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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1901)
8 THE MORNING OEEGONIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1901. -i-- GOVERNOR ROGERS' MESSAG Biennial- Paper on Washington OLYMFIA, 'Wish., Jan- 16. Governor Rogers' message was as- follows: State of Washington, Executive Depart ment, -Olympta, January 16.. 190L Gentle men of the'Senate and of the House of Representatives : Called a second time to the high and honorable position of Governor, I should be ungrateful indeed did I not express my gratitude to the people of the State of "Washington for honors conferred. In re turn It Is my highest ambition to be able to serve them worthily and to retire at the close of my term with their good opinion still retained. Perhaps I may be permitted, at this time, to say that during the four years that are past, I have steadily kept In view the genfral public welfare. Doubt less particular persons and localities at times may have thought that their pe culiar' interests were not favored as they should have been, and yet I am conscious of no dereliction of duty. In a govern ment of 'the majority, peculiar and spe cial Interests must always be subordi nated to the general welfare. That the general and public good has been sub served, the passage of events has shown. No state in the American Union occupies today a higher, or a prouder position, at home or abroad. The laws are execute'd with promptness and dispatch. No riot or occurrence of public disorder has stained our records. Order prevails and will prevail. Should disorder at any time appear the stato is prepared to repress it at once. A foreign war found "Washing ton one" of the first among the states to respond to the call of the President of the United States for military aid. Since my last communication to the Legislature our volunteers have returned home to meet the welcoming plaudits of a grateful people. They were mot at Seattle by the General commanding the Armies of the United States, who, In company with myself, boarded their ship as she sailed Into the harbor. Afterwards, at the old University grounds, they were received by General Miles and others, the General paying them the high honor of an address of welcome, in which he publicly thanked them for services well rendered. Our public credit Is established. No state en- Joys a better reputation in this regard. The state debt has been reduced and put In a way of complete extinction if the present economical management Is con tinued. A plain statement of facts, fur nished from the records of the State Auditor's office, will serve to emphasize this: STATE DEBT. Gratifying? Results Have Attended Efforts to Decrease It. Four years ago the total state debt was $2476.347 C4. This, In spite of the fact that our state constitution, in the most ex plicit terms, forbids any indebtedness In excess of $400,000. Of this total debt $1,777, 916 6 was In the form of general fund warrants. These, with the military fund warrants, amounting to $96,429 61, called for S per cent interest, or a total of $150, 000 in interest per annum, approximately. Warrants were two and a half years in arrears, so that on each dollar used by the1 state in the conduct of Its business 20 per cent In interest was paid. The busi ness man possessed of assets equal in value of the State of "Washington who should conduct his business in such a manner, would certainly be benefited by the appointment of a guardian. Daring the past eight years there has been paid, as interest on state Indebted ness; - mostly to brokers and dealers In warrants, the enormous sum of $916,713 36. Almost a million of dollars of the tax payers hard-earned money has thus been taken for a purpose which admits of no return. Horace Greely said, many years ago. that the only difference between successful men and unsuccessful ones. In the ordinary business of life, was simply that one class paid Interest on money and the other received It. Under a properly organized system the state should pay no Interest. It should be put, by Its Legis lators, In the successful class. It should do business for cash. To compel Its tax payers to contribute enormous sums for the support of curbstone brokers Is a flagrant misuse of the powers of gov ernment. During the past four years, whatever It has been possible to do in decreasing the burdens of government has been attempt ed with gratifying results. The total out standing indebtedness has been reduced from $2,176,W7 C4. in 1887. to $1,392,639 60. on January 1, 1901. and of this latter amount $73,000, in the permanent school fund has, under the law of 1S99, been used by the state In the payment of general fund war rants and the Issuance of 34 per cent state bonds, which. In lieu of cash ex pended for this purpose, are placed In the permanent school fund. On general fund warrants thus redeemed, bearing Interest at 8 per cent, there has been a direct and positive saving of 44 per cent; and as the 3 per cent accruing upon these bonds Is added to the permanent school fund there has been a practical saving of all interest charges upon nearly three quarters of a million of dollars. Interest charges have been still further reduced by a reduction of the rate paid, from 8 to 5 per cent. Instead of more than two mil lions of dollars of Indebtedness, the great er part bearing Interest at 8 per cent, as was the case four years ago. the following exhibit will show the condition of stato debt on January 1, 1901: General fund warrants, bear ing 6 per cent Interest, less cash enhand V$ 816.392 02 Stale bonds, bearing SU per cent Interest 153.000 00 School bonds, bearing 34 per cent (Interest covered Into treasury) 730.0CO 00 Total $M01.39S 02 Less cash in Interest fund $ S.7SS 36 Total debt $1,392,659 66 An examination of the above exhibit will show that unproductive Interest charges have been reduced frpm $186,000 per annum, as stated by Governor McGraw In his message of 1S97, to about $3000 per annum. Causes of Improvement. Among "the causes leading to an Im proved condition of the state's finances must be named the enactment of the Rev nue law of 1897. This has been found most efficient. The issuance of delinquent tax certificates, bearing 15 per cent Interest, operates to Induce prompt payment of taxes, and while the penalty for non payment may appear somewhat harsh, it may be stated as a settled fact that men will not pay taxes so long as it is profitable not to pay. He who obeys the law suffers no harm, and as there can be no effective law without penalty, so a sufficient penalty Is necessary for the cre ation of an effective law. In my opinion, a good law should not be. tampered with. The Bedford law of 1S99, calling for the Investment of money In the permanent school fund In outstanding general fund wararnts is also to be credit ed wKh saving to the 6tate large sums of Interest. To secure the execution of this law 1 was obliged to institute p. suit In the Supreme Court, Judge James Wlck ersham, of Tacoma, appearing In my be half In the case of the State of "Washing ton, ex rel, Patrick H. "Winston, Attorney-General, vs. John R. Rogers, Gover nor, et aL This was an application to re strain the defendants from issuing a state bond for sale to the permanent school fund. As Judge Wlckersham made no charge for legal services I consider it simply a matter of Justice that he hero receive honorable mention as having ren dered the state a valuable service. The case will be found In volume 21, "Washing ton reports. These facts are well known to Inves State Matters to the Legislature. tors and those prominent in commercial matters. The large taxpayer carefully and rigidly scrutinizes the manner In which his contribution to the public ex penses is handled. Partisan politics Is to to him a TXatter of Immaterial conse quence compared to the business-like con duct of state affairs. He is ever ready to endorse, without regard to the political party with which he Is nominally affili ated, the statement of Thomas Jefferson, that "The art of government is elmply the art of being honest." And -these things, having to do with the public purse, are of Immense and far-reaching Importance In a young and growing commonwealth where every effort Is wisely and properly made to attract and bring among us, as permanent residents, the wiser and bet ter classes of Immigrants. Our growing young state, advancing by leaps and bounds, in population, wealth and com mercial Importance, must do nothing that can in any manner shake the confidence In our governmental and financial stabili ty of those who, caring little for partisan polltices, are intensely Interested In the wise and prudent management of the pub lic funds and the successful and honor able conduct of public affairs. APPOINTMENTS. This Is Matter "Which. Properly Be longs to Executive. It has been said, and repeated In vari ous quarters, that in order to securo for the political party represented by the ma jority In these chambers certain appoint ments, placed by the Constitution, by ex press provision and by implication, in the hands of the Governor, the Legisla ture will endeavor to make appointments by statute. That, forgetting the prece dents of the past, and the plain provisions of our form of government, divided as "It la Into three independent branches, it will endoavor to override and nullify a co-ordinate department of government. But although this has been broached in quarters considered by many as promi nent, I do not, for an Instant, credit the announcement. But the other day. In the State of Kentucky, the American people were treated to a rare spectacle of Repub lican degeneracy, which the men of "Wash ington are too wise to Imitate. The Gov ernor of that state, In command of the militia, chased the members of the state Legislature, in tumultuous disorder about the streets of Frankfort, that he might prevent a meeting, A Republican Governor, of manifest imperialistic ten dencies, was attempting, for the time at least, to destroy the time-honored American form of government and nul lify and render useless a co-ordinate de partment of state authority. The Amer ican people are yet In love with our pecu liar form of government, sanctioned as It is by a century and a quarter of glo rious record. They do not favor its par tial nullification by Insidious methods, and in succeeding elections always make amends for the mistakes of over-anxious politicians. The voters are never long In doubt and. In spite of the outcries of miscreants who may control the partisan press, yell know how, to make attempt ing nulllfiers very unnecessary. The veriest tyro In politics la aware that our distinctive American form of govern ment, in both state and nation, is com posed of three co-ordinate and indepen dent departments. He is also aware that the appointing power is an executive and not ax legislative function. Each depart ment Is supreme within certain constitu tional limits. Under constitutional pro visions similar to ours It ha- become fixed as a settled principle that no one of these departments can override or destroy the power or functions of another. To establish this a long line of authorities might be quoted. I desire, however, at this time, simply to call attention to a plain fact Instantly apparent to careful obser vers wherever found. PUBLIC EDUCATION. Efficiency of Common Schools Should Be Increased. Upon one subject Americans are agreed. Public education is universany believed in and supported. How best to secure the purposes of education may possibly cause a division of opinion and yet even here differences should not be great. Our state constitution provides as follows: Article IX. Section 1. "It Is the par amount duty of thestate to make amplo provision ' for the education of all chil dren