The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
The message Of Governor Cutler. read
before the joint assembly yesterday
afternoon, lacks a good deal of being
an impressive document. o. The execu-
tive uses up, about 5000 words and
says mighty little. Two of the most
widely discussed questions before the
people Of the state the consolidation of
the Agricultural college with the Uni
vcrsity Of Utah. and the railroad COM
mission, he straddles. That is to say,
he does rot take a decided stand on
either Of them.
The legislation suggested by Govern
or Cutler is comparatively unimport-
ant. He proposes to limit the speed Of
automobiles. to prohibit Sunday the
atrical performances, a marriage and
divorce commission, an increase in the
salary OF the adjutant general, 10 pro-
hibit the marriage of first cousins, to
substitute "bigamy'' for "polygdmy''
IN the prohibitory statute. a strength
ening Of the libel laws. penalties for en-
gaging in fraudulent mining operations.
n state veterinary surgeon and other
suggestions.
The nearest the governor comes to
taking stand on the consolidation
question is the expression of his strong
opinion that you. gentlemen, even If you
go no further, should provide for the
placing Of the two institutions under
one board. with the proviso that one
sum be asked for both schools" The
only possible inference from this is
that the governor is I'm favor of consoI-
idation. but if he really does favor it
he should have said so plainly. He Ger
tainly has had time and information
enough on the subject.
Governor Cutler is much more vague
in his discussion of the railway COM
mission. He says there are many ar
guments I'm favor Of a commission. but
whether or not the time for il is oppOr-
tune. when so many railroads are ask
ing FOR admittance to the state. is for
you to determine" The executive then
sets himself up as n constitutional
lawyer by asserting that the leg:sla-
ture positively has the power to estab-
lish a commission, a theory that some
supposedly well known lawyers do not
agree with. But he does not say posi-
lively whether or not he thinks a COM
mission should be created.
The governor makes n special point
part we have not heard Of any crying
demand for the Strengthening he pro-
poses Under the existing laws, If any
newspaper or other publication OF gem
eral circulation publishes. maliciously.
a false statement abouI a citizen with
intent to injure him. the citizen has
abundant recourse. He can sue the
publication Tor damages and, If he can
make out a case. ne can collect them.
But the executive sets forth that
many publications are financially ire
epcnsible. In that case there is moth
ing 10 prevent an action for criminal
libel. The Herald believes in the pro-
lection OF the citizen from misrepre-
sentation just as strongly as IT believes
IL the freedom of the press. We do not
believe. however. in the passage of laws
calculated to encourage tuppenny law
yers and small-bore politicians to file
libel suits for advertising purposes.
80
A reasonable limit 10 the speed of
automobiles would be we'll enough.
This. however. is a matter on which the
legislature should make haste slowly.
In the automobiles present state OF de-
yelopment it is much more easily con-
trolled. when running at what seems
to be a high rate of speed, than the
average hor5e-drawn vehicle Searching
on the highways should not be permit
ted but a fair maximum speed should
unquestionably be permitted. The own
ers of automobiles VIII themselves, we
believe. be in favor OF q just law ON
this subject
on many Of the governors recon-
mendations there will be little di1pute.
The prohibition OF Sunday theatrical
performances is q wise suggestion.
Also marriages OF first cousins should