The Sisseton weekly standard., January 15, 1909, Image 10

About The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929

Image provided by: South Dakota State Historical Society – State Archives

                
1
In hi* messaga to the legislature
Bov. Crawford, the retiring governor,
teals at vome length with the finances
»t the atate and urges the necessity
tor economy. He says:
In a young and rapidly growing
iionumonwealth like South Dakota, each
iuflcfe$dlng session of the legislature
prMaedi hard by the representatives
if! its Institutions and the growing
luaands of its officers, as well as by
the needs of its people, for Increased
Appropriations. Two years ago the
MgMilture, in response to insistent
,.Uld zealous appeals, based in most
iases upon actual merit, increased the
Appropriations considerably above
ihoae made during the four years
•receding.
I To provide for the payment of the
feneral appropriation for ordinary cur
*ent expenses of the state adimlnistra
ion, the state board levied a state
j~" rnz of mills in each of the years
it07 and 1908, and also levied an ad
ii _Jlttlonal mill in 1907 and an additlon
,.il mill In 1908 to provide for deflcien
/ilea in revenues and in 1907—as di
-^r *eoted by the legislature—It levied 1\4
mills for the installation of a twin®
Jlant at the penitentiary, making the
.Otal levy of state taxes for 1907, 4V4
Dills,
and for 1908, 3 mills. While the
•UMVe appropriations were reasonably
'jnawSesesary, and the state appears to
ttave received full value for the money
ixpend'ed, the end of the fiscal year,
f?f«rS^Ui#e SO, 1908, shows an increased de
£HtaIt which must be provided for by a
"fWljeAciency levy in 1909, and it is the
.ftllMty Of this legislature to firmly hold
appropriations within a limit that
•rill enable the state to keep its ex
jenditnres within its income, and pay
•ta outstanding warrants.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
'Constitution has placed a firm limit
.*i*MVon the levies which may be made
state revenues, and notwithstand
..y ing the fact that only two years ago
liberal appropriations were made for
new buildings for the institutions, the
reports submitted to the governor for
•the biennial period now ending, show
list of new demands which the con-
Sitlon of the state finances makes it
Imperative to postpone. We cannot
»nd we must not undertake to do all
iithese things at once. The heads of
*the several educational and penal and
Charitable institutions, including the
ioldlers* home and the boards of con
trol, recommend special appropriations
amounting in the aggregate to more
than a million dollars, not including
the amounts recommended by the
itate capitol commission as necessary
to enable it to complete the erection,
furnishing and equipping of the half
sompleted building.
The governor reviews the work that
aas been accomplished in the building
jf the new state capitol. Contracts
nave been entered into for $540,552 for
ihe erection of the building and $38,000
for heating and plumbing. Construc
-.ion work has progressed satisfactorily
»nd will be completed by Jan. 1, 1910.
For additional work in furnishing the
suilding and landscaping the grounds,
etc., $204,000 will bV needed.
Under the law passed by the legis
lature of 1907, relating to the assess
ment and taxation of the property of
railway, telegraph, tlephone, express
ind sleeping car companies, the state
board of assessment has been able to
procure much additional information
regarding the value of property of
railways and other public service cor
porations in the state, and to assess
the terminal and structures of rail
way companies sitM'.-.a within the
limits of incorporated cities and towns.
The law has proven to be a most ex
tellent one.
While the constitution contemplates
that all taxable property shall be as
sessed at its full cash value, it Is no
toriously true that local assessors as
sess it at from one-fifth to one-third
of its actual cash value, and this as
sessment Is equalized on that basis
by the city and county boards of
equalisation. In performing Its du
ties as a state board of equalization
the state board is limited by law as
to the extent to which it may raise
the aggregate valuation of the tax
able property of the state. The state
board, when it comes to assess the
property of the railroads, express,
•let ping car, telegraph and telephone
companies, must apply the same aver
age ratio to true value that is applied
'to the assessment of other property,
because section 2 of Article XI. of
the constitution declares that the rules
prescribed by the legislature for the
appraisement and assessment of
property in the general law must be
tuch that "every person and corpora
tion shall pay a tax in proportion to
the value of his, her or its property."
