The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-01-18

CAuRcH'S LAST ANNUAL
The Governor of Dakota De-
livers His Last Annual
Message.
Refers to the Reckless Man
agement of the Territorial
Institutions.
Dakota's Credit Is Better Than
Dakota's Credit Is Better Than
Many of the Rich Eastern States
and Municipalities.


and Municipalities
BISMARCK, Jan. 9.-The annual message
Of Gov. Church was presented to the legisla-
ture today. The governor takes occasion to
call attention to the reckless extravaganza
that Is eating up the substance of spproprla-
ttons, and INDUCES in 4 severe ''roast" on
the management of territorial institutions.
He says the total bonded indebtedness e1-
pended in building and furnishing the phb4
lie institutions Of the territory is 81, ,09s, ,sC0
The credit Of Dakota never was better and
the message saya:
predict that when Dakota Is state ter 8
per cent. bonds will sell more readily than
the AZ per cent. bonds did. Nevertheless 1t
is the first time in the history OF the United
States that q territorial bond sold for |. IS
than per cent, and we have conclusive
proof that Dskota's credit is better than
the east. Even sr. Paul, With all her re-
sources and moneSed power, told her "A per
oert. bonds about the came time at IL per
cent. less premium than our territorial bonds
The total receipts for the year Guiding No
vcmber 81, 1883, were s., ,SsS .3SS so, and the
disbursements for the same time were 81 ( az :
1882. The total value OF property In the
he year 1888, amounts to SIC, 1854 30. As
1 BOO miles OF railroad aud other property In
the territory belonging to the railroads, With
valuation OF over a .0O0, ,0UO, is not assessed
and forms no part Of the above valuation, the
railroads being taxed upon their gross earn
| I.,Fr, -, iI.,
from one half to two-;hirds OF its actual value,
is Is moderate and safe estimate TO place
the actual property values or wealth Of the
territory al $,20, 600 600.
The unsurpassed development Of the teri
tory has necessarily lead to large incr, ase
of government expenses. am OF the opinion
that the public welfaie will In no instance be
institution, or for improvements or additions
20 the present institutions. On the assembling
OF the last legislature some Of our institutions
were not completed to the ext. Mt necessary to
place them In condition for the object iu-
tend,d. The Yankton asylum undoubtedly
need cnlarging; the Madison normal school
had been destroyed by fire and rebuilt under
the encouragement that an appropriation
there for would not meet with executive dis.
favor. This condition OF affairs does not cx-
ist. All OF OUR institutions arc completed,
ana as completed are ample for the needs Of
the territory or future state or states for years
to come | earnestly recommend most
rigorous scrutiny in matters Of appropria-
tions. The last legislature appropriated a
sum OF &95,500 for the construction of two
additional wings aud other improvements at
the Yankton asylum. Charges of irrtgularlty
having been made against the majority Of the
board OF trustees OF this institution, and an
examination having been made by the public
examiner, and report Of such examination
having been died in this office as provided by
law, upon careful consideration OF said report
and the testimony taken dechicd it my duty
to withhold my sanction to the expenditure
Of this appropriation under the then existing
board. After due consideration OF the report
OF the public ex miner, en- September 30 1887,
l suspended fron, further performance Of the
duties OF the Office Of trustee a majority OF
the members Of the board, and on the 2d day
OF November, after further considering the
report Of the public examiner and the EVIL
dence submitted on his examination, | re-
moved for official misco lduct and neglect Of
duty the majority OF the board affected by my
order. September 30, the balance Of the
thereupon appointed aud commissioned an
entire new board consisting Of five members
The removed members took legal proceeding;
to test the power OF the governor to MAKE
such removals, which proceedings were de
cided adversely to the old board and the sc
tlUIl VI RCNefuOT suStHlueu. luz new
board have proceeded W tn the construction
Of the two additional wings provi;ed for by
the act OF the leg stature atove referred tt
and such improvements are rapidly approach
ing completion.
respectfully submit the report OF the pub
lie examiner and the evidence taken on suct
examination.
The trustees Of the Jamestown insarc a'y
lum exceeded their appropriation by some
fNr< <hr.t tyyO trcp
which deficiency was provided for by the las
legislature. In their report now submitted II
appears that deficiency again exists. Al
this time, January 8, the amount Is Is ,923. .05
The evidence shows a laxity Of management
which amounts to disregard of care In tht
management Of funds appropriated for III
maintenance.
The manner of managing our public insti
tutiohs Is extravagant. Until the passage o1
Meeting link between the territorial govern
ment proper and the various boards, and
while that law has proved very beneficial ir
Its operation, yet there Is no law which ena
ales the governor or auditor, or any Other
official, to restrain extravagances and curtai
the expenses Of the various boards.
An examination will show the payment Of
large and excessive salaries and the employ
ment Of unnecessary help In many instances
when good management and the application
OF business principles to reasonable degree
would result in the came being rendered Il
the public at q large saving to the territory
believe the whole system Of boards OF trus
tees for our different institutions shoald bs
abolished and the establishment of non
partisan board Of charities and corrