The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-01-14
GOV, mead NAUGURATED.
Message to Legislature Recommends
Railway and Tax Commission
Laws-Other Recon-
mendations.

than this he does not commit himself
as to whether any of the leading as
pirants or some great unknown would
be the best man.
He urges the legisla tors not to work
overtime making new laws. because
there is common cry that there are
already too many laws On the statute
books. He would haze them strength
en- existing laws rather than plunge
into new and untried fields.
In order to enact laws that will
stand the test of the courts, he urges
legislation similar to that in other
states, whereby pills pending are sub
mitted to the supreme court to have
their legality passed upon before final
ly enacted.
On account of the superabundance
of work in the supreme court he sug-
gests increasing the mem bership from
five to seven mem ers.
Drastic changes in the criminal code
to expedite trial and appeal are urged.
While not advocating radical
change in the divorce system, the gov
ernor recommends that certain provi-
sions be strengthened and given life
and vigor by amendment. In regard
to divorce, he says:
"Fewer applicants for divorce de.
crees would appear in our courts if
this body enacted law making it
felony or misdemeanor for parent to
desert his child, or for a husband to
voluntarily desert or abandon his wife
unless some reasonable ground exists
therefor. The one hundred and fifty
or more children committed to the
state reform school are there largely
by reason of the domestic difficulties
of their parents, who no longer contin-
ne the marriage relation, or who have
been separated by the decree Of divorce
and one or the other having remar-
ried."
Gov. Mead is an advocate OF juve-
nile courts. He says: 81 am of the
opinion that the creation of juvenile
courts in the cities of the first class in
the state would be beneficial to the
commonwealth and would tend to ele-
vate our future citizenship"
The readjustment of the probate
laws OF this state is recommended.
Tax Commission Wanted.
"Many Demands" says Gov. Mead,
twill be made upon you during the
session for the enactment of measures
which will tend to materially increase
the state appropriations for the ensu-
i,g year. Those so interested in the
increased appropriations will not man.
ifest the same zeal in promoting legis-
lation 10y which the exchequer of the
state may be replenished and the in
creased appropriations met"
The governor then recommends the
enactment of law esta 5lishing state
tax commission, and in the discussion
Of taxes and taxation, he says:
IAN intelligent tax commission,
the creation of which l recommend to
you in another portion of this message,
has broad field of labor in determin.
ing what tax shall be borne by those
valuable but intangible forms of prop
erty, hitherto untaxed, in the class of
franchises.
I'm the meantime I see no impropri-
ETY. in this legislature proceeding to
levy tax on the gross earnings of ex-
press companies, street car companies
and sleeping car companies doing bust
ness in this state, to the end that these
holdings contribute their proportion to
the maintenance Of the state govern
ment."
State Bank inspection.
Gov. Mead urges the establishing of
a state bank inspection system where
by the deposits in the different banks
Of the state will be safeguarded by
the custodians and paid on demand"
He recommends the earnest and
careful consideration of the report of
the irrigation commission appointed
by his predecessor, and says:
II urge upon you the necessity of
devoting much Of your time to this
subject for, as the president has stated,
in it you are dealing with new and
momentous question, in the pregnant
years while institutions are forming
What you do will affect not only the
present but future generations.
Gov. Mead is of the opinion that
the state should join the national gov
eminent in making harbor improve
ments.
In regard to road legislation he is
opposed to the repeal of the present
road laws if it means the return to the
old supervisor system.
In other sections Of the message he
urges careful consideration of legisla-
ton tending to foster and encourage
fisheries, mines and mining, and the
lumber and shingle industries, but
makes no specific recommendations.
He urges liberal appropriation for
the Lewis and Clark exposition, COM
mends the national guard and asks
that it be dealt with literally and the
state institutions in like manner.
In closing he hands out hot roast
to the professional lobbyist, in the
course of which he says.