In attempting to comply with the
•pirit of this declaration of the con
stitution, the state board aimed, in
assessing corporate property and in
equalizing the assessment of other
property, to apply a rule by which, so
far as ascertainable, all classes of
property would be assessed at one
third of the full value.
The general results are, however,
far from satisfactory. Owing to the
Incomplete and often misleading char
acter of the returns made and the
unreliability of information received
injustice Is frequently done to in
dividual owners by the action of the
state board. A very large amount of
property is not returned at all and
consequently escapes all the burdens
of taxation.
Millions of dollars deposited in the
banks or loaned out on interest-bear
ing securities are not listed by the
assessor and cannot be reached by
tlio state board.
The revenue law of South Dakota
does not furnish a remedy for these
glaring defects. I heartily agree with
the cutRoing state treasurer In the ad
vocacy of a law creating a non-parti
san, appointive tax commission. The
proposed amendment to the constitu
tion. submitted to the voters by the
last legislature and rejected by them,
had in view a change in the organic
law which would permit a graduated
or progressive tax upon incomes and
Inheritances and contained some excel
lent provisions. The fatal defect in it,
and the one which undoubtedly caused
Its defeat, was the proposed removal
of the limit of taxes levied for state
purposes to two mills for estimated or
dinary expenses and requiring legisla
tive authority for deficiency levies.
Public Service Corporations.
Since the enactment of the law ok
1907. relating to the assessment and
.taxation of corporate property, the pub
lie serlce corporations have been taxed
upon much higher valuations than be
fore, and I believe they are now pay
ing their reasonable share of the pub
ic taxes. The connecting track law.
the double damage laws, relating to
killing of atock and losses caused by
CRAWFORD'S MESSAGE
Retiring Governor Reports on State's Business
and Offers Many Suggestions Regard
ing Legislation.
fires, the fellow servant law, the law
limiting the hours of continuous serv
ice, the reciprocal demurrage law, anti
pass law, and anti-lobby law, primary
election law, and law making it a crime
for corporations to make contributions
to political parties or to party candi
dates or committees, removed most o(
the abuses of which the people justly
complained under these laws, which
are working well, the corporation has
been removed from political power in
South Dakota. No reasonable person
wishes to do an injustice to the rail
roads. We need them and they need
us and a spirit of mutual fair dealing
should prevail between them and the
people. I regard it as unfortunate that
the railway companies having lines in
South Dakota did not comply with the
law of 1907 and the order of the board
of railroad commissioners thereunder,
fixing the maximum passenger fare at
two and one-half cents per mile.
All political parties and factions in
1908 joined in a demand that this leg
islature pass an absolute act, with an
emergency clause attached, making it
effective at once, fixing the maximum
passenger rate between points in this
state at two cents a mile. The people
have spoken on this subject, and your
duty is plain.
Platform promises must be kept if
we expect to hold the confidence of the
people who place us in power.
Board of Railway Commissioners.
Your most careful consideration of
the annual report of the board of rail
road commissioners for the year end
ing June 30, 1908, Is asked. Through
the effective service of that board
many of the excessive charges on
freight traffic to points west of the
Missouri river—particularly the out
rageous charges on emigrant movables
—have been very materially reduced
a new and cheaper classification has
been made connecting tracks at junc
tion points have been ordered and put
In many specific complaints have
been heard and relief granted.
Ascertainment of True Cash Value of
Railroads.
The legislature of 1907 appropri
ated the sum of $10,000 for the pur
pose of enabling the board of railroad
commissioners to ascertain the true
cash value of the railroad lines within
the state. For this purpose, the com
mission engaged the services of Mr.
C. C. Witt, an experienced engineer
Dr. Homer M. Derr. professor of civil
engineering at the College of Mechanic
Arts at Brookings, and Mr. E. F.
Swartz, for many years the efficient
deputy state auditor at Pierre.
This work has been golnk on for
some time and Is reported In detail
by the commission, who state that
when the work is concluded, they be
lieve this state will have a more com
plete and correct valuation than has
ever been secured by similar bodies in
other states.