residing within its borders without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste or sex." Section 2. "The Legislature shall pro vide for a general and uniform system of pubic schools. The public school system shall Include common schools, and such high schools, normal schools and technical schools as may hereafter be established. But the entire revenue derived from the common school fund, and the state tax for common schools, shall be excusively applied to the support of the common schools." It'ls here clearly and plainly set forth that It Is the paramount duty of the state to give every child resident within its borders an opportunity to obtain that education which is absolutely necessary to enable him to live a useful and an honored life. The claims of what is called higher education will be ably and elab orately set forth by enthusiastic and In terested parties, and to these you will be forced to listen. The State of "Wash ington has now five Institutions of learn ing dependent upon state appropriations for support: the University of "Washing ton, at Seattle; the Washington Agricul tural College and School of Science, at Pullman, and three State Normal Schools. All these are In a most flourishing con dition. Their wants are large and their expectations great. If the founders of our state had, in the beginning, estab lished in some central place one State University, with normal and agricultural departments, there could have been gath ered together In one all these several Institutions with great advantage to all and large saving to the taxpayer. Had this been done It would have then cost less money to transport all pupils to and from their homes, and furnish them -with free board and lodging during their col legiate terms, than, under the present plan, to continue the multiplication of costly edifices and the duplication of ex pensive faculties. Normal Schools. Professor Ely, in one of his works' on "Political Economy," Instances, the State of Ohio as showing the folly of divided effort. "The State of Ohio," says he, "has 36 different colleges, no one of which is of great importance or is scarcely known outside its borders. If all the energy, money and enthusiasm necessary to keep the breath of life In these separate insti tutions had been devoted to one, the state would have possessed a college of which, not only the State of Ohio, but the whole country, would have been proud." In "Washington, as well as in Ohio, effort has been divided, and the policy of still further division appears to be In favor. My predecessor In office, as well as my self, endeavored to stem the tide by veto, but without avail. We now have three state normal schools: one at Cheney, for the eastern portion of the state; one at Ellensburg, for the central, and one at New Whatcom, for the northwest. An other, for the eouthwest, will undoubted ly be called for In the near future. These institutions are now permanent fixtures, and must be provided for. The school at New "Whatcom has been particularly suc cessful in attracting a large clientage, and because of the large numbers In attend ance has already exhausted Its appropria tion, and you will be asked, at an early day, to come to Its relief. The building, as originally planned, was not completed, and should now be finished by the addi tion of an auditorium, or assembly-hall, without which it is practically Impossible to properly conduct the school. For the particular claims of these different Institu tions I refer you to the statements made by the several boards of regents and trus tees having charge. But, whatever is done for the support of higher education and It must not be neglected the common schools should receive your earnest and careful attention, for here nine-tenths of our boys and girls are to receive all the schooling they will ever know. To neglect the common schools would be to neglect your paramount duty as conservators of the public weal. Under the law as it now stands, a state tax not exceeding four mills upon the, dollar Is levied, sufflcent to produce $3 for each child of school age In the state. This Is the state tax for the support of common schools. Before the claims of higher education are so much as discussed the law should be amended by substitut ing six mills for four mills, and $10 for GOVERNOR ROGERS, OF WASHINGTON. $S. I hope that this Legislature will not adjourn without Increasing the efficiency and usefulness of the common schools. A system of traveling libraries has been adopted in some of the Eastern states, that has proven of great and lasting value. I should be glad to see It adopted here. A comparatively small amount say $300 for each county will supply a small circulating library, say 15 volumes, in a strong wooden case, for each school In the county; these volumes to be In charge of the County Superintendent, and circu lated from one school to another through out the county. Each scholar would thus have the benefit of quite a large library. A taste for good reading would thus al most inevitably be acquired and vast and I almost incalculable good be done and the character of the future men and women of this state be elevated to a higher plane. PUBLIC INSTTTUTioNS. Audit and Control Board Should Be Reduced to Three Members. The state eleemosynary, reformatory and penal Institutions, with the exception of the School for Defective Youth, at Van couver, were placed by law, enacted in 1897, under the control of a State Board of Audit and Control, thus replacing five sep arate boards of trustees. In the manage ment of these institutions. Many improve ments have been made and large savings effected as a result. This is In line with advanced thought In other states. Wiscon sin was the first, I believe, to adopt the plan. Other states have f ollovs ed. At the present time the State of Iowa has, I am convinced, the best law of this char acter, to which the attention of legisla tors Is called. The law creating our State Board of Audit and Control should be so amended as to include the School for De fective Youth at Vancouver. As at pres ent constituted, the Board of Control con sists of the Governor and five appointees, all of whom, with one exception, serve without pay, other than traveling ex penses. As it is almost Impossible to secure that close and careful attention to details which Is'essentlal from gentlemen who receive no pay for services rendered, even though these are men of the highest character and attainments, I recommend that the Iowa law be followed and our board of six be reduced to three, appoint ed by the Governor, each to receive a salary of $2000 per annum. In Iowa the salary Is $3000 per annum. This board, thus constituted, should be a nonpartisan board, not more than two of whom should belong to the same political party. The Governor should not be a member. He has troubles of his own and duties suf ficient to otherwise occupy his time. It should also be provided, as in the Iowa law, that appointments made In the sev eral Institutions should not be political appointments. The board should appoint the superintendent of each Institution, and the superintendent of each Institution should have sole power to appoint those under him and power to summarily dis charge for cause. A nonpartisan board of this character, composed of careful busi ness men, giving their entire time and attention to these matters, will be able to still further improve the service and reduce the cost to the taxpayers. These Institutions compel the expenditure of large sums of money which should be cur tailed, If possible. Our penitentiary, as an Instance, is a very expensive Institu tion. Strong, lusty convicts, burglars and housebreakers should be made to earn at least the money it costs to keep them. N6w it costs more than $1000 a week to board them. In some states convicts are made a source of profit. And this is done in the well-ordered Vermont State Prison, where convicts are given greater privi leges than ours enjoy. The last report of the Wisconsin State Board of Control showed that it was able to turn back Into the state treasury $75,0i.O, appropriated for the conduct of state Institutions. Good business men on our board of control ought to be able to still further Reduce. In tuture years, the very large sum you will be called upon to appropriate for the support of these Institutions. Bonrd of Visitors Favored. A Board of Visitors for each Institu tion, to serve without pay, composed of our best and most philanthropic citizens, who would visit these institutions and make reports to the Governor for publica tion; the boards to be modeled after the National Boards of Visitors appointed by the President for the West. Point Military Academy and the Naval Academy, at Annapolis, has been proposed by Bishop Barker and has met with favor in distin guished quarters. I heartily commend the suggestion. I append a tabulated statement show ing the very large per capita saving al ready effected by the State Board of Audit and Control, as compared with ex penditures made under a former adminls- tratlon. Regarding the following tabu lated statement, showing In the aggre gate an enormous difference, the claim will be made, as It was during the cam paign, that a large amount of mainte nance funds was used for permanent im provements during the McGraw admln- istratlon, and that this has not been the ' case during the past four years. In rela j tion to this it may be said that the large expenditure for Improvements from main tenance funds was made during the Fer ry administration, when the institutions were being established and greatly en larged. It Is true that a larger amount was expended for permanent Improve ments during the McGraw administration than during the past three and a half years, at some or tne institutions, oui nut enough to make any marked change In the per capita cost. As an offset for this, however, it must be admitted that the cost of almost nil supplies has steadily advanced during the present term, and that practically everyfhlng purchased has been at a larger cost than that paid dur ing the four years Just i recr ding. In the comparison Instituted the term of three and a half years Is used lot Hit reason that the State Board of Control has not existed for the full term of four years, and expenditures for the last quar ter were not fully made up at the time this exhibit was prepared. Western Hospital for Insane. Total maintenance expendi tures, four years, ending March 31. 1897 $328,713.77 Total maintenance expendi tures. 34 years, ending Sep tember 30, 1900 279,194.90 Average daily cost per capita four years ending March 31, 1897, 471 Inmates .4780 Average dally cost per capita 3 years ending September 3Q, 1900, 594.96 Inmates .8673 Dally saving per capita 3 years ending September 30. 1900 '. .1107 Saving per day on 594.96 In mates 65.8620 Eastern Hospital for Insane. Total maintenance expendi tures, four years ending March 31, 1897 $201,741.49 Total maintenance expendi tures, 3 years ending Sep tember 30, 1900 174,258.61 Average dally cost per capita four years ending March 31, 1897, 219.1 Inmates .6305 Average daily cost per capita 34 years ending September 30, . ' 1900, 307.36 Inmates .4433 Dally saving per capita 3 years ending September SO, . 1900 .1867 Saving per day on 307.38 in mates 57.3878 6aving for 3 years, or 1277.5 days 73,312.9732 Total maintenance expendi tures four years ending March 31, 1897 $314,321.92 Total maintenance expendi tures 34 years ending Sep tember SO, 1900 191,16999 Average daily cost per capita four years ending March 31, 1897, 423.8 inmates .5080 Average daily cost per capita 3 years ending September 30, 1900, 357.2 inmates .4190 Daily saving per capita 3 j ears, ending September 30, 1900 .OS90 Saving per day on 357.2 in mates 31 .7908 Saving for 3 years, or 1277.6 days . 40,612.7470 Washington State Reform School. Total maintenance expendi tures, four years ending March 31, 1897 $ 91,649.33 Total maintenance expendi tures 3 years ending Sep tember 30, 1200 67,798.70 Average daily cost per capita four years ending March 31, 1837, 142.8 inmates .4396 Average daily cost per capita 3 years ending September 30, 1900, 123.3S inmates .3456 Daily saving- per capita 3 years ending September 30, 1900 .0940 Saving- per day on 133.38 in mates .., 14.43652 Saving for 3 years, or 1277.5 days 18,442.6543 Washington Soldiers' Home. Total maintenance expendi tures, four years ending March 31, 1897 $ 85.692.89 Total maintenance expendi tures 3 years ending Sep tember 30, 1900 86,148.43 Average daily cost per capita four years ending March 31. 1897, 10G2 inmates .5526 Average dallv cost per capita 3A years ending September 30, 1900. 144.5 Inmates .4667 Dally saving per capita 3 years ending September 30, 1900 12.41258 Saving for 3& years or 1277.5 days 15,857.0326 Recapitulation. Western Washington Hospital for the Insane $84,138 79 Eastern Washington hospital for the Insane 73,312 97 Washington state penitentiary 40.C12 74 Washington Stale Reform School 18,442 63 Washington Soldiers' Home 15,857 03 Total $232,364.18 That the above large sum, In addition to what has been expended, would have been called for under the old management, unprejudiced observers will readily ad mit. The showing made, however, is in, line with what has been accomplished by Boards of Control In other states. SOLDIERS' HOME. A nnll for Public Meetings Should Be Erected. At the Soldiers' Home, an assembly hall should be built In order that the inmates may have a place of sufficient size in which to hold public meetings, hear lec tures, or engage In public amusements. Without such a place, time must hang heavy on the hands of the old veterans there assembled. On the admission of this state into the Union there was donated to it from the United States the sum of $30,000 for the erection of a State Penitentiary. Some $4000 of this was expended by a former administration in the purchase of 40 acres of land adjoining the Penitentiary grounds at Walla Walla, but nothing further was ever done to obtain the use of the balance of this fund. After a great deal of tire some correspondence with the Depart ment of the Interior at Washington, dur ing the last three years, I have at last been enabled to secure for the state the construction of an additional wing to the State Prison at Walla Walla, at the cost of the United States. Plans have been approved, the contract let by the Interior Department, and the walls are now ncar ing completion. INSANE HOSPITAL. State Would Do "Well to Found Another in Farming District. The increasing number ot insane at the hospitals will shortly require additional buildings. I am confident that It will be far better to construct a third hospital or asylum, at some central place, where good farming land can be obtained, than to add expensive wings to either the Medical Lake or the Stellacoom Hospitals. To the new location, which might well be In the Yakima Valley, only those who are able to work need be taken. At the two hos pitals now In use there are some hundreds of men who are capable of performing a good deal of labor. Doubtless It would be vastly better for them to be employed In some healthful outdoor work. Many are thus employed now, but the character of the soil at both Medical Lake and at Stellacoom is not favorable to profitable agriculture. In other states great ac count Is made of the labor of those In mates able to work. This Is mostly made use of In agricultural employments. I suggest, therefore, that it might be a happy solution of this problem for the state to obtain, somewhere in the Yakima Valley, a large farm near the railroad, covered by a gravity water system, upon which economical buildings for the care of the able-bodied men patients, and such as could be trusted to work, could be con structed, and where a system of farming might be carried on, embracing a dairy, where could be made the butter and cheese consumed by all the state institu tions: a dryer, where could be dried all the fruit used; and a canning establish ment, where could be canned all the fruit and vegetables used at all the state insti tutions: This farm annex should not be under the care of a physician. Some com petent business man would render far better service as manager. Upon tho farm could be raised all the vegetables required for canning1, as well as all the potatoes, etc., which could be used; the feed for the cews, a large pro portion of the pork. If not all of It; tho fruit: to be canned and dried, besides great quantities of fruits and vegetables to be shipped In carload lots during the fruit season to all the various state in stitutions, which would furnish to the In mates of all these Institutions and the help employed -healthful and desirable food. Besides this, broom corn could be raised, which could be shipped to the Re form School, where a broom factory might be established. Among other savings, there would be a saving in the construc tion of the buildings, as buildings for the class of patients which would be sent to this rural retreat would not need to be so costly as those necessary for the care of the hopelessly Insane. But, for this purpose, rich farming land3 are needed. The itate has already had too many bar ren and unsuitable tracts "unloaded" upon its taxpayers. STATE REFORM SCHOOL. Boys and Girls Should Be Furnished Useful Occupation. At the State Reform School, at Chehalls, are about 125 boys and about 40 girls, mostly strong and lusty. Something should be done at once to furnish these boys and girls with useful occupation. I cannot, at this time, suggest anything better than a broom factory; but some thing along this line should be done .at once. Properly handled, these inmates could be made to pay their way, and it would be a godsend to them personally and of great assistance to their future well-being if they were made to do it. If this Legislature authorizes me to ap point such a Board of Control as I have suggested, I can assure you that this matter will be attended to. THE RAILWAY QUESTION. Non-Pnrtlsan Commission Should Be Given Its Solution. What Is known with us as the railway question Is simply one phase of the great est question of, modern times; the ques tion of the exchange among men of the products of labor, whether of hand or brain. It lies at the very base of civili zation itself. If we view that condition of society in which each man hunts his own food, makes his own weapons and builds his own habitation, we are at once aware that barbarism must prevail. Civ ilization, according to Adam Smith, the founder of political economy, begins, with the division of labor. Men devote their energies to specialized products. Instant ly this Is done, exchange becomes a most vital and necessary matter. To civilized man It Is the question of existence. In the past we can see that the advance of nations has kept pace with their abil ity to exchange ideas, services and prod ucts. Wherethlshas been comparatively Principal Features Governor Rogers recommends That the efficiency of the common schools be increased, and that before higher education is much discussed, the tax therefor be increased. That the membership of the Board of Audit and Control be reduced from six to three members. That an assembly hall be erected at the Soldiers' Home. That the state obtain land for a third asylum or hospital In some farming dis trict. That somo useful occupation be furnished the boys and girls at the State Re form School a broom factory is suggested. That a Railway Commission of three, with not more than two members of the same political faith, be created to adjust freight rates, etc. That the giving of passes by transportation companies to public officials, or their acceptance by the latter, be made a punishable offense. That the present strength of the National Guard of Washington be somewhat reduced. That mining companies be compelled to publish reports showing their condi tion and prospects. That the present state debt be liquidated before any large appropriation Is madQ for a new capltol building: but he Is Inclined to favor purchase of the Thurston County Courthouse for that purpose. i That If the state be reapportioned, each county bo allowed one Representa-ti-e. free they have gone forward. Where it has not, progress has been prevented and man hindered in his work of subduing for himself all the forces of nature, which is tho ultimate goal of existence upon this earth. Whatever assists In this Is in the Interest of man and aids In the progress of the race. Whatever retards or ham pers It Is a hindrance to man's upward course. And we are able to see that all the great Inventions, which, like gifts from above, have lifted man from the darkness of the past, have all, without exception, operated In one way and only one. They have enabled men more fr:ely to exchange each with the other. Today al the wonders of steam and electrlctiy follow In the same line as so many direct and powerful aids In the exchange among men of the products of labor. A thou sand years ago our fathers In England, France and Germany were mere -slaves of the soil, forbidden to leave the land upon which they were born. They could not travel or exchange with others the products of their labor. The establish ment of "The King's Highway" was the first step in rolling away the night of "The Dark Ages." Men began to be able to exchange. But they were not yet.free. Tribute was demanded. And then, as now and always, he who pays tribute Is never entirely free. Today our King's highway It tho iron rail. The use of steam in the transpor tation of men and the products of mind and muscle has done as much to ad vance the race as did the Institution of the public highway so many centuries ago. Man has gone forward. Civiliza tion has advanced, but men are not yet free. Tribute I? still demanded. The Bar ons of today live and fatten, as did their progenitors of an earlier time, by the ex action of tribute upon exchange. It Is ours to deliberate upon the situation as it confronts us at this hour. No member of this Legislature desires to do an unjust act. Railway companies are creations of law. They are possessed of certain legal rights. These must be re spected. But the railway companies should also be made to respect the rights of the citizen. Freight charges are oner ous, and. in some cases, unjust. Both po litical parties are on record, and have promised, to reduce these rates. Former Legislatures have so far failed to psx form solemn promlres In this regard. Will this body likewise fall? Or will It attempt to keep the promise to the public ear while It breaks It to the heart by the passage of a specious and deceptive act Intended for the time to fool the voters? The people cannot be long deceived. The One Remedy. There is but one way in which this mat ter can be successfully handled. It Is by the creation of a properly constituted Railway Commission. It should consist of three competent. Just and qualified men. No more than two of these should belong to the same political party. It should be a nonpartisan body. They should be ap pointed by the Governor, and be remov able at will. To them should be com mitted the power to maue rates and to enforce them, subject to appeal to the courts. Just, honorable and careful men, constituting a Board of Railway Commis sioners, will be able to give that careful attention to the matter in hand which will result, as It has in other states, in removing all cause of complaint, either on the part of the people or the railways. During the short time in which the Legis lature Is in session, It is impossible for It to formulate a rate law which cannot be overthrown by the courts almost in the twinkling of an eye. If the Commission makes a mistake in ruling, It can make a new rule at once. The Legislature meets but once In two years Two-thlrd3 of the states have Railway Commissions. Somo are of value, others are not. Two points are essential to the exist ence of an effective railway commission. First, it must have sufficient power granted to It by the legislative authority. It must not be emasculated and then ask ed to perform the work of men. Second, It must be removable at will, without the farce of a trial. It must not feel itself too secure In its tenure of office. Then relief can be obtained. I hope that this Legislature will not Insult the intelligence of the people of this state by attempting to add to the already too large number in other states of incompetent or ineffec tive railway commissions. The men who compose this commission must give their whole time and attention to the business Intrusted to their hands. And they must be capable and efficient men to be suc cessful, even then, in the arduous task which will fall to their share. Such men can earn a good salary, and would be en titled to it. Better a thousand times to have no commission, and no law upon the 'jubject, than to be taxed for the sup port of a body of men unable, or unwill ing, to do the work assigned them. Three courses are open to the Legisla ture of Washington In this matter, and but three. First, it can pass an effective law, containing the essential provisions pointed out. Secondly, It can attempt to deceive by the passage of a bill for tho creation of a commission, which it Is known beforehand will be unable, or un willing, to do the work which the people demand. Thirdly, It can do as other bod ies convened in these chambers have done before: Acknowledge itself unfaith ful by doing nothing. We shall see what it will do. FREE TRANSPORTATION. Gift to or Acceptance of Passes by Officials Should Be Punishable. I renew the recommendation made to the Legislatures of 1897 and 1899 regarding the giving and acceptance of free passes by transportation companies. It was then said: "Section 33, of article 2 of the State Con stitution, stipulates that: "It shall not be lawful for 'any person holding public office In this state to accept or use a pass, or to purchase transportation from any railroad, or other corporation, other than as the same may be purchased by the general public, and the Legislature shall pass laws to enforce this provision." Section 20, of article 12 of the constitu tion, provides as follows: " 'No railroad or other transportation company shall grant free passes or sell tickets or passes at a discount, other than as sold to the public generally, to any member of the Legislature, or to any person holding public office in this state. The Legislature shall pass laws to carry this provision Into effect.' "The Legislature has never passed th6 necessary laws to enforce the provisions of the constitution, and hence they have been practically inoperative. No time should .be lost In providing by law that corporations issuing free passes and offl- of tHe Message. clals accepting them shall be properly punished." THE NATIONAL GUARD. Present Force Should Be Somewhat Reduced. A properly organized military force, for use in case of last resort, is essential to the preservation of public order, and must always be at hand even though never used. The National Guard of Washington, In the late war with Spain, showed itself composed of valiant men who deserved well of the state. Since the sending out of the state of the First Washington Volunters, a new National Guard has been created. We have now one full regiment of Infantry, consisting of three battalions of four companies each. This regiment, under Colonel Welsenburger, Is fully organized, and Is an effective force. In addition, we have two companies of infantry, unattached; one battery without guns, drilling as in fantry, and one troop of cavalry. The military code of this state should be amended and the present force some what reduced In size and made to consist of one regiment of Infantry, one troop of cavalry and one battery of artillery, to be stationed at Seattle. We have no need of a brigade organization, nor of a sepa rate medical department. The medical officers' should be a part of the regimen tal organization. Not a larger, but a bet ter organized and equipped force, should be our aim. I renew the recommendation made two years ago that the salary of the Adjutant-General be raised to $2000. That the guard be brought up to a pre viously unattained state of discipline and efficiency, much hard work needs to be done by the Adjutant-General's depart ment, and that a competent man may bo retained In this office it becomes neces sary to pay a good salary. Four years ago there was a debt of $93,428-61 In mili tary fund warrants, which stood against this department. At the present time there Is a surplus of $23,529 52 In this fund. At the time of the organlsatfon of the First Washington Volunteers, United States Army, a number of men volun teered for service In the United States Army who were not accepted by the United States Surgeon. These men were not called for by the state, or by Its Governor. Members of the National Guard were simply given permission by the Gov ernor to enlist in the United States Army. When they went on board the cars at home they were under the car and control, and at the cost of the United States Government. They were never ordered out by tho Governor In state service. The state had no need of their services. Some hardships, in indi vidual instances, was experience! by those who failed to pass the surgeon; and, al though these men have no legal claims upon the state, I recommend that those who volunteered and were rejected, and can prove attendance by company offi cers, be paid a reasonable compensation for time