Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1921-01-05

legislature at the session next. loiio"-
in the federal census.
The present membership OF the mouse
of representatives is too large for eff
cient work and should be materially re-
duced in number.
Oregon with population nearly
double our own limits the membership
of its senate to thirty and the mouse
to sixty.
The last session of the Oregon legisla-
ture cost $4,000, Montana's Sl6o-uoO.
Congressional Districts
AT the recent election there were
cast for congressman in the First con-
gressional district. 59,417 votes, in the
second district 105,6S0 votes.
There should be sufficient NUMBER
Of counties detached from the Second
district and attached to the First DIS
trict to adjust this great discrepancy.
Humane and Probation OFFICERS.
There are many officials in the state
with overlapping Jurisdictions ana whose
duties are duplicated. =,
This is particularly the case with the
probation officers, deputy humane OIL
GERS, the parole commissioner. the OH
Gals of the state board of health and IN
an unofficial way by the salaried agents
of the Montana Children's Home SO
ciety. ;,
Surely here is a needless expend-
ture of many thousands OF dollars eacl
year in the way of salaries and travei
expenditures that should be immediate
~ rectified by you.
Prohibition.
The 18th amendment or the federal
constitution is an accomplished fact.
Prohibition of the sale of Intoxicating
liquors is now written into the consul
tuition of both state and nation lie is
now the duty of all law abiding citizens
of the state, to obey that law. AS gov.
ernor of the state, | shall, to the pest
of nv ability, endeavor to enforce that
law. in exactly the same manner that
shall endeavor to enforce all other laws.
AS members of the legislative branch
of government it becomes your duty, py
appropriate legislation, to reinforce the
nresent statutes enacted for its enforce
ment in every sane way that the ex-
perience of the past three years seems
to justify. ee.
I believe that most of the peace Off
GERS in the various counties have in good
faith attempted to enforce 1t. In some
localities they have not.
Tt is common rumor that bootleg
ging" is being carried on in many sec
tions. 1t is my judgment that a state
enforcement officer backed up by
modest appropriation, working in con
junction with the federal officials that
are already detailed for similar service
in Montana will be of real value IN the
suppression of the illegal traffic. In
this connection, it is of interest to note
that the recent report of the warden of
the nenitentiary shows that the number
Of prisoners in that institution decreas-
ed. during the past three years, from
sos to 40.
While | have no complete fluctuations
for the state entire. L am SATISFIED that
the number of prisoners in the Jalls OF
the state have decreased, under prohlbl-
ton, more than one-half.
A State Sheriff.
The preservation of law and order is
the first duty of all government. Unless
the lawful authorities have power TO
enforce the law government ceases to
function and mob rule and violence are
instituted in its stead.
The national government enforces its
DEGREES through its United States mar
shals and in case of wide spread disor-
der. riot or rebellion through its mill
tary arm.
The courts enforce their DEGREES by
means Of the sheriffs.
State governments through the local
peace officers, if possible and otherwise
through the state militia.
Experience has proven that the latter
method is slow, cumbersome and ex-
pensive. In addition. Montana has no
state militia.
At this time, the state executive has
no means of suppressing serious disor-
ders or riots that may at any time arise
in this state, except by an appeal to
the federal government for regular
troops.
1T Invites Trouble.
Such an anomalous condition OF af
fairs should not be permitted to exist.
It invites trouble at any time and pos
sible serious consequences.
There are at this time in Montana
probably 500 sheriffs. deputy sheriffs,
game wardens. stock inspectors and po-
licemen, already on the payroll of state,
county and municipal government, but
who are not under any single authority
or control.
[ believe it is entirely feasible to make
this whole body of men effective for i'm
mediate service and action for the sup
preston of any extraordinary trouble
or threatened danger against law and
order in any part of the state, that could
not be handled by the local police or
inefficiency of the local officers.
| further believe it feasible to endow
the state game warden with such power
and authority of absolute superior COM
mand of all the enumerated local peace
officers as to enable him, under direc-
ton of the governor, to Immediately
control and suppress riot or threatened
disorder in any local community.
I suggest this plan in order to avoid
the expense of any separate payroll
force
In Other States.
Many states have already adopted
some similar plan for maintaining law
and order
Notwithstanding the prejudice that,
may exist among some people against
any method of state control, I can con-
ceiye of no legitimate objection upon
the part of any man, unless there be
present in his mind the latent desire to
resort to mob violence on his own part
should the occasion arise when he would
not hesitate to override the legal au-
thority of the state.
it is common report that certain great
industrial concerns now maintain pri-
vatc armed forces Of their own, under
the belief that they are compelled to do
SO for the protection of their property
This condition of affairs is sad
comm entary of our state. Such thing
might be justified in q state of society
and government like Mexico or Haiti,