Statet Supervision of Public Utilities.
Complaints are made that the charges
of the express, telegraph and telephone
companies are too high. A telephone
commission was created two years ago,
composed of the state treasurer, state
auditor and a telephone commissioner
appointed by the governor, who draws
a salary of $1,200 a year. It was given
general supervision and control of all
the telephone lines and exchanges in
the state, with power to hear and de
termine complaints, require reports,
r.iade schedules of maximum rates,
compel connections and prevent unjust
discriminations. The legislature, how
ever, made no appropriation whatever
for the expenses of the commission and
It has not been able to accomplish
much for the want of funds.
The governor recommends that the
supervision of the board of railroad
commissioners be extended to express
and teleg-rayh companies, and such
electric transportation companies as
may hereafter be organized. In other
words, that this board be given tht
powers of a public service commission,
State and County Depositary Law.
Both of the great political parties in
this state have declared in favor of a
comprehensive state and county de
positary law, which shall yield a reve
nue to the state and county.
The retiring state treasurer in his
report recommends such a law and It
will be one of the Important duties you
will have to perform. It should be so
framed cs to bring to the state, as well
as to the counties, a return of interest
for the use of the public funds and It
should, so far as It can safely be done,
relieve the state treasurer of the enor
mous responsibility and risk, which, as
the law now stands, he must assume to
the extent of half a million dollars.
Penal and Charitable Institutions.
I commend to your consideration the
report of the board of charities and
corrections for the period ending June
30, 1908, accompanied by the reports
of the superintendents of the hospital
for the insane at Yankton, hospital for
persons of feeble mind at Redfield,
school for deaf mutes at Sioux Falls,
school for the blind at Gary, training
school at Plankinton, and warden of
the penitentiary at Sioux Falls.
The board reports that the work,
upon the whole, done in all these Insti
tutions has been satisfactory and that
improvement Is manifest in each.
State Board ef Reoents.
As one reads the report of the board
of regents and the accompanying re
ports of the earnest men at the head
of the several educational Institutions
committed to their care, and learns of
the crowded conditions arising from
the over increasing numbers of the at
tending students and of the needs for
better salaries and more buildings and
In the same connection calls to mind
the constitutional limitation upon the
state tax levies, which makes it im
possible to grant all that is so much
needed, a feeling of pungent regret
arises that more cannot be done. But
as I have already said, we must be
patient because the aid can be given
only in small Installments. It will all
come out right In time.
Conservation of Natural Resources.
The reference of the state geologist
to the artesian basin leads me to a still
larger subject, to-wit—the conserva
tion of all our natural resources, and
the improvement of our waterways.
Acting upon the express request of
the Hon. Gifford Pinchot, chairman of
the National Conservation commission,
last August, I named a standing state
commission on state conservation con
sisting of Hon. Robert J. Gamble
chairman: Hon. E. w. Martin, Hon.
O. C. Dokken, Hon. Samuel H. Lea and
Hon. Doane Robinson, as secretary.
This commission has made a prelimin
ar report so replete with valuable in
formation and suggestions that its
contents will be a revelation to most
people. The suggestions made in this
report are invaluable. It ought to be
printed and widely disseminated. There
is no appropriation for that purpose,
however. Its publication and distribu­
tion by the secretary of the state fair
board and ex-offlclo commissioner of
immigration would give to the world
information concerning our resources
never published in so striking a man
ner before.
I earnestly urge that an appropria
tion be made for the printing and dis
tribution of this report.
Commissioner of Immigration.
Under the provisions of chapter 76,
Session Laws of 1907. making the sec
retary of the state board of agricul
ture ex-offlclo commissioner of immi
gration, and requiring the governor to
make the appointment, 1 appointed Mr.
Clarence N. Mcllvaine of Huron to the
position. As secretary of the board
of agriculture he has rendered every
possible service and the capable and
efficient performance of his duties i:i
that regard have taken no small part
of his time.
No appropriation is mode after Jan.
1, 1909. The office is, therefore, with
out a dollar for its maintenance at
this time. There seems to be. a de
mand for the maintenance of an im
migration bureau, and until some other
and better plan is to provide for, the
arrangement made by the law of 190'?,
should be supported by an appropria
tion.
1
The state fair is now one of the per
manent and substantial institutions of
the state. No more effective stimulus
to better methods of farming and I
stock raising can be found. No more I
convincing and attractive advertising
of the substantial resources of the state
can be devised. No other will bring
as good a return for the money spent.
Insurance of Deposits.
The platform of the dominant party
on which the larger number of you
gentlemen were elected, contains the
following declaration:
"Our national platform favors the
establishment of a postal savings bank
system for the convenience of the peo
ple and the encouragement of thrift.
The protection of depositors against
loss by insolvent and mismanaged
banks, and' the protection of solvent
and well managed banks against run:,
and panics, requires that postal sav
ings bank laws be accompanied by effi
cient laws, state and nationai, pro
viding for the insurance of depositors
against loss. We favor the enactment
of such laws."
It is undoubtedly true that a nation
al law is soon to be enacted establish
ing postal ravings banks. Depos5«
in these savings banks will be mauv
upon time certificates only and there
will be no open accounts. The depos
its will not be kept in the local banks,
but will probably be sent to central
reserves, and thus withdrawn fiom the
state to the detriment of the local
banks, both state and national.
The funds thus removed will, of
course, be more inaccessible and less
likely to be used in facilitating local
business than if the same were kept
in the home banks. For this reaiion,
as well as for many other good and
obvious reasons, a carefully worked
out law for the protection and in
surance or depositors is demanded l'
the times.
Dairy and Food Commission.
Certain sections in the law enacted
by the legislature of 1907 in relation
t" the branding and sale of drugs and
medicines were declared to bo invalid
for fatal omissions and ambiguities
in the language used, leaving our pure
food law somewhat crude and incom
plete.
The law should be amended so as
to become effective. The purpose
should be not to favor or injure unv
class but to protect the consumin:-'
public from fraud.
School and Public Land.
The report of the commissioner of
school and public lands shows that his
department is in a prosperous condi
tion. The lands sold during the past
two years have brought much higher
prices than ever before, and the rent
als have greatly increased.
The 'arge and constantly incri'asliiT
permanent fund Is all loaned on siifu
securities and the department has been
unable to supply the demand for loans,
but has been obliged at times, to hold
up applications for months, and some
timer lias been forced to refuse them
entirely. Every acre of capitol building
lands situated east of the Missouri
river has been sold and over $400.0n0
realized from these.lands, with over 41.
000 acres gtlll unrold wo»t of the :iv
Primary fclection Law.
Two years ago, ill keeping with it
platform pledge previously maoS, thfc
legislature enacted a comprehensive
primary election law. During the year
1908, the several political parties niai"
their party nominations under this law
and the dominant party selected it
party candidate for the United Stater:
senate, the law providing that the
Indorsement by popular vote "shall k-.vc
the force and effect of an instruct ior
to such members of the legislature
the same political party as were nom
inated in the same primary election,
to vote for and support such candi
date in the legislature for the ollice of
United Stales senator."
Our primary election law in its gen
eral and essential features is similar
to that enacted in Kansas. Nebraska.
Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin. Washington
and a number of other states. As a
system governing political party man
agement and nominations, it has come
to stay. No instance has been report
ed where it has been repealed.
A general attack was made upon this
law in the supreme court of the state
last May in which its constitutionality
was questioned and every possible ob
jection urged. The general provisions
of the law were sustained. Two provi
sions. however, were held to be invalid,
to wit:
Sections 8 and 10, which required
candidates for nominations to pay a
designated fee at the time of fi iiv:
their nominating petitions, the money
received to be covered into the gen
eral fund to reimburse the county for
expenses incurred in holding the pri
mary also the clause in section 65.
which reads: "Each county shall be
entitled to one delegate to each party
state convention for every 100 votes
or major fraction thereof, cast by such
political party in said county for its
party candidate for governor at the last
preceding general election also the
following proviso in subdivision 3 of
section 66: "Provided, that whenever
two-thirds of the members of the
county central committee of the sev
eral political parties of any county at
a regularly called meeting, shsjil decide
that there is not a sufficient contest
over the selection of delegates from
such county to the state conventions,
called to elect delegates to nationai
conventions, to justify the expense of
holding a county convention, such
county central committee shall have
the power to name the delegates from
said county, and the chairman and sec
retary of the proper committee shall
sign the delegate credentials."
As each of the clauses quoted can
be dropped from the statute without
invalidating the remainder, and th
court having so held, I recommend that
the sections above referred to be
amended by eliminating them.
The governor urges that a special
commission be authorized to be ap
pointed by the governor from among
the specially fitted physicians of the
state to investigate the extent of tu
berculosis In the state and to collect
and distribute reliable literature, which
will assist In educating the public as
to the means by which Its spread
among the people may be checked.
SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE.
Review of the Most Impor
tant Work of the State
Legislators for the
Week.
Thursday was the first day in the
general assembly for the introduction
of bills, and they came with a rush
In the house, an even dozen In all.
Representative Hale got No. 1 on his
bill providing for depositaries for state
and county funds. Representative Ra
num also getting in a bill on the same
subject. Others following were a pure
drug bill measures providing for the
establishment of a slale inebriate asy
lum at Hightuore increasing the su
preme court to live, and two of espe
cial import to the press, requiring elec
tion officials to make prompt abstracts
of the precinct votes to county au
ditors,. and that auditors make prompt
unofficial returns to the secretary of
state. Ranum and McDonnell had
their 2-cent rate bills ready, both of
which were sent in.
The senate did no business except
to appoint a long list of clerks, ap
pointing ,T. M. Otterness senate ste
nographer. Thomas McKie journal
clerk ,and on committees C. K. Sny
der, F. E. Van Shaick. Pearl Iluukins,
Len Robertson, N. E. Phillips, Clar
ence Thompson, Hans Helgerson, M.
J. Bryden, G. E. Mackey, G. D. Cook
and M. Keene.
In the senate Englesby will Intro
duce a bill fixing a maximum rate of
25 cents for a ten-word message be
tween any two points in the state.
The senate started on its first day
for introduction of billte to beat the
house record of (he first day and dou
bled it. Among the principal oills
which appeared in the upper house a
measure to insure bank deposits and
several railroad and insurance bills.
What might he called the first freak
bills of the session appeared and was
designed to fix a penalty for charivari
parties who disturb Mr. and Mrs. New
lywed and penalties for Halloween
mischief which come from Senator
Johnson of Kingsbury.
The North Carolina bond question
will be before the senate as a live
issue for a time, Senator Dillon pre
senting his bill to refund to that state
the money received from North Caro
lina on the suit on Shaeffer bonds. The
bill was made a special order in the
senate for next Thursday, and, as
there is a decided difference of opin
ion on the proposition, a warm debate
is expected.
In the house the list of clerks se
lected for the session was
E. M. WanJiaugh, J. W. Blount, How
ard Seaman, C. .T. Anderson, Frank
Wynia, R. R. Pember, Ole Rasmus
son. Herman Bode, J. B. Clendennen,
.T. H. Mehrrent, W. H. Deeth, W. W.
White, Oscar Killness, Prances Ken
ney. L. M. Anderson, J. B. Morse, C.
L. Olessner.
Senate bills of importance were: To
fix maximum rates for express com
panies and the North Carolina refund
bill. In the house the principal new
bills were the pure drug bill, drawn
by Pure Food Commissioner Wheaton
prohibiting drinking on trains and
giving all train operators police power
to stop same the creation of a new
judicial circuit \vest pf the Missouri
river, and a resolution to sub nit. tc
the people the proposed interest of
salary of the attorney general to $'j,D00
a year.
ARIZONA NATURAL BRIDGE.
A gigantic natural bridge situated
in the wilderness of Arizona and pos
sessing even more marvels than tfie
natural bridge of Virginia, is describ
ed by Dwight E. Woodbridge, a Du
luth mining engineer.
Not only is this bridge a natural
wonder, but Its span and width are so
•ireat. that its floor has been convert
?d into a truck garden. The bridge Is
100 miles south of Jerome. Travel
ers who frequent that, part of the
country pass within a few miles of It
without visiting the natural wonder.
