Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-04
We are sorry to sec our friends of

Z dIt SoIlN w ste olI lllclluS vi
the Press and Dakotaian let their en-
thusiasm get so much the start of their
Judgment as it did in a recent article in
regard to the unorganized counties of
the Territory. After setting forth the
grievances OF the people in these Il
ties, which by the way are understated
rather than overstated, they fall into
error in the advice given these unorga-
nized counties. After reciting the fact
that they are entitled to organization
which is withheld by the Governor for
reasons best known to himself they
say:
THE motive for this illegal delay is
perfectly plain and notorious. 1T is
monStrous and u%nbearable. Now we
have a word OF advice to these coup-
ties. You need not wait a day. nor
PAY y CENT for that organization
to which you are entitled. Go right
on. call public meetings and elect your
w county commissioners. Then let
them proceed honestly and according
to law to perform their duties. And
when the constitutional convention
meets at Sioux Falls, September 18th.
that body will have full and competent
power to legalize your proceedings"
They have overlooked the fact that
the 'people"-the power behind the
throne-have heretofore from time to
time sent their representatives to
Yankton for the purpose Of making
1n,yc, u-hn}1 M, fIy,.n Il, ,-, Z, IN, r;oh+ o,l
just or not it is not for us at this time
to inquire-but they plainly tell what
steps are necessary i'll order to make
the collection of taxes a success, and
while we are in no n apologiZing
Tor MIR. Ordway we will say that he.
Ordway, had nothing to do with the
framing of the law as it stands on the
statutes to-day. The probabilities are
that had former Legislatures looked
far enough into the future to see the
condition of Jerauld and other coun-
ties as they are to-day. there would
have been some such proviso to the
law as the Press suggests, but "he diff
ference between the foresight and
hindsight of an average Dakota legis-
latnre is Just about the same as that OF
ordinary mortals.
We have noticed in the few days that
we have been in the Territory that peo-
pie are'anNious to pay taxes; ~ they
not only pay what are assessed but they
ut the same time beg the commission
ers to put the taxes on heavier that
they may experience the pleasure of
paving taxes !! Without taxes a coun-
ty cannot long exist and emitting to
comply with the law III Ven one par
jicular makes the collection of taxes
impossible for the average man no mat
ter how patriotic he is would rather
spend 500 in a law suit than pay $50
taxes if he thinks he can evade paving
1t.
AS to she exact business that will be
transacted atfhe Sioux Falls Conven-
ton we DO not,pf course know but are
Of the opinion that the Convention
will traiiie q State Constitution which
said constitution will provide for a
Legislature which will have power to
adopt the Revised Codes or enact new
laws, but while we are willing to adj
init the power vi the people as eN-
pressed by Legislative enactment is
very comprehensive we do not think
the Legislature that is tic be will under
take to SHY that Il county organized us
the Press proposes is organized acrurd-
ing to law at the present. time. Should
the Legislature ST change the law as
to leave the choosijtg OF commission
ers to the people then and III that case
the advice Of Press Will be practical; as
it is while we do not like this DELAY it
seems to us that it is the only course
that we can pursue.