lost. Transportation and sub sistence was paid by the United States Government. mining Corporations. Their Conditions and Prospects Should Be Published. The laws regulating the formation of companies organized for mining purposes should be so amended as to provide for the publication of reports from each com pany showing Its condition and pros pects. It ought not to be possible for swindlers to organize, under the laws of this state, for tho express purpose of de frauding an unsuspecting public. Publicity is a remedy for much evil of this char acter. PAHOLE law. Present Measure Should Be Amended In One Particular. The Legislature of 1S99 enacted what is known as "the parole law," which has been found well adapted to the purpoeo had In view, to wit: Aiding and assisting convicts in tho penitentiary, who do not belong to the criminal classes, and who may give promise of restoration to good citizenship. Much discussion has been had in the public press relating to pen ology and the management of criminals. I am convinced that our law, which was modeled largely after that of Michigan, la a step in the right direction. It provides for substantially the English "tlcket-of-leave" system, which has been found to work well in actual practice. During the past two years the law has been cau tiously administered and 16 criminals lib erated on parole. In all these cases, with two exceptions, the law was found to serve an admirable purpose. One at tempted to escape and was remanded to servo out his full term, all good time allowances being taken away. One es caped out of the state, leaving, it i3 thought, upon a foreign-bound vessel from the harbor of Seattle. He had served 10 full years, his original sentence be ing for 20 years. Substantially, those paroled are In the position of "trusties" outside prison walls, subject to instant apprehension and imprisonment for in fraction of rules, which are herewith ap pended. The law, as It now stands, should be amended as follows: After tho word "murder." In the first section, should be added the words "In the first de gree." Governor's Rules for Parole. L It will be" the duty of the warden of the stato penitentiary to make selec tions from inmates of tho penitnentlary whom he deems proper subjects for pa role. Before recommending such parolo he shall ascertain as much of the char acter and history of each convict, previ ous to his conviction, as possible, and such other information as may bo deemed nec essary to determine the propriety of Issu ing a parole. 2. Before any convict Is paroled, em ployment must bo procured for him at some legitimate Industry, and some per son must agree to act as his first friend and adviser. His proposed friend must bo a reputable citizen of the state, whoso ability to supervise the conduct of tho convict while on parolo shall be certified to by some person of good stanKng, known to the Governor. Such first friend shall agree to employ him, aid him In securing employment, or take a friendly interest in him while engaged In an occu pation or business of his own, and shall agree to report any absence from work, or tendency to evil associations, and to certify to the monthly report required of the convict. 3. It shall be tho duty of the warden of the state penitentiary to submit tho name of any person who offers to act as a first friend for a convict, to the Sher iff or Clerk of the county where such per son residesi, asking his opinion as to hia being- a proper person for such trust. 4. The warden of the State Penitentiary shall forward his recommendation to tho Governor on the 15th of each month. Each recommendation shall be separate and shall Include all Information and papers connected with the application. 5. The employment of attorneys, by prisoners, will be discouraged; but com munication by letter, of friend's, giving Information, will be received and given such consideration as they are entitled to. 6. No prisoner can be paroled until he has served one full year of tho term for which he was sentenced. 7. No prisoner can be paroled who has served a previous term In the State Peni tentiary, or in any other prison or peni tentiary. 8. No prisoner will be paroled who has violated any of the prison rules during the year preceding his application for pa role. 9. No prisoner can be paroled who Is not recommended by the warden of tho State Penitentiary. 10. Paroled prisoners must provide transportation to the place of their em ployment. 11. No prisoner under parole will be per mitted to leave the State of Washington until his final discharge. 12. No prisoner will be paroled until tho Governor is satisfied that he will con form to the rules and regulations gov erning the conduct of paroled prisoners. 13. Every paroled prisoner shall be lia ble to be retaken and again confined within tho enclosure of the prison for any "reason that shall be satisfactory to the Governor, and at his sole discretion, un til he receives his final discharge through the warden. 14. Paroles will bo granted only In thos instances where, in the opinion of the Governor, the past history of the convict, the active Interest promised' by friends concerned in his reformation, and for like considerations, the case presented seems a proper one for executive consid eration. , 15. The Governor has, under the law, power to make all needed rules -and regu lations governing the conduct, of paroled prisoners. 16. The warden of the State Peni tentiary shall keep watch oyer all pa roled prisoners and report to the Gov ernor any case which requires return, to the Penitentiary. Other Rules. Rule L The paroled' prisoner .shall pro ceed at once to the place of employment provided for him and there remain. Rule 2. In case he finds It necessary to change his employment or residence he shall first obtain the written consent of the Governor, through the warden of tho penitentiary. Rulo 3. Ho shall, on the first flay of