Mr. Woodbridge stopped at the
bridge while on a horseback trip
through that section of the country.
At the edge of the bridge he found a
cottage occupied by an old Indian
lighter, who went there several years
ago and cultivated the few fertile
spots In the oanyon. While there Mr.
Woodbridge was served with a -meal
which waa raised in the garden on
on the bridge.
For the length of span this bridge
eclipses the Virginia bridge or any of
lie other natural bridges in Ameri
ca. Its span Is more than 200 feet
and it stretches across a branch of
the Verde river, which rushes
through the porge 200 feet below.
The bridge is about 180 feet in width,
fhc door being as level as that of a
bridge built by man. Along the sides
of the stream which runs below are
dozens of springs from which warm
water flows continually. The spot is
iOO miles from a railroad.
A Gold Season.
It Is the season for gold, gold in all
its variety of coloring. The dazzling
gold on gauzes and tulles is combined
in many exquisite evening creations.
It is generally mingled with velvet of
a bright amber color or a deep or
ange shade. A diaphanous yellow
mousseline is made to veil a gold or
bronze net, the two producing a
charming effect over a foundation of
gold tissue or yellow satin. The yel
low satin combines a princess robe
under an empire fashioned peplum of
the gold gauze.—Town and Country.
Bui South End
Stands
I
BLUE FRONT LIVERY
of
Second
The Sabbstsherp hospital is to be
enlarged and improved the present
year. About a quarter million crowns
will he used In the erection of a ward
for eye and ear diseases. The hospi
tal la looated at Stockholm.
The revised lax lists for ihe city
of Stockholm have just been complet
ed. The lists show the total value of
the real estate of the city to be $324,
886,506. The last list was put. out
five years ago, and the present re
vision indicates an Increase of almost
50 per cent In real estate values.
There is a movement on foot to
prevent the use of bultor tubs more
than once by bultor manufacturers.
English Importers are said to be be
hind the movement which will In
crease the manufacture of the tubs.
Birger Swahn. author of the notori
ous pamphlet. "Think First—Act Af
terwards," was sentenced to a year's
penal servitude for the distribution
of this treasonable document. This
sentence has now been mitigated to
eight month's service, and the pamph
let is declared confiscated.
The
tl. H. MEAD. PaoMUBTon-
livery and Feed Stable
SPECIAL ATTENTION TO
TRAVELING MEN
lit.
SiSSCtOD
%iWWWWWWWWWWWVWVWWVVWWWVW9
Worth Comes From Good
You can't have good bread unless you have
good material. We use only the beet, milling
wheat In the manufacture ot our flour. We
bavo the latest and most approved machin
ery and uae it in the best way and the result
Is that the product of our mill
S. D.
Its Merit.
on
The flour manufactured by the Susetoa Mill
iBg Co. stands up to our recommendations
tor It. Bread and pastry made with our flour
are stimulating and help rsake good living.
Try a sack.
The Sisseton Mill&LigtitCo.
We Also Handle Coal and Feed
4M
31
I
I have been ranching OK an island
for more than a quarter of a century.
There are no carnivorous wild ani
mals on my island but the coyote wolf,
and I could get rid of him In a vary
short time and at very little expense,
but if I did the rabbit would soon put
me out of business, have experi
mented along these lines and know
what I'm talking about, and I declare
here and now that in my opinion the
carnivorous wild animals of Texaa
save the farmers and stock
hundreds of millions of dollars by
keeping the rabbit in check.
Good Pay, Short Houra.
A certain cottage an its.o1d mistress
had improved so greatly iu comfort
and appearance that, a visitor shrewd
ly surmised thai: the son of Ihe house,
a lazy ne'er-do-well, had turned over
a new leaf. He inquired about it.
"Yes. sir. my son's in work now."
said Ihe smiling old mother. "Takes
good money, he does too. All he has
to do is to go twice a day to the cir
cus and put his head in the lion's
month. The rest of his time 'e 'as to
himself."
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S
Opposite Commercial Hotel Bute ton. South Dakota