party now in the ascend
ancy in this state may strongly intrench
itself and fortify its position in the
affections Of u people BY that wise
and conservative course which will
give to the state and its citizens the
VERY hest ~lepis1atiop roec;hlo ocd The