ed Messrs. Cooper, Ellas and Badgette as a committee to act with a like committee from the Senate to call upon His Excellency, the Governor, to notify him that the Sixth Legislature of the State of Wyoming is now fully organized and ready to receive any communication he may choose to make. Very respectfully, A. J. MOKLER, The committee appointed to wait on the governor in conjunction with the House committee reported that the governor would be ready to deliver his message at 2 o'clock p. m. this day. The following communication was read: Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 3, 1901. To the President and Senate of the State of Wyoming. Gentlemen: The Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone company desires to extend the usual courtesy of a telephone for use of your honorable body during the session, and also free use of its toll lines to your members, when called for from the Senate telephone, or from any one of our public stations. This latter privilege is offered for two reasons, one being to extend the convenience to members who may be able to reach their homes by the telephone lines now constructed, and second for demonstrating to the members of your honorable body, the character of lines and service that this company expects to extend throughout the state. If acceptable will you kindly instruct the sergeant-at-arms to select a location for the instrument, and furnish this company with a list of persons entitled to use of lines under this privilege. Very respectfully, GEO. F. THOMPSON, Manager. On motion of Mr. Guernsey, the offer of the Rocky Moun tain Bell Telephone company was accepted with the thanks of the Senate, and the sergeant-at-arms was directed to select a place for the 'phone. On motion the Senate then stood in recess until 1:55 p. m. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Senate was called to order at 1:55 p. m. by Mr. President. MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE. Hall of the House of Representatives, Hon. President of the Senate: Sir: I am directed by the Hon. House of Representatives to notify your honorable body that the honorable speaker has this day named Messrs. Lewis, Butler and Condit as a committee to confer with a like committee from your honorable body and conduct the governor to the House that he may deliver his message in joint session. Very respectfully, A. J. MOKLER, Chief Clerk. Hall of the House of Representatives, Hon. President of the Senate: Sir:--I am instructed by the Speaker of the House to extend an invitation to your honorable body to meet with them in joint session in the hall of the House of Representatives at two o'clock p. m. today for the purpose of receiving the message of His Excellency the governor. Very respectfully, A. J. MOKLER, On motion the chief clerk was directed to notify the House of the acceptance of the invitation to meet in joint session. Mr. McGill, chairman of the committee appointed to confer with a like committee from the House on joint rules, reported that the committee had conferred with the House committee and recommended the adoption of the joint rules of the Fifth State Legislature as the temporary joint rules of the Sixth Legislature. On motion of Mr. Guernsey the president appointed a committee of two to act with a like committee from the House to escort the governor to the joint session. The president appointed as such committee Messrs. Guernsey and Brittain. MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE. House of Representatives, Hon. President of the Senate: Sir:-I am directed by the honorable speaker of the House of Representatives to inform your honorable body that the House has this day adopted the joint rules of the Fifth Legislature. Respectfully, A. J. MOKLER, Chief Clerk. House of Representatives, Hon. President of the Senate: Senate Messrs. Roberts, Smith, Hanna. Auditor-Mr. Hicks. Secretary-Mr. Platt. Treasurer-Mr. Emigh. Superintendent of Schools-Mr. Dinwiddie. Associate Justice Corn-Mr. Fourt. Associate Justice Knight-Mr. O'Brien. Very respectfully, A. J. MOKLER, Chief Clerk. Mr. Guernsey moved that the Senate appoint committees consisting of one member each to act with the House committees to invite the state officers to attend the joint session. The chair appointed as such committees the following: To invite the state auditor, Senator Sullivan. To invite the Secretary, Senator Rusk. To invite the treasurer, Senator Black. To invite the superintendent of public instruction, Senator Osmond. To invite the chief justice, Senator Nichols. To invite Associate Justice Corn, Senator Griffin. To invite Associate Justice Knight, Senator Iredale. The committee of the House appointed to escort the members and officers of the Senate to the hall of the House of Reprosentatives now appearing at the bar of the Senate informed the president that they were ready to escort the members and officers of the Senate to the hall of the House of Representatives. The officers and members of the Senate then proceeded to the hall of the House of Representatives under escort of the House committee. JOINT SESSION. Hall of the House of Representatives, Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 9, 1901. The hour of 2 o'clock p. m. having arrived, being the hour appointed to receive the message of His Excellency, the governor of Wyoming, the president of the Senate called the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives to order. The roll of the Senate and House of Representatives was called by the respective clerks. All the members of both the Senate and House responded to their names except Senator Williams. The committee appointed to escort the governor to the House appeared at the bar with His Excellency DeForest Richards, Governor of Wyoming. Upon being presented to the joint assembly His Excellency proceeded to deliver his bi-annaal message. The message is as follows: GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Cheyenne, Wyoming, January 9th, 1901. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: I herewith present for your consideration, a terse history of the affairs of Wyoming for the past two years Three reports only are in print and are before you, viz., the Treasurer's, the Auditor's and that of the University. The other reports have been filed in my office, as the law requires, and are open to your inspection. All have been compiled with great care and abound in valuable information for your guidance, and a part of them should be published for the benefit of the people of the state. STATE FINANCES. The report of the State Treasurer shows a most satisfactory change in the condition of the state's finances. As shown by the report of the State Treasurer of Sept. 30th., 1898, there was a deficiency in the general fund of $3,688.01. In other words, warrants amounting to that sum had been issued in excess of the balance available in said fund for their payment. I have the pleasure of reporting that the Treasurer's statement of Sept. 30th, 1900, shows a net balance in the general fund, after allowing for outstanding warrants of $22,304.43; a net gain of $25,992.44 over two years ago. The Treasurer's cash statement is most important and is as follows: Cash balance Oct. 1st., 1898...$103,785.69 Receipts from all sources. Investments repaid Disbursements Investments Cash balance, Sept. 30, 1900. 714,135.21 42,107.16 .$625,195.82 63,147.16 171,685.08 $860,028-06 $860,028.06 This shows a gain in the cash balance of $67,949.39 over the cash balance of two years ago. DELINQUENT STATE TAX. The Treasurer's report states that while on the 30th of Oct. 1898, the total amount of delinquent tax and the accrued interest thereon was $45,853.76, the present amount is but $35,809.52. In view of the fact that each previous report showed an increase in the delinquent tax over the preceding report, this improved condition of affairs is most gratifying, especially as further improvement is promised during the coming year by reason of the fact that a considerable portion of the amount now delinquent has been placed in judgment and a special tax levy made this year for its payment, and some counties against whom judgement has not been rendered have voluntarily made special levies this year for the purpose of paying their delinquencies to the state. The State Treasurer has been earnest in his efforts to find proper investment for the common school permanent land fund in desirable bonds and so far, has been able to invest something over $20,000 of this fund in Wyoming school district bonds. At present he is negotiating for the investment of quite a large sum in county bonds, which, if his efforts are successful, will absorb to a great extent, the common school permanent land fund now in his hands and will place it upon an interest-bearing basis. THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. The report of the Secretary of State shows a large increase in the volume of business transacted in the office, together with an increase of nearly forty per cent of the fees received during the two preceding years. In addition to this large increase of business, there was imposed upon the Secretary, together with the Attorney General, the revising and publication of the Revised Statutes, which required seven months of constant, arduous labor. In addition to the above, the Secretary edited and published a handsome pamphlet on the general resources of the state, comprising an edition of 5,000 copies, 4900 of which have been distributed upon special applications therefor, to all sections of the United States as well as to foreign countries. This pamphlet has been the means of exciting not only much favorable comment concerning the state, but, I believe, has also attracted the investment of considerable capital within Wyoming. The Secretary recommends an appropriation of $2,000 for the publication of a new pamphlet containing more and new facts regarding the resources of Wyoming. He asks to be relieved from accounting for 3289 volumes of old session laws which, since the publication of the Revised. Statutes, have become obsolete and only encumber the vaults. He recommends that corporations be required to file an annual report, in his office, showing the continuance of corporate life, for which a filing fee will be charged. This would not only be a source of some revenue, but would also enable the Secretary to answer many inquiries which are received by him from prospective investors, regarding corporations. I urgently recommend such legislation. He recommends a change in Sec. 2164 of the Revised |