, 1907-01-09

Superintendent of Public instruction.
The Biennial reports OF the superin-
tendent of public instruction for the
years l%903-19O4. and the years 1906.
1906. are IN file in my office. These
reports show the condition and prog
ress of our public schools and receipta
and Disbursements of state, county
and district school funds, together
with interesting and instructive state,
ments and statistics.
The Biennial report covering the
last two years Is peculiarly instructive
and important, containing as It does,
not only the exhaustive report of the
state superintendent covering past.
present and future educational condi.
tons. and aided by his long eXper
fence in that Office embodying many
s"easonable recommendations, but also
embracing splendid reports from
every county school superintendent in
the state, except Big Horn. The re.
port of he state board of examiners,
with recommendations, and the re.
port of The president Of the Uniyersi-
ty are also included. Our public
schools are certainly improving rapid.
ly. Many fine school buildings have
been erected, and we cXpend annually
over n half a million In conducting
our schools. Last year we paid S2S3,.
3i5.95 To teachers, expended SlS,.
OOS.2l or repairs to school buildings,
and S2G,229.33 on new construction.
1871 pupils We're enrolled, and 500
teachers toiled in our school rooms.
The statute relative to COmpulSOrJ
education should certainly be amend
ed, and enforced. Last year., according
to the census we had 1908 school
children from seven to sixteen years
old, and 1.972 Of them did not attend
school three months in the year.
;, In some districts trees and flowers
have been planted, fences built and
school grounds improved and beauti
lied. Education is so vitality import
ant, particularly in "A new state, that
+ IT is very gratifying to find so many
> things to commend in our educational
conditions.
| Courts of Wyoming.
5 The total state expenditures of the
four district courts of Wyoming, for the
. two years ending September 80, 1906
5 amounted to s36,725.0l. and the total
expenditures of the Supreme court OF
Wyoming for the same period
amounted to $25,927.12. Our peopIe
are justly proud of our courts and the
protection given to life and property
in Wyoming. Wise laws impartially
enforced are a great boon to any peo
pie, and aid materially in the develop
ment of any country. Judicial dis
tricts were provided for in the con
stitution, which says: THE legisIa
ture may from time TO time increase
the number of said judicial districts
and judges thereof, but such increased
or change in the boundaries of the
district shall not work the removal of
any judge from his office during the
term which he may nave been elected
{ or appointed; provided the number o,
, districts and district judges shall moi
exceed -four, until the taxable yalua
tlon OF property in he state shall eX
coed one hundred million dollars"
AS the present valuation of proper
ty in the state is only about half the
above amount, it will be some time
before we have any increase in the
number of our judicial districts.
AT present three out of the four dis.
trict judges reside in the southern
part of the state. and the arrange.
ment of the present districts is
neither satisfactory, convenient OF
Just. By the extension of the North,
western railroad west to Lander. the
three central counties of Wyoming are
brought into close relationship and
should comprise a judicial district
having n resident. judge. This would
bring about a quicker and better en-.
forcement of the law and reduce tax.
alton.
| would therefore recommend that
the districts be changed so as to in.
clude Laramie and Albany counties in
one, II Converse, Natrona and Free.
mont counties in the other.
State Examiner.
The annual report of the state ey.
aminer for 1905 and 1906 contain
tabulated statements, which will be
printed and included as a part of this
message, thereby giving the members
OF the legislature an opportunity to in
form themselves touching fiscal af
fairs, both in state and county gov,
ernments. These reports contain the
examiners comments upon matters
essential to the progress and develop
ment of the state. The subjects of
taxation, taxation of gross production
OF mines, inheritance tax, state banks.
repositories for public funds, game Ii.
censes and the state examiners of.
lice are discussed with great ability.
and the information given will be
found valuable in framing legislation
J upon these matters. The work of the
state examiners Office has increased
tremendously during the past few
years. This work is so important ia
, the state that provision should be
, made for two deputies at fair salaries
and the employment of a competent
! stenographer constantly. The office
is practically self-sustaIning in the
amount of addition valuations annual.
ly gathered up throughout the state.
Last year Wyoming secured an award
OF $4,000, as The state having the
best general provisions regarding the
administration of the state eXami
ners office; and during the ensuing
year plans will be outlined, whereby
disposition of this fund can be made
in conformity with the wishes of the
philanthropist, who has paid us, as a
people and as a state, a compliment
which we should appreciate.
Attorney General.