The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-09
MESSAGE OF
Gov. T0OLE
go
RECOMMENDS CHANGES IN
STATE LAWS.
SOME OF THINGS He EAv0Rs
Election of Senators by the People
A Railroad Commission
Woman Suffrage.

Helena, Jan. 6.-At 1915 o'clock to-
day the members of both branches of
the legislature met in the house cham
Der to listen to the reading Of the
governors message. The galleries
! were crowded with visitors, who lis
tined attentively to the reading.
The senate met at 1880, all mem
bers being present except Senator
Murray Of Beaverhead, who is i'll with
a threatened attack of typhoid fever.
The first hour vas given over to
the reading of the minutes Of the
preceding days session, and was fol
lowed by the presentation of contest
papers in the cases of Hotter VS..
Whipple, the Broadwater member,
and. Lane VS.. Hopkins of Rosebud
county, which were communicated BY
Secretary of State Hays. The con-
tests we're placed on file to await
future action.
A recess was then taken to meet
the house in joint session to hear the
governors message.
In the house, which met at noon,
the proceedings of the opening ses-
sion were read Immediately, after
which Allen, Mullins and Bever were
appointed to wait on the senate and
invite it's members to join the house
in joint session.
The members of the upper body
were escorted to the house by the
committee, Speaker White yielding
the chair to Lieutenant Governor Hig-
gins, who presided over the Joint ses.
sion and introduced Governor Toole.
The reading Of the message began
at 1925 and continued for one and
l.one-half hours.
Governor Toole read in a clear,
strong voice, emphasizing his words
at times to lay stress upon his recon-
mendations. His reference to- lobby
lists was met with whispered words
of applause.
Here are the chief recommends.
lions carried in the message:
An appropriation of $4,000 for the
Louisiana Purchase exposition at st.
Louis.
An appropriation of $4,000 for the
Lewis and Clarke Centennial eXposi-
ton at Portland, Ore, in 1905.
That the secretary Of state be au-
thorized to sell at auction the OLD
furniture used in the state offices be
fore the completion of the new CAPT
toll.
That balance of payments on lands
fpurchased from the state be made IN
IA annual i~nstallments instead OF
seven. .4 r.
That the law in relation to the i'll
vestment of public moneys in munlcl-
pal securities be amended so as to
put the power to purchase entirely
in the hands of the board of land com
m~issioners. E e
A revision of the system of fixing
salaries of county officers under coun-
ty classification.
The repeal of the act providing for
the apointment of real estate apprais-
ers for the purpose of assessment in
counties having a valuation of $S,OoO,-
coo or more.
The repeal OF the act providing Tor
a second district judge for Lewis and
Clarke county. ."~ ~.
That the matter of providing separ-
ate elections for judicial offices be
earnestly considered"
That the secretary of state be en-
powered to. transfer' state clerks from
one department to another as needed.
A constitutional amendment giving
the state board of equalization
plenary power to secure uniform as
sessment. s
That bills for editing a former edi-
ton of the report Of the state bureau
of agriculture, labor and industry be
paid by appropriation.
That the allowance for travelling eX-
penses of the state examiner be in
creased.
That an appropriation Of about $500
be made for the transportation OF in
firm pardoned conyicts to their homes
or friends.
That the law in relation to the col
lection of personal property taxes be
amended to permit the treasurer to
enforce payment before the taxes be-
come delinquent. =