Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

The message Of Governor Heber VI.
Wells TO the Legislature Of Utah at it
Fourth regular session. is published IN
fun in the News today The length
Of the address forbids q FUN review OF
It's suggestions and recommendations.
Il should be carefully considered by the
legislature and pondered upon by the
thinking people Of Utah. We believe the
Governor has given the various interests
Of the State honest patient and patriot
lc attention. with a view 10 the benefit
ana advancement Of an lbs people and
Cos Institutions
We are pleased 10 note that he favors
the movement for the election Of United
states Senators by a direct vote Of the
citizens OF the country Also that he
announces there can be no Increase In
the State rate Of taxation, although the
demands upon the treasury are likely
TO be IN excess Of the probable revenue.
But be advises greater diligence In the
assessment Of property that manages to
hide itself from View and juster as
easement OF other kinds that escape fair
taxation other reforms are recom-
mended which will help to relieve the
State financial situation,
Much space is occupied in a presenta-
ton OF the State lands question, which
IL justIhable perhaps by the importance
Of the subject and the necessity Of some
changes IN the land laws. Education
Is rightly given a prominent place In
the message, ana the suggestions about
the consolidation Of school districts IN
the various counties is worthy the close
attention Of cur legislators. The need OF
better facilities FOR obtaining statistical
Information Is set forth polntedly and
calls Tor action. Irrigation too, Is
subject which demands further consld.
Grafton, and changes are required In
the statutes now In force which are in
some instances, behind the require.
ments OF the present, and not up TO the |
standpoint Of the latest methods
on the question OF the public health,
the Governor makes some good sug-
gestions, but In our opinion fails to /
meet the most important issue before
the legislature In that connection He
gives It as his opinion that the State
board Of health has In no manner
transcribed It's bounds" That may be
literally true. For It IL popularity un-
derstood that 1t has not performed its
duties and filed It's bounds Nobody
knows whether the State board holds
the meetings peremptorily required by
law An that is known is that one
member Of the board. who Is ms eecre-
tary and executive officer, acts Tor the
entire machine and is popularity regard
cd as IT, He issues orders which he |
assumes have the quality ard authority |
OF Flaw" and that without action by the
state board. and with the expectation /
that what he does VIII afterwards be |
ratified when the board chooses 10 |
hold a meeting The Governor bases !
hts endorsement OF the State boards /
course on the decision OF the Supreme |
Court OF the State. But Il he win take |
the trouble 10 read that decision he will !
lind no reference in It whatever TO the |
state board or its secretary.
Tho law requires a number Of duties
Of the State board. besides It's meetings
at least four lines year the discharge |
OF which is not known 20 the public. |
and does not appear from any report |
that has been published II the Cover
nor has received an official report OF |
It's acts and doings. as required by Sec
lion 1899 Of the Revised Statutes, the
public would like 20 know something |
about it, He makes no mention Of IL |
IN his message endorsing that board
The public would like to know why /
The lectures on Sanitary Science" |
Hygiene and Nursing" which the |
secretary, who appears TO be the board.
81 required by law Csec. ll0D TO have |
delivered in this city by competent per-
sons every year. have not been heard. /
The Legislature may demand q fun re-.
port of the Stale board and its work, |
and this should be required without
delay II the State board Is OF any |
earthly use. nobody but the Governor
appears 10 De aware Of &c. Perhaps it /
the public can learn of anything Il has |
done, a different opinion may be |
reached.
What ought 10 have been recon- |
mended is an entire revision Of the |
laws on health boards. which are now |
IN such a condition that doubt Is cast |
on the powers OF those bodies II is
only by implication. and that OF the
most doubtful quality that yaccina- |
ton may be enforced by any health /
board or officer II Is being thrust up /
on thousands Of unwilling victims, 90 /
the great Indignation OF many OF the /
most intelligent people Of the state. /
And while Il is true that the majority /
OF regular medical men In This State, |
and the same may be said ot other |
states insist on vaccination and lbs /
efficiency there are few who will /
openly advocate It's oompulslon. end !
that IS what Is now being accom- /
plished by indIrecuon and Is vented
by direct legislation, by some Of the
medical fraternity
As 10 the merits or dement's Of The
practice we desire to say nothing now.
Argument, opinion and advice are to- !