, 1907-01-09
THE MESSAGE or GOVERNOR BROOKS 10

the state as shown by either the ma
tional or state census, care should he
exercised TO make the law Just and
fair 10 every county in the state with.
out materially increasing the size Of
our legislative body
Railroad Taxation.
TWO years ago in my message to the
legislature, | called attention to the
tact that the mileage valuations placed
upon railroad property in this stare
Tor taxation purposes have remained
practically unchanged for n number
of years. II is generally believed
among II people that railroads do
not pay their Just proportion of taxes.
In order To bring this subject fairly
before h Legislature, | some time ago
requested the Attorney General to in
vestigate the matter thoroughly, par.
tcularly in regard TO the taxes levied
In surrounding states, and submit a
report to my Office uDon the subject.
From that report, for purposes of
comparison, / briefly call your atten-
ton TO the following facts: In Idaho
in 1906. the Oregon Short Line rail
road, east and west, was assessed at
$4,000 per mile as against $4,000 per
mile in Wyoming. In Utah, the Union
Pacific was assessed at SIi, 1000 per
mile and $4,000 in Wyoming. In Col.
orado the Cheyenne division of the
Union Pacific railroad was assessed
at $li 600 per mile as with
$4,000 per mile in Wyoming.
In Nebraska the Union Pacific was
assessed at $l1, 900 per mile, and $4,000
in Wyoming; the Burlington at $1,000
| nor milo an1 81 nm l., XNT....s- -
South Dakota, the Burlington line
from the Nebraska state line to the
Wyoming state line was assed at So.
969 per mile and in Wyoming at 81, 100
per mile. while the Black Hills divis-
ion of the Northwestern railway in
South Dakota was valued at S4,Sl2 per
mile for taxation purposes, and $3,7O0
in Wyoming. In Montana the valua-
tons are much higher than ours.
For the year 1904, the average tax
collected per mile on railroads in the
state of wyoming was $1G3. This
compared with the amount collected
per mile OF railroads in adjoining
states shows the amount collected in
Wyoming in that yea to have been:
$62.44 per mile higher than South
Dakota.
s44.G9 per mile lower than Montana.
$3.50 per mile lower than Utah.
s57.S9 per mile lower than Nebraska.
S71.G2 per mile lower than Idaho.
$125.G6 per mile lower than Color
ado.
| have called your attention to the
facts. 1t is for this legislation to deter
mine what steps are necessary in o.
der to equalize the burdens of tax
alton.
Primary Election Laws.
With every advance in thought and
morals, the spirit of our people moves
toward better government and better
laws, and in this hour, when the awak-
ened national conscience calls for high
er ideals. our legislation should keep
pace with the pest thought of the time.
Some Improvement in our electoral
system seems necessary. Perhaps the
time has arrived for the adjustment
of the old-fashioned primary and on
~vention. and the substitution of a new
plan, which has already been adopted
in many of the states, and which in
practice has proved quite successful.
The primary election law, as enacted
in other states. provides that at a stat
ed period fixed by law, before the hold
ing of a general election, a primary
election is to be called. Notice of this
primary election is given by publica-
ton in the newspapers, and all candi-
dates, who desire to have their names
placed upon the primary ballot, are
required to file a statement in writing
with the proper authorities. Usually
a fee is charged for filing. which in
.A,o .ntA- t. Exnl ~ - ,,n.anpt,pa
of the total emolument of the office.
All parties entitled to representation
on the ballot at the regular election
are required TO present their candi-
dates for nomination, so that they may
be included and balloted uDon at the
primary election. Official lists are kept
of persons, who vote at primary cleo
tons, and grouped according to party
affiliations. which lists are carefully
preserved. These primary election
laws usually include a severe penalty
for their violation. Likewise a severe
penalty is prescribed for any attempt
to bride electors, or to use money or
other valuable consideration in any
manner, which will influence the vote
of electors. either at the primary cleo.
ton or other general election. There
is a growing sentiment in favor of a
wider range of independence, and
greater exercise of individual thought
and action in the choice of public Of
icers, and from present indications,
it would seem that the adoption of a
primary election law in all the states
is only a question of time.
Bureau Of Publicity.
A bureau of immigration and pub.
licity is maintained, at public expense,
by most of the western states with
very satisfactory results. The state
of Wyoming, owing TO its limited facili-
ties of transportation, has not been
able to attract as large a population
as might have been brought in under
other circumstances. Numerous rec.
lamation and dry farming projects are
now under way, which will supply
homes for people sufficient to double
the population Of the state within the
next few years, and 1t is quite impor'
tant that great care be exercised in
the selection of this new citizenship.
It is believed that a very desirable
class of settlers a be secured from
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