The total average levy of twenty-six mills on the dollar made in 1893, on an assessed valuation of $32,356,801 produced a revenue of $851,276.82. Of this amount $45,000 was a special levy for the erection of public buildings. The law does not make it obligatory on the part of municipal officers to furnish the examiner any returns of municipal affairs, and I am therefore unable to give the amounts expended by the various cities in the state.

The total amount of bonds issued by the state has been $320,000, of which amount $230,000 was authorized by the Legislature in 1886 for public buildings bearing interest at six per cent., payable fifteen and thirty years respectively. In 1888 the Legislature made an additional appropriation of $90,000 for public buildings. These later bonds sold at an average premium of twelve cents on the dollar.

The drift of legislation in many States during recent years has been in the direction of securing for the State an increased revenue from its corporations. Under territorial organization Wyoming was precluded from exercising many of the powers conferred upon a sovereign state. Its policy has been to secure a free influx of capital, and as a consequence, many corporations have enjoyed an immunity from the restriction placed upon capital in older States. There have been no commissions appointed to regulate railroad transportation; sleeping car companies have been assessed with other railroad property at a nominal rate while they have been entirely exempt from paying any license for the sale of spirituous liquors. The State Treasurer shows that there is a delinquent State tax due from the counties of the State of $13,826.26, and asks that the Legislature devise some bet ter method for the collection of this tax. A thorough revi sion of the revenue laws is recommended.

The financial affairs of the State have been well managed, and owing to the Constitutional restrictions placed upon the rate of taxation, most of the expenditures have been kept within reasonable limits. There is, however, urgent demand for a reduction of expenses in all departments of the public service, including State, county and municipal affairs. The great depreciation on all kinds of property, both real and personal, makes this demand of the people imperative. In 1893 the total assessed valuation of all kinds of property subject to taxation was $32.356,801, and in 1894, $29,198,841, showing a. decrease in value in one year of over three million dollars. The assessed valuation of property for 1894, is: divided as follows:

It is safe to estimate that the actual value of property in Wyoming will approximate $100,000,000, or about three times its assessed valuation.

The Constitution provides that all property except as otherwise provided shall be uniformly assessed for taxation. Your attention is called to the necessity of carrying out this provision of the Constitution. Many of the States require that all property shall be assessed at its full valuation, and the merits of this system are deserving of your careful consideration. The Constitution further provides that the tax levy for State purposes shall not exceed four mills on the dollar, except for the support of State institutions, the payment of the State debt and interest thereon. For county revenue the tax is limited to twelve mills for all purposes and including the payment of public debt. An additional tax of two dollars is levied on all persons between twenty-one and fifty years of age for school purposes. All incorporated cities or towns are limited to eight mills tax on the dollar. The total revenue for State purposes for the year ending September 30th, 1895, is estimated at $170,808.54, making the tax rate fiftyeight and one-half-cents on each $100 valuation. In some instances several of the counties have overstepped the wise provisions of the Constitution; and it is in the administration of county and municipal affairs that the greatest pense has been incurred. The Constitution divides the counties into several classes, and the salaries of county officers are based upon the assessed valuation of each county. All fees are turned into the counties. When it is taken into consideration that the county officers should be thoroughly competent and fitted to perform the duties of their respective offices for the best interests of the counties, the salaries provided by law cannot in most instances be regarded as horbitant or unreasonable. The observation is no doubt true that in the perfection of county government depends to a great extent the wise administration of State affairs. In a new community it is very important that efficient officers should be chosen to lay the foundation for the administration of public affairs.

OFFICIAL REPORTS.

ex

ex

The annual reports of the various State officers and ex

officio boards will be found to contain very full and com-. plete information respecting the condition of public affairs, besides valuable suggestions on legislation and recommenddations as to the management of institutions under their supervision. It is proper that I should here testify to the very efficient and faithful service rendered to the State by the various heads of departments in the discharge of their official duties. Many important trusts have been performed by State officers as members of ex-officio boards, such as the State Board of Charities, State Land Commissioners, Capitol Commission and other boards, greatly reducing the cost in the administration of public affairs. In many instances: State officers are capable of rendering valuable service the State where the appointment of special commissioners to do the work involves a large and often unnecessary penditure. The recommendation of the State Treasurer that all State officers be required to make biennial reports for the year ending September 30th, preceding the regular assembling of the Legislature, has my approval. This would cover the entire period for which appropriations are made, and furnish valuable and comprehensive data upon which to base legislation. The Treasurer also recommends that provision be made for publishing all reports as soon as issued. There is a constant demand on the part of investors for these reports, and in view of the favorable showing made by Wyoming in its affairs, the State officers of the State should be glad to comply with all such requests.

ex

The law authorizes the printing of only a few copies of the reports of each State officer, and as a result many of the most valuable reports bearing upon the affairs of the State are not available for public use. I respectfully recommend that the reports of all departments of the State government, including those relating to the several State institutions, be printed in pamphlet form for the use of the Legislature and for distribution, and that the State reserve copies. of each report to be substantially bound as a part of the journals of the House and Senate.

The Secretary of State reports that the number of instruments relating to corporations filed since the admission of Wyoming as a State on July 10th, 1890, has been 744. The number of corporations created under State laws during the same period was 347, of which 304 are for business and profit, and 43 of a religious, fraternal or educational character. The Secretary recommends an amendment to the corporation law providing for the payment of a fee proportionate to the capital amount of stock of corporations organized for gain. This would not only increase the revenues of the State, but be a restraint upon certain corporations that are

inclined to mislead the public by setting forth a fictitious capital in their articles of incorporation. The further recommendation is made that a fee of twenty five dollars be required of all foreign corporations hereafter permitted to do business in the State. The total amount of fees received by the Secretary for two years ending September 30th. 1894, amount to $1,726.55.

UNIFORM ACCOUNTS.

There is no greater check upon extravagance than to make public all accounts relating to the administration of of State affairs. Our Constitution provides for the appointment of a State Examiner, whose duty it is "to enforce a correct and as far as practicable uniform system of bookkeeping by State and county officers so as to afford a suitable check on their mutual action and insure a thorough supervision and safety of State and county funds." Your attention is called to the very valuable report of this officer which contains statistics relating to public accounts which can be derived all State and county officers, including public institutions, enforcing the adoption of a uniform system of accounts for his direction and until the State makes some provision for difficulty in compiling statistics on various subjects under keeping public accounts the Examiner has experienced great from no other source. Owing to the lack of uniformity in the Examiner cannot do justice to his position. A common method of keeping and verifying accounts throughout the State will tend more than anything else to prevent fraud, facilitate its detection and protect the fiscal agents of the public against unjust accusation and suspicion. Our State need not be without a guide in this direction, as Minnesota and North Dakota have greatly advanced in their system of uniform accounts. Under the laws of 1875 the Illinois State Board of Charities adopted a uniform system which has resulted in greatly reducing the expenses of all institutions under their charge. The Examiner has been unable to present statistics bearing upon several important subjects, including loan and trust companies, because the law does not make it compulsory on the part of such associations to fill out the blanks furnished by the Examiner. Corporations created by the State shoul be required to make truthful reports of their condition in order to prevent as far as possible the abuse of trusts confided to their care. I earnestly recommend that the law governing the State Examiner be amended by conferring upon this officer such additional powers as will render the office more useful and effective in its administration. STATE BUILDINGS.

Wyoming has invested in buildings devoted to public, charitable and penal objects, $546,567.

at

This prison was donated by the general government to Wyoming on its admission as a State. There has been least $100,000 expended on its construction. At the pres ent time it probably represents an approximate value of $75,000. The $2,170.49 given above is the amount expended on the prison since that time for repairs. The penitentiary has a capacity for 150 convicts and is well adapted to the

purpose.

The security of the convicts would be greater if there could be erected a suitable stone wall or fence about the prison grounds. The matter is referred to in the report of the State Board of Charities. The recent escape in the day time of two of the most dangerous criminals in that institution would seem to indicate a lack of proper discipline and watchfulness.

The total number of convicts maintained by Wyoming are 113. Seven are confined at the Illinois State penitentiary at Joliet, and 106 at the State Penitentiary at Laramie. Those at Joliet are kept there under contract made before Wyoming owned a state prison; but in the course of a few years their terms will have expired. The State Board of Charities entered into a contract in 1891 for fifteen years that all prisoners of the State should be kept in Wyoming penitentiaries at forty-five cents per diem, or fifty cents when the number is less than one hundred. Under this arrangement all convicts are sent to Laramie. The prison is reported to be well managed, the convicts being kept employed and furnished with wholesome food and proper clothing.

RAWLINS PENITENTIARY.

The location of a State Prison at Rawlins was made before the government penitentiary at Laramie was donated to the State; and it is now a question how the State can best utilize these two penitentiaries. The total amount expended on the Rawlins penitentiary has been $56,875.35; but the prison is far from complete, and it will require additional appropriations to properly enclose the grounds and provide other necessary equipment in the way of machinery.