Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1907-01-26
The LEGISLATURE
DOWN TO BUSINESS
GOVERNOR SPARKS SENDS A
STRONG MESSAGE TO
BOTH HOUSES.

the railroads to grant terminal ia
eilities TO Nevada by using their pow
er of assessment and valuation on
railroad properties, was the startling
recommendation made to the legisla-
ture by Governor Sparks in his mes
sage, which was read before both
houses Tuesday morning. The mes
sage was in many ways the most
forceful and radical ever sent by a
governor of this state. and contained
many recommendations that. if car
ried out will be of tremendous COM
mercial value to Nevada. In part he
said:
Admitting that railroads are de-
sirable and that Nevada has treated
them generously. the fact remains
that in several instances. our people
have had cause for complaint Term
lnal points should be established in
this state for the convenience of BUSH
ness, the same as prevails in all
other states of the Union. Ii is
hardly possible that you are pos
sessed OF the power to remedy this
condition, but the state has the pow
er of valuation and assessment for
taxation purposes and the railroads
have been and are now paying IN
comparison to their actual value, less
than any other class of property. We
demand terminal rates and If the
worst comes to worst, retaliatory
measures upon these lines may be
~resorted to, which will be regretable
and should be avoided by the mana
gers Of the railways by yielding to
a reasonable request"
Some of the most important
recommendations made by the COVER
MOI was that both house petition
Congress to reopen the mint at Car
son City for coinage purposes. He
said in this regard: The produe-
ton of the mines OF Nevada is now
sufficient 10 supply the bullion for
the operation Of the mint p%roftably.
and we're it reopened il would be an
incentive TO promote the erection OF
smelters and reduction works in this
state"
Another recommendation OF i'm.
pOrtance to the mining industry o.
Nevada is that a state mineralOgis
be appointed to scientifically examin'
every mine and mining claim in thi
state.
A banking and brokerage commits
sioner is recommended by the Cover
nor in his message. Although tn
need of such an officer has been fel
in this state for some time. this i
the first time that any governor ha
ever recommended the appointment
The governor recommends that tn
salaries of the appointive officers 0
the state be raised. The increase,
cost OF living. he said. makes il har,
TO get good employees for the meage
salaries offered by the state.
The governor reports that he dis
banded the state militia in May o
last year. While he would like 4
see it re-established. he SAYS. h
would not feel justified in recon
mending its establishment unit
there is more interest in the organi
zation manifested In this state.
To Eliminate Finish Fight.
Perhaps the most sensational an
unexpected portion of the entire mes
sage was the passage in which tn
Governor took a slap at the fight
ing game He referred to the fac
that Nevada is the only state in tn
Union in which finish fights are al
lowed and characterized the presen
law as worse than one which woul
authorize the establishment Of
state lottery. He said that prize
fighting brings with it a more IN
desirable element than any other 81
called sport. except bullighting. an
recommended the repeal of the pres
emit law and the substitution Of
rigid law in its stead.
Addresses Session.
In addition TO the above message
which was read t o the members {
both houses in separate session. tn
Governor addressed the houses a
sembled in joint session in the a
sembly hall. He stated at that tim
that he had not attempted 10 cove
all the subjects in his message, bJ
that he would transmit message
from time to time as the occasio
presented itself. The feature of h
speech was the reiteration that tn
Legislature take steps to have tn
mint at Carson reopened for coinag
purposes. He recommended that tn
Legislature take the matter up wit
Senators Newlands and Nixon an
Congressman Van Duzer. IL you ca
find him.