Enrollment-Messrs. Juel, Baird, and Davis. Revenue Messrs. Thom, Nagle, Reid, McAllister, and Cooper. Rules and Joint Rules-Messrs. George, Davidson, Lewis, and Hollingworth. Joint Printing-Messrs. Lewis, Hollingworth, and Thom. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE SENATE. The following communication was received from the Honorable Senate: Senate Chamber, Honorable Speaker of the House: Sir: I have the honor to inform your Honorable Body that House Joint Resolution No. 1 by Mr. Baird this day passed the Senate by the following vote: Ayes, 14; noes, 4; absent, 1. SAMUEL DICKEY, Chief Clerk. On motion of Mr. Hawk, Mr. Swanson was excused for the day. On motion of Mr. Atherly, the House took a recess until 1:45 o'clock p. m. today. AFTERNOON SESSION. Hall of House of Representatives, Cheyenne, Wyoming, January 12th, 1899. The House reconvened at 1:45 o'clock p. m., Mr. Speaker in the chair. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE SENATE. The following communication was received from the Honorable Senate and ordered read: Senate Chamber, Cheyenne, January 12th, 1899. To the Honorable Speaker of the House: Sir: I am instructed by the Honorable President of the Senate to inform your honorable body that the invitation to join them in joint session at 2 o'clock p. m. today for the purpose of receiving the message of His Excellency the Governor, is accepted. Very respectfully, Chief Clerk. On motion of Mr. Atherly, the Speaker appointed a committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Fourt, Nagle, and Snow, to wait upon the honorable Senate and conduct them into the honorable House for the purpose of receiving the message of His Excellency, the Governor of Wyoming. On motion of Mr. Carpenter, a committee of three was appointed by the Speaker, consisting of Messrs. Carpenter, Halbert, and McAnally, for the purpose of escorting His Excellency, the Governor, into the Hall of the House. On motion of Mr. Atherly, the Speaker appointed a committee of seven, being one for each of the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court and of the State officials, to wait upon said officials and conduct them to the Hall of the House for the purpose of hearing the message of His Excellency the Governor. The Speaker appointed on said Committee, Messrs. Condit, Davidson, Eychaner, McAllister, Ogden, Sullivan, and Thom, who thereupon retired. Whereupon the Senate appeared upon the floor of the House in charge of the committee, and the Speaker requested His Honor, the President of the Senate, to assume the chair of the House. JOINT SESSION. Hall of the House of Representatives, At 2:02 o'clock p. m., the Senate and House of Representatives of the Fifth Legislature of Wyoming convened in joint session in the Hall of the House, for the purpose of receiving the message of His Excellency the Governor of Wyoming, the Honorable President of the Senate presiding. Roll call of the Senate: Present-Messrs. Blackwell, Brittain, Calloway, Cazier, Coleman, Corson, Fox, Goble, McBride, Cady, Osmond, Reavill, Rusk, Stone, Taylor, Verbryck, Williams, and Mr. President. Excused-Mr. Cross. Roll call of the House: Present-Messrs. Atherly, Butler, Carpenter, Christian, Conaway, Condit, Cooper, Davidson, Davis,Eychaner,Fourt, Gardner, George, Halbert, Hawk, Hilands, Hollingworth, Jones, Juel, Lewis, McAllister, McAnally, McDermott, MeDonald, Nagle, Nowlin, Ogden, Reader, Reid, Roberts, Snow, Stough, Sullivan, Thom, Woods. Mr. Speaker. Absent-Mr. Swanson. Excused Mr. Baird. 22 HOUSE JOURNAL. Moved by Mr. Carpenter that a committee of five, consisting of three members from the House and two from the Honorable Senate, be appointed by Mr. President to wait upon His Excellency the Governor, and inform him that the Fifth Legislature of Wyoming is now in joint session, and in readiness to receive his biennial message. The motion prevailed, and the chair appointed on said committee Messrs. Carpenter, Halbert and McAnally of the House, and Messrs. Rusk and Cazier from the Honorable Senate; whereupon the joint committee retired, and soon returned accompanied by His Excellency the Governor, and Honorable William A. Richards, ex-Governor. His Excellency, DeForest Richards, Governor of Wyoming, thereupon addressed the Senate and House of Representatives of the Fifth State Legislature of Wyoming in joint session assembled, as follows: GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Executive Department, Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 10, 1899. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: It is the duty of the Chief Executive to submit to you for your consideration statements showing the financial condition of the State, and in a general way detailing the conduct of the various public institutions belonging to the State; to inform you as to our laws, and whether or not they have accomplished the beneficial results intended by those who made them, and, from the experience of the administration of the past two years, make such recommendations and suggestions as will assist you in enacting wholesome legislation so that the faults of the past, if any, may be corrected and the future provided with wise and judicious statutes, without which no people can be contented or prosperous. It naturally follows that the information to be conveyed to you should be of a practical nature, and based on experience, rather than theory, and therefore, after a conference between ex-Governor W. A. Richards and myself, he, impelled by the deep interest he feels in the welfare of the State that he has served so faithfully and well, has volunteered to prepare a message, which I herewith transmit, making it a part and parcel of this document. It is replete with information, good counsel and recommendations, and I most earnestly commend it to your thoughtful consideration. Although this action varies somewhat from precedent and usage, still I believe that on reflection it will appeal to your sober and practical judgment as proper and sensible. I shall of a necessity retain the right to transmit to you from time to time such recommendations as may seem best to be brought to your attention. You have convened under most auspicious circumstances. Our population and wealth are increasing, and changing conditions demand on your part a scrutinizing and studious examination into the wants of cur State, and a corresponding adaptibility of laws and enactments to wisely meet them. I have unquestioned faith in your ability and courage to meet all emergencies with discretion, and, with the existence of candor and confidence, which the executive seeks with the Legislative branch of our government, I feel that the work of this session will result in signal benefit to our people. To the prevailing political party which so largely predominates in your honorable body, I would respectfully suggest that the eyes of all the people of this State are firmly fixed upon you, and that you will be held in strict accountability for any extravagances or errors that you may make, and will receive due and proper credit for all your actions that redound to the best interests of the commonwealth. I therefore urge rigid economy on your part, and the most painstaking efforts in formulating just and impartial legislation. DEFOREST RICHARDS, On conclusion of his address, His Excellency the Governor requested that the Hon. William A. Richards, ex-Governor of Wyoming, read the biennial message of the Governor, and the Honorable ex-Governor thereupon proceeded with the reading of said message as follows: Message of the Retiring Governor. Executive Office, Cheyenne, Wyo., December 31st, 1898. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives Upon retiring from the office which, by the grace of the people, I have filled for four years, it is my duty to report to you the condition of the affairs of the State, and to make such suggestions and recommendations as my knowledge and experience dictate. It will not be necessary to enter into the details of the transactions of each department of the Government, as these are fully set forth in the reports of the State officers and boards, which will be laid before your honorable bodies. These reports are full and explicit, and are worthy of careful consideration. As being of the greatest importance, the financial condi tion of the State first claims attention. STATE FINANCES. The reports of the State Treasurer for the two years ending September 30th, 1898, show: Balance on hand September 30th, 1896. $ 65,076.22 103,785.69 Leaving a balance September 30th, 1898. Upon this date there were outstanding State warrants amounting to $3,901.55, leaving a net balance of cash upon September 30th, 1898, of $99,884.14, a net gain in two years of $41,726.59. This increase in the cash balance is prin |