The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-01-09
Salient Excerpts From Governor Ford.s
Messooe To Montono's 9th Assembly

Following are excerpts from Gov
ernor Sam c. Ford's message TO
the 9th Montana. Legislative AS
sembly, delivered before the as
sembly Tuesday night.
Inherently, this assemblage IS
reassertion of the right OF the peo-
pie to govern themselves When IN
so many lands today free govern
ment is in chains, we in America
must be the more diligent to sustain
it. II we do our full duty and 90
it unafraid. free government to.
morrow will be secure because OF
the functioning of free government
today"
II am convinced that if our in
come is frugally used and carefully
administered, our revenues will
adequately provide for the proper
functioning of State affairs, with
out additional or new taxes.
''In view of the efforts made by
Montana to protect motorists and
pedestrians, the record of fatalities,
accidents and property loss is la
inevitable. 1t is my sincere hope
that adequate legislation will be
enacted to correct, SO far as posi-
BILE, this condition It is my firm
conviction that enactment and strict
enforcement of a uniform drivers
license law, requiring examination
for new drivers only, will minimize
the toll now exacted by highway
accidents.
Experience during the last four
years has demonstrated many weak
nesses in our liquor control laws.
The recent campaign provides am
pie proof for the conclusion that
the liquor business has no place in
politics, and that the administra-
ton of our liquor laws must be d.
vorced from politics and political
corruption. concur in a statement
made by an administrative officer
who said.
Liquor and politics, fermented
in the same vat, have always pro-
duced corruption and always will
4 sincerely hope that our liquor
laws may receive your earnest and
careful consideration SO that pres
ent defects and abuses may be
cured"
Because OF national defense, the
government Of the United States
must, of necessity, put new burdens
of taxation on our people. II we
be cognizant OF the load they al
ready carry and the economic col
lapse that will come to many OF
them If the burden is made heavier,
we cannot in conscience burden
them further with additional levies
by the State or under the States
authority.
Hence, any policy that contem-
plates the realities OF this situation
must impel us to the most stringent
economy in state and local govern
ment, and we must intercept ten
denotes that contradict the urgency
for retrenchment. l believe our
government need be no less ef-
ficient no less a servant of the
general people, because of thrifty
operation that circumstance de-
mandS.7
The statutes bearing on the
State Fish and Game Commission,
regulations and the establishment
Of game preserves and the like, pre-
sent today a vivid picture OF what
is wrong from the standpoint of
careful and intelligent legislation.
For instance, Section 1858, revised
codes of Montana of 1885, delegates
broad powers to the commission
without any suggestion of restraint
or boundary, and then this striking
provision:
THE statutes now governing such
subjects shall continue in full force
and effect, except as altered or mod
flied by rules and regulations pro-
mulgated by the commission.
AS it stands, the Legislature sets
up an autocracy with power to
legislate and override the laws of
the State adopted by the Legis-
lature.
Further, while the sportsmen of
the State contribute all OF the funds
used by the department, they have
little or no voice in the manage
ment or conduct Of the department.
In the light Of these facts there
is little wonder that the administra-
ton Of the Fish and Came Depart
ment has fallen into disrepute and
that the public interests have suf-
fered The laws | have mentioned
should be rewritten, to the end that
our Fish and Game laws may be
administered more nearly for the
general good
There is pressing need for the
reorganization of our entire State
business structure, involving con-
solicitation Of officeA boards, de-
partments, and particularly func-
tions OF government; the elinina-
ton Of Implications; better co-qta
dination and strengthening of ad-
mtnistrative responsibility. II we
have the will and courage for il
retrenchment can be had without
impairing any essential govern
mental function.
! IAN intelligent reorganization
cannot be accomplished without a
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