The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-04-19
MESSAGE
EXTRA SESSION OF THE NILSSON.
RI ASSEMBLY CoNvENES.
GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS new LAWS
Directs the Attention Of the Assem-
\ bly, to Six Specific
Subjects.


Jefferson City--The Forty.fourth
General Assembly convened In extra
ordinary session at noon Tuesday.
Following the reading of Gov. Folks
messags setting forth the object of the
call, both houses adjourned until Wed.
nesday.
The Governor directed the attention
of the Assembly to six subjects, name
ly:
1. The enactment Of a law giving
st. Louis, among other municipalities,
the right to regulate the rates charged
by public service corporations.
2. An amendment to the racetrack
gambling law to prohibit the telephon-
ing or t~elegraphing of bets on horse
races, with an emergency clause. A
bill without the emergency clause was
passed at the late session, but the
announced intention of the st. Louis
race track men to carry on their ope.
rations until that law shall become
effective prompts the executive to
urge immediate action at this time.
8. The passage Of a law empower
ing the Governor to direct the Attor-
ney General to institute before the Su-
preme Court proceedings again negli-
gent county officials.
A. The passage of a general appro.
priatlon bill, to take the place of the
n recently enacted which Is held to
be invalid because of legal defects. I,
s. Home rule in the conduct of the
police and election department of st.
Louis, Kansas City, and st. Joseph.
6. An act creating the office OF
State Excise Commissioner, with pow
er Of review vested in the Circuit
Courts. Existing law relates only to
st. Louis.
The Governors Message.
The following is a partial text Of
Gov. Folks message:
"The Forty-fourth General Assembly
OF Missouri, In regular session, accom-
plished much for the people of the
State. The members Of this assembly
are entitled to praise for what they
have enacted, but the work Is not yet
finished. There Is more to be done.
Believing II special measures of grave
Importance to the people are ever
to be made laws, they will be by this
assembly when they are considered
apart from the multitude Of duties and
distractions incident to a general ses-
sion. I have called you together in
special session. 1t is you province to
legislate, and I would not If I could
interfere with your ~prerogative in that
respect. 1t Is my duty, however, to
submit and urge upon you my views
on public questions, for you to adopt
or not, as In your conscience you may
deem best for the people. I am an
swerable to the people for my recon-
mendations. You are answerable to
the people for your legislation.
Local Enforcement.
"The subject of this session have to
do with government and with the en-
forcement Of the laws, which Is the
main purpose Of government among a
free people. Under our form of gov.
eminent the State is sovereign as to
all matters except those delegated to
the national Government. The right
Of the State to self-government should
be z~ealously guarded from encroach.
ments Of the Federal Government be.
yond the powers expressly delegated
to 1t by the states.
What State Could Do.
What is self-Sovernment? Is it
that law.breakers in localities who
openly are permitted to defy the laws
of the State should not be interferred
with by the State? This is local null.
LITIGATION; it is not self-government,
The right Of local self-government is,
the right of a locality to enforce the
State laws through its local officials.
But when these officials cannot OF
will not enforce the laws there is nc
longer local self-government. II high
way robbers and marauders were per
mitted to operate at will in any coun'
ty without interference 1t could moi
be said that the people OF the county
have local self-government, for they
in the case mentioned would have nc
government at all. II the State au'
thorities should step in and uphold
the majesty of the law in that coun
ty 1t would not be interfering with
local self-government there, but rath
er would be, restoring local self-gov