Show I REFORMS U URGED Ii i DY GOVERNOR OV N NIi Ii E. E IN SPEECH r Executive Advises as s to 3 Legislation Now Needed p THE 1 Members embers of the Thirteenth Thir Thir- Thirteenth TO Legislature of ot the tho State of Utah t I In obedience to the constitution tion I come before you to submit nn an accounting o of my stewardship and to 0 o offer such suggestions as S may apps appe appear r pertinent In the light of ot experience of ot the past two years It would be superfluous for tor me to discuss at length the abnormal conditions conditions conditions condi condi- under which we have labored In Inthe the the most critical period of the worlds world's history With pride of an unusual de deI degree degree de- de I gree I report to you that the people of ot our state heard and responded to toI toI every call of ot tho the nation In such a manner manner manner man man- I ner as ns to place the name of ot Utah In Inthe Inthe inthe the front rank In every movement mo In Involving Involving involving In- In the highest Ideals of hu hu- manity UTAH DOES ITS PART PARi f With her sister states Utah has been privileged to do her part I liv suppressIng suppressing suppress suppress- ing a tyranny which threatened the world and In extending liberty and justice I justice I might say the tho spirit of ot otI I Americanism to to the oppressed peoples peo peo- I pIes ples of tho the earth In humility we wo give expression to our thankfulness that a I victorious peace is assured to the cause I of freedom and equality l I In common with the people of the commonwealth the officers of your state government has been called upon to meet most unusual and trying sit sit- That they have labored untirIngly untiringly untiringly un un- un- un and conscientiously to perform perform perform per per- form the duties Imposed upon them governed at all times by the dictates of their best Judgment in the tho Interpretation interpretation interpretation inter Inter- of the needs and the will of ot otI I the tho people I am satisfied Each official official official cial and each department head has prepared a detailed report of his stewardship stewardship stew stew- and these reports are or soon will be available for your tion iron t NEEDS ARE APPARENT In outlining a program for an i economical and administration tion of the affairs of government the legislature of two years ago could not foresee tho the abnormal conditions with which we have been confronted The members of that assembly strove faith faithfully tully to carry out the provisions r of ot the platform upon which they were I elected and enacted many constructive 1 laws which placed Utah well up In the I list of progressive states But they i were not prepared io to o provide for and andi I i had no cause to anticipate anticipate many needs not then apparent but essential to towar towar war activities Since the adjournment of that body most extraordinary demands de de- de- de 4 mands Including entirely new lines of ot f endeavor and soaring costs have mader made made- r It necessary for tor the state to Incur cerr certain r tain financial obligations which otherwIse otherwise otherwise other other- wise would have been avoided j DEBT WIPED OUT When this administration assumed control of the state government two years ago it inherited a deficit of some floating Indebtedness The They y states state's finances were subjected t to a further strain by obligations necessarily necessarily ily nY incurred in th the e prosecution of war activities The report of the states state's financial condition prepared ly the state auditor Indicates that by the beginning be beginning beginning be- be ginning of the new budget year April 1 1919 we will have cleared up not only this old deficit but will have havet t liquidated practically all the temporary temporary temporary tempo tempo- indebtedness Incident to wartime activities besides redeeming the Mato tate state bond Issue of 1898 In the sum of i ENRICH GENERAL FUND At the close of the tho fiscal year rear November November No No- vember ember 30 1918 the balance In appropriations appropriations ap ap- ap- ap balances due counties on onI I state road accounts temporary loan balances and Interest on temporary I obligations amounted to j Of this I amount appropriations I P gating approximately will not be oo uses used and can can- be credited back to toI i I the general fund I At that time there was on hand In I i the state treasury to the credit of the t general fund The balance 1 due duo from 1918 school taxes' taxes was and from the occupation tax The estimated receipts from fees feest t to state officers Inheritance taxes etc to o March 31 1919 is making a a. total of ot which with the to be returned to th the general fund from unused appropriations gives the state a total credit of DEFICIT Estimating that an appropriation of will be made for legislative expense expense expense ex ex- ex- ex pense the state will wUl start the tho biennium biennium bien- bien April 1 I 1919 with a deficit of or approximately exclusive e of ot deficits aggregating 79 granted by the board of examiners to various Institutions to meet additional burdens due largely to war conditions and I which will be included In tho the budget for the ensuing biennium The Tho temporary temporary temporary tem tem- indebtedness Includes loaned to the state fair fund which ItIs it itIs itis Is expected will be returned to the state by the federal government If It this expectation is realized the state will start the biennium practically free tree from other othe than bonded indebtedness ness an accounting of which along with an the revenue for the ensuIng ensuing ensuing ing two years will be submitted to you OU in the executive budget FUNDS FOR COUNCIL Another item which I commend to your consideration In the arrangement of ot the states state's finances for the ensuing I biennium is a loan of ot negotiated negotiated negotiated independently by the state of Utah council of ot defense In order that the war program might not hot be delayed for want of finances a group of ot public spirited residents of the state gave their personal notes In the amount of and the board of loan commissioners commissioners commis commis- sl ners provided to create a a. ae working e fund for the state of Utah council of defense That the money expended was disbursed wisely and to good purpose is indicated in the report which has been prepared by that organization or or- or- or I am of ot the opinion that it is proper not only to relieve these patriotic citizens of this financial ob obligation obligation ob- ob but to tender them an ex expression expression expression ex- ex of our appreciation of their loyalty ACTION ON REVENUE At this point I desire to call your at attention attention attention at- at to the necessity for prompt ac action action ac- ac tion on questions involving state reve reve- When the executive budget Is submitted you will observe that the tho estimated revenue rev ue for the ensuing biennium biennium bl bi- bi is based on en existing statutes existing statutes some of ot which it probably will bed be deemed expedient to amend or change in view of ot the adoption at the last election election election elec elec- tion of ot the constitutional amendment affecting the taxation of mines which makes It permissible to tax ous mines on some multiple or sub- sub multiple of the net annual proceeds and other mines or mining claims including including in including in- in lands containing c coal al or hydrocarbons hydrocarbons hydrocarbons hy hy- on their full value PEOPLE EXPRESS WILL Inasmuch as the will of ot the people In n this respect has been expressed Inmost in inmost inmost most emphatic terms it would appear incumbent upon this legislature to tomake tomake tomake make the amendment operative by legIslative legislative legislative leg leg- action In view of ot this and the result of careful investigation I respectfully re respectfully respectfully re- re recommend that a law be enacted providing for the taxation of ot mines on a basis of some I I multiple or of the net an annual annual annual an- an nual proceeds not to exceed three times plus the value of the land and Improvements as designated in the amendment With respect to the taxation taxation taxation tax tax- of ot other mining properties Including in including including In- In lands containing coal or hydrocarbons hydrocarbons hydrocarbons hy hy- I shall be very glad to confer conter with you with a view to arriving arriving I ing at some satisfactory basis of val val- val val-I I With the enactment of ot such sucha a law It would seem only proper to re repeal repeal re- re peal pal the occupation tax provided by bythe bythe y the twelfth legislature as an emergency emergency emergency emer emer- gency measure ONLY FEW QUESTIONS Happily because of the great volume of ot progressive legislation enacted two years ago there appears to me necessity necessity necessity sity for action upon but few questions of unusual importance at this session Experience may have Indicated that some of the statutes on our books need slight strengthening and the reports of ot tho the various governmental departments departments departments depart depart- ments contain recommendations for new nei legislation While I may not be pr prepared pared to c concur concur in recommendations recommendations recommendations I am confident they merit your serious consideration NO FREAK LAWS I am inclined to suggest caution against too much legislation The enactment enactment enactment en en- of too many statutes tends to confuse contuse the people and decrease respect for law I certainly do not look with I favor upon freak or radical legisla legisla- I tion Any changes irrespective of how minor should be carefully considered and any amendments approved only after existing statute has been subjected subject subject- I ed to a thorough test and found unequal unequal unequal un un- un- un equal to the needs This would apply I to important laws enacted two years ago and which have been I I I I I I operating only under normal contri conat- PROHIBITION AMENDMENT One of pf the most mot Important statutes written into our books two years ago was the prohibition law That the action taken was In full accord with the desires of the people is reflected In the adoption at the last election of ot the prohibition amendment to the con con- In view of ot the sentiment so forcibly expressed against the liquor traffic it would seem proper for this legislature to act favorably on the prohibition prohibition prohibition pro pro- amendment to the national constitution which has been approved by congress and submitted to the states for ratification OPPOSES STOCK SCH SCHEMES EM ES With the return of peace it is natural to expect industrial development of an unusual character and volume This state is rich in natural resources so vast that all the work done toward de development development development de- de to this time represents little lit little little lit lit- tle more than a surface scratch It Itis Itis is proper and highly desirable that we encourage further development by every possible means but we also should afford protection to our people by eliminating enterprises of a questionable questionable ques ques- ch character rl To this end I would suggest the enactment of a measure measure mea mea- sur sure to prohibit promotions which are areno areno areno no more than stock selling schemes Such l legislation should be sufficiently broad to afford ample protection to settlers who may be attracted to the state In the enactment of such a law the provisions should be selected lito extreme care in order that legitimate development may not be hampered SECRETARY LANES LANE'S PLAN The Honorable Franklin I K Lane secretary of the department of the Interior in interior interior In- In has wisely suggested the construction construction construction con con- of mammoth reclamation projects In various sections of the country countr through state and federal co cooperation cooperation cooperation co- co operation to provide homes and employment employment employment em em- for our returning soldiers I hope you you will give this matter mattei serious consideration in n view of the vast acreage within the borders of ot our state which i is susceptible to reclamation HONORS HONORS FOR SOLDIERS While homes and employment are arc by far the most important items to our re returning returning returning re- re turning soldiers I believe you win wu agree with me that they are entitled to special consideration of ot an honorary honorary honorary honor honor- ary character Because of ot the widely scattered service in which they have havo been engaged and the straggling manner manner mauner man mau- ner of ot their return it has been practically practically practically impossible for us to extend to them the welcome th they y so richly de- de serve As a means to this end I would advocate a general peace peace celebration and reunion of our returned soldiers which would include all men identified with any branch of military or naval service during the world conflict to beheld be bl held at Salt Lake some time during the coming summer I am of the opinion that it would be proper for the legislature legislature legislature legisla legisla- ture to include in its appropriations an all amount sufficient to meet the expense of such a celebration M MEMORIAL But the effort t to honor hono our soldie s soldiers 1 and sailors should not clase cease with a a. celebration Since my tour of the Middie Middie Mid Mid- die it West Vest nearly a year ago in the interest In- In terest of the third Liberty loan I have had In mind suggesting to you the erection of a hall in which I to preserve to posterity the Individual records of those of ot our state who have borne arms In defense of ot the commonwealth commonwealth commonwealth common common- I wealth or the n nation or the principles for which they stand and other data and m mementoes of historical character It occurs to me that the proper place I for such a structure might be the campus campus campus cam cam- pus of our state university where its I patriotic influence should be highly beneficial in molding the characters character of I our young men and young women In Inasmuch 1 as the Mormon Battalion would I be fully represented in the memorial hall I believe it would be proper to repeal repeal repeal re- re I peal the law enacted by the Twelfth I legislature providing fur for the erection of the Mormon Battalion monument DIPLOMAS FOR HEROES I am confident too that authorization tion of the Issuance of ot some memento I of service of ot a more personal character character character char char- i acter to those who have been honorably honorably honor honor- honorI I ably bly discharged from any branch of ot otI I the military service and the relatives of those who have made the supreme sacrifice would receive the wholehearted wholehearted wholehearted whole whole- I the of our hearted approval of people I state I have in mind in this connection connection con con- a diploma of suitable design STATE CONSTABULARY I am inclined to the opinion that the tendency of the federal government government government govern govern- ment toward the military establishment establishment establish establish- ment is in the tho direction of a moderate moderate moderate ate standing army and universal military military mil mn- training for our young men probably through the medium of es established established es- es educational institutions To Tome Tome Tome me it seems that such a policy would make possible and probably advisable in many Instances the abolishment of ot the national guard organization I Iam Iam Iam am satisfied however that some protection protection protection pro pro- of ot broader scope than municipal municipal pal and county police poUce |