The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-09
SARLES' MESSAGE
(Contlnurd from paEe ~

state are such as to invite close
scrutiny at least. A sheriff's bill. In
one case alone, was recently presen-
ted. amounting to $500. Hettinger
county, with an estimated population
of 1000 to 5000. of whom 1900 are Of
school age. desire organization and
should have 1t. They unsuccessfully
attempted to organize, through inter-
ference from Stark county, so am in
formed. and they desire this legisla-
ture to pass law compelling organi-
cation similar to the law passed Mt the
last session organizing Mckenzie
county. hope you will give this your
sincere consideration. During this AL
ministration the state has allowed
about $4,000, bills rendered in UNI
organized territory.
Militia.
Under the act of January 81, 1903,
and subsequent amendments the Ma
tional Guard of this state receives an
nual from the general government
$15,95S.16, and in addition to this re-
ceived an appropriation Of $4,000 for
the transportation Of the troops of the
National Guard of this state to Camp
lslay, Wyoming, where the organized
militia of our state We're associated In
filed maneuvers with the different
arms Of the service in the regular
army, and the report from the war de-
lartment shows that the National
Guard of this state acquitted them
selves with honor and credit to the
state, the chief umpire reporting that
at least 80 per cent. of our forces
would be Immediately available for ac-
tive service on the same footing with
the regular army.
No state can maintain National
Guard without an armory for each
company. There are only two COM
panies in the state that have armor-
les. Nor will the war department con-
tinue their generous appropriations
unless necessary steps are taken to
secure armories for the National
Guard of this state. The present sys-
tenn of renting small and insufficient
buildings for armories at rental of
$500 per annum results not only in
AAOhSAoA 1853 " CAO oCISCS OuL SuO
arms and equipments, property of the
general government issued to the
state. are rapidly deteriorating, and In
some cases ruined, on account of the
lack of armory facilities.
The standard of the National Guard
of the states required by the act Of
January p, 1908, commonly known as
the Dick bill, is much higher, and five
years from the passage of the bill, or
January 81, 1908, the guard will be
subjected to final and rigid examine
ton by officers of the regular army
with a view to ascertain whether they
have attained the approximate stan
dard to the regular army determined
by the war department.
All possible means have been en-
ployed during my administration to the
betterment of the National Guard of
this state that they might successful
ly pass this final examination, and l
am glad to say with a marked degree
of success.
This state cannot afford to lose the
appropriations from the general gov
eminent, which in all probability will
be increased in the future in proper
ton to the efficiency Of the guards.
The military encampment grounds
consisting of about 1000 acres on the
north shore of Devils Lake. reached
now by two railroads, donated to the
state by the federal government, con-
stitutes magnificent place for en-
campment and field maneuvers of
troops, with large area of vacant
land on the south shore of the lake
connected with these grounds by
solid bridge, would furnish an ideal
place for a provisional camp Of field
instruction for the regular army. The
state has failed to appropriate any
money to improve these grounds,
which is an implied part on their duty
when they accepted same. I would
recommend that a liberal appropria-
ton be made to this end.
State Board of Control.
feel satisfied the state board of
control system, including our penal
and charitable institutions would be
valuable to this state in various ways.
We have about 1000 persons now in
our charge and keeping, viz. about 500
at the jamestown asylum, $50 at the
Bismarck penitentiary, IS at the re-
form school, 1875 at the Predetermined
institute at Grafton, and should the
Deaf and Dumb Institute at Devils
Lake be included, and in my opinion,
it certainly should be, IS more, be-
sides those who will be in the blind
asylum now in the course of construc-
ton. Wisconsin has had board Of
control for 16 years and Governor
LaFollette told me it had saved their
state hundreds of thousands of dol
lars. Under our present system there
is, in my opinion, entirely too much
buying at local retail prices and too
great a tendency to local iictation OF
management. am fully satisfied a
competent board of control, giving, as
in Wisconsin, all their time to their
duties, would be an absolute benefit
to our state and it's penal and charita-
BILE institutions and also a board of
regents for our educational institu-
tons would be a decided improvement
over our present system.
Uniform Marriage and Divorce Laws.
Through a national association it
has been recommended that the vari-
GUS states adopt uniform laws govern
ing marriage and divorce. This rec
ommendation is worthy of your seri-