The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-03
MEMBERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY:


In obedience to that mandate of the
constitution directing the governor to
"give to the legislative assembly in
formation of the condition of the state
and recommend such measures as he
shall deem expedient," I now address
you.
You have assembled here today,
bearing temporary commissions from
the people of Montana, to legislate
for them in your combined representa-
tive capacity. For the time being,
the people of this state have entrusted
to you the administration of their
community business affairs. l doubt
not that each of US is now endowed
with high hope and full resolve to
faithfully administer the trust i'm
posed upon us. That there is and will
be honest difference of individual
Judgment in a body of this kind, Sc
lected from every walk of life and
with differing viewpoints and local
interests, is automatic. But if each of
us will approach the many mooted
questions that will be presented in a
real spirit of public service and with
a mind open to honest conviction, and
this legislative ASSEMBLY, will restrict
the number of employees to its actual
needs, introduce as few bills and en-
act the minimum number of laws con-
sistent with actual needs, and then
adjourn, you will have earned the COM
mendation of the people of Montana.
You meet under trying conditions,
both as to the individual needs of our
citizenship and as to the financial en-
barrassment of local and state gov
eminent as well.
Our Financial Situation.
The responsibility that rests upon
me as the governor, and you as mem
bers of the legislative assembly, COM
pels me to candidly call our atten-
ton to the financial situation that now
cOnfronts us in school district, city,
county and state government.
Tax Commission.
/ urged Upon the last legislature
the Importance of a constitutional tax
commission. The legislature submit
ted and the people have ratified such
an amendment to the constitution
Under its provisions, however, no &C
ton can be taken toward the creation
Of the new Board of Equalization I'M
til you enact the necessary legislation
AS the attorney general has held
that the old board ceased to function
on the issuance of the governors proc.
lamation as to the ratification of the
recent amendment, it is of extreme
Importance that the necessary legisla
ton be enacted Immediately as thu
revenue of the state is imperiled BY
possible lack of authority to collect thu
current revenues from oil, gasoline
inheritances and other taxes. Having
Nc doubt that this body would imme
diately take care of the urgent situa
ton, l requested the force of EN-
plOyes of the old board to remain a
their posts of duty since Decembe
fifteenth, so that the states bushes
might not suffer.
The old board has been most forum
ate in having had available for a feV
months the most valuable services of
former member of the Wisconsin Ia
Commission, Nils P. Haugen. For 2
years he was a member of the Ia
commission of that state. His vas
knowledge and experience in thes
matters would be invaluable to Nor
tana in organizing own commits
sion and l hope that you may find
both expedient and wise to permit
temporary waiver of the statute n
garding residence, so that we may /
able to avail ourselves of his service
on the commission for the first TIVE
year term.
Purchasing Agent.
. Two years ago / found that pu,
chases of all supplies for the sta
government and its various and wide
scattered institutions were being mao