Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-05-02
Message to Legislature
FROM Governor Smith,
Second Territorial Chief

work of forming government and i'm
proving society"
The territorial superintendent re-
port was TO the effect that the county
superintendent were remiss in their
duty, and he asked the legislature to
pass a law which would force them
actually to superintend.
The governor recognized the neces-
sity of paying the territorial superin-
tendent OF schools enough to make 1t
possible for him to do the work de-
manded of him. He says, The super
intendent should have a sufficient SAL
airy, paid quarterly, to justify him in
visiting the different counties in the
sole discharge of his duties, as such,
with corresponding responsibility at
tached Commissioners should
be appointed for each county by the
superintendent, whose duty should be
to report quarterly to him, and attend
to the local interest of schools in his
absence. Schools should be taught at
least three months in each year and
the counties SO districted as not to
have more than so scholars in a dis
trict.'
This recommendation shows clearly
the condition Of our schools in that
stage Of our development.
Treating of the finances of the ter
ritory he calls attention to the fact
thai Choteau county paid no taxes in
this manner THE county of Chouteau,
as / am correctly informed, has paid
no taxes and the people refuse to or
ganize or conform TO the laws and per-
form their reasonable duty as part of
this territory. Officers have beer ap-
pointed, but many Of them, and es-
pecially the commissioners, refuse to
act, hence there is no county govern
ment, and the county is derelict in its
duties.
II would respectfully suggest, if this
is the state of the case, that you re-
peal the act by which said county was
made, to take effect at some future
day, provided the people did not in the
meantime organize as prescribed by
law, and pay up their just dues to the
territory. There is a large trade in that
county, and there are almost as many
goods sold as in this county Madison)
or any other in the country. The re-
peal of the law puts them back as part
of the county of Edgerton where there
is organization, and where the Off
GERS will do their duty"
This recommendation amply served
its purpose and forced Chouteau cOun-
'ty to wheel into line with the rest Of
the territory. Governor Smith was no
weakling, and knew how to enforce
obedience of the law on the part OF
those OF our citizens who held them
selves above it. In a biographical
sketch Of him for Vol. 5, Montana His
tory Reports, James E. Galloway, who
knew him well, states. Governor Smith
came to Montana well equipped for the
duties of chief magistrate and COM
mander-in-chief of the territory. He
was of mature years and had been
schooled by distinguished Virginia and
Kentucky ancestry who were eminent
in affairs of state; he was himself a
lawyer and well versed upon constitu-
tional construction; he had served
nearly four years in congress and had
a large acquaintance with public men
and had good knowledge of public af-
fairs; also he had served with marked
distinction in the Union army, and as
commander-in-chief Of the military
forces of the territory, had the prac-
teal knowledge of an experienced SOL
der"