The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-01-19
GOVERNORS
MESSAGE

Of length state finances and makes
many recommendation for the legis.
iature to follow in making laws.
The governor reports the receipts
If his own office for the two years
from January II, 1905, to January 7,
1907. as s1O7, 541.44, which was turned
over to the state treasurer. In spite
Of the extraordinary expenditures for
now buildings at various state institu.
lions for the Lewis and Clark fair
and for the new department or state
highways, the governor reports that
e10 600 of the bonded Indebtedness of
q 100000 which existed when he en-
tered office has been paid of and that
total cash balance of $1,123, 223.50
was on hand in the state treasury, Jan
nary 7 of this year. In addition it is
pvnected that $4,000 of the money
annropriated by the last legislature
will be returned on March 81 as unex-
nended, $4,000 of this amount being
returned from the highway depart
ment.
The governor recommends that the
state special funds be consolidated so
that treasurer can use surplus funds
y,
mating that $4,000 a year could be
saved to the state in this manner, the
present balance on hand in the treas
ury bein nearly sufficient to wipe out
the bonded Indebtedness.
The permanent fund created by the
sale of granted lands for the benefit
of the common schools is returned at
$3,S42,S41.31.
A board of finance to handle the
funds created by the granted lands for
the various charitable, educational, re.
formatory and penal institutions,
which the governor estimates in time
may amount to $25,OOO,O00, is recon.
mended to consist of the state treas
urer state auditor and an appolnIee
of the governor.
The governor recommends change
in the system of accounting for public
funds so as to insure systematic and
effective check on every state official
who collects money. Under the pres
ent system no check Is kept. "Such
a SYSTEM" says the governor, sis
fraught with danger to the security OF
the public funds"
The governor urges the legislature
to make appropriations to pay the prin
cipal and interest on the normal school
warrants, amounting to $1O8,799.O7
given for the construction of the Bel
lngham and Cheney Normal schools
which the supreme court declared in
valid and which accordingly were not
h0nOred.
AS a cure for the present transpOr
tation evils, the governor proposes the
enactment of the reciprocal demurrage
law drawn in such manner that II
will be effective for interstate com
merce, even though the courts might
hold that it was Ineffective for inter
state business.
Advocates State Reformatory.
The message recommends a refOr
matory for the restraint and reforma
ton of offenders between the ages oil
sixteen and thirty years who have com
mitted the first offense, on the indie
terminate sentence plan and parole
system. Commenting on the increase
of crime, the governor says: 1T il
with regret that we must note a de
velopment within the state of youthful
offenders whose acts from time to
time result in the greatest crimes. This
calls for some immediate action diff
ferent from that taken against incor
rigible criminals. Children, and par
ticularly male children, during the
years of boyhood may be turned into
the right or the wrong path, according
to conditions and surroundings. TIC
take boy of this nature, however
be he mentally deficient or morally
vicious, and place him behind the bars
with hardened sinners and lifelong
iawbreakers, is step upon a plane be
meath that upon which we, as the PEG
pie OF a great and growing common
wealth, should walk"
Hardened criminals, with known rec
ords, should not be allowed their lib
erty without surveillance. They
should not be moved on" by the Local
authorities, says the governor, but
should be held in custody and given
work on the roads or other employ
ment until parolled in the custody Of
some reputable person.
The message recommends that the
legislature memorialize congress te
pass law restricting Interstate ship
ments of prison-made goods.
To shorten the time of the courts
consumed in criminal trials, the gov
ernor recommends the reduction or the
number of peremptory challenges ane
the grounds on which jurors may D<
challenged be restricted.
Favors Exposition Appropriation.
In favor of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacin
exposition, the governor recommend
that the appropriation be made a
large as the finances OF the state car
stand and that the appropriation o.
covered by q special tax levy Tor tn
years 1907. 1908 and 1909. The COVER
nor also recommends that the STATE
be properly represented at the James
town exposition. at Norfolk. Va. mex
Summer.
The governor assumes that . pr
mary election law will surely be passet
and repeats the platform recommends
ton that 1t be 30 framed az to secur'
the nomination of all United States
senators. congressman, all state, coun
ty and municipal officers, by direc
vote Of the people.
Urging the Improvement or the 20
lumbia river within the state, the gov
ernor urges On congress the neceSSie.
Of joining with Oregon and the nation
al government in removing all obstruc
tons to free navigation of the river. HI
recommends that the funds received
from the sale or lease of state tide
lands be devoted to the improvement
Of Tho h. vr,~e - %ha state