Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-01-09
Governor saries,

WIZ Has possession OF the IdcIS anu
figures has given You the financial
standing Of the stategand the condition?
of our different state institutions.
The people of the state are justly
proud Of these institutions, and it will
be your duty, as the representatives
of the people. to appropriate such
sums Of money as will properly main.
tain them, and such further sums as
may be necessary for repair and Inn
proyement, consistent with the fin
ancial condition of the state
Reapportionment
The constitution provides that the
senate shall be composed on not less
than thirty nor more than fifty mem
bers, and the house Of Representatives
of not less than sixty nor more than
one hundred and forty members. AT,
the time of the last pportionment our
population was largely in the eastern
part Of the state, since which time
the central and western parts of the
state have increased in population, SO
as to be almost without representation
lin the legislative assembly, when com.
pared with the legislative districts in
the eastern parts Of the state, while
at the same time, we have almost
reached the constitutional limitation
For comparison call your attention
to the county of Cass, with three
legislative districts, represented by
three senators and nine representa-
tives, while the counties of Ward and
Williams, in one legislative district,
represented by one senator and three
representatives. The county OF Ward
is the most populous county in the
state and Williams county, one Of the
largest in the state, is almost as thick
" populated as Ward, in proportion to
Its size, and yet, the two counties have
only one-third representation in the
legislative assembly that Cass has ]
mention these counties only for com.
parison. The same is largely true Of
all the eastern districts as compared
with the western districts. From
this condition it must appear to- you
that, in order to have a fair represen.
tation from each part of the state, to
the end that no part may have an adj.
vantage over any other part of the
state, this legislative assembly should
lat this session re-district the state and
5apportion the senators and representa-.
tives so as to give to all parts Of the
state representation as nearly equal
as possible. In view of the constitu
tional limitation before referred to
and the wonderful increase and
growth of populations Of the state and
Z its still greater possibilities, I recon.
mend that the representatio be equal.
lied by cutting down the representa-.
ton in the eastern part of the state,
or whenever it may be necessary; and
by increasing the representation In
the western part Of the state. It is
only a question OF time when the
growth III population of the state will
make this necessary and it might ais
well be done at this time and save
the expense to the state of increased
representation in the legislature. It
will require a sacrifice on the part or
the members of the eastern districts;
some OF them will necessarily lose
their seats In future sessions, but ]
feel that you are all unselish and
patriotic enough to do that which lie
best for the entire state.
Public Printing.
am informed that, since the pas.
sage Of chapter 125 Of the laws Of
1899, the same being section 1882 OF
the Revised Codes Of 1906, the county
printing has cost 40 per cent more
than before the passage of such law
This you should inquire into and. If
found to be true, the law should be
repealed, or you should enact law
fixing a maximum rate for public
printing fair and Just compensation
for the services rendered, and no.
more.
Anti.Pass LegisIation.
The congress Of the United States
recently passed law known as the:
Rate Bill" for the purpose OF regu-
lating the commerce between states:
This law, as you know, does not app
ply to your local conditions, for con-
sgress only has the power to regulate
commerce between the states. the;
power to regulated local traffic being
reserved to the states. In this Rate,
Bill. there Isl 4 provision that rail-
road company shall not give free
transportation or passes to anyone
except persons In the actual employ
OF the railroad company. The wisesf9
and best statecmen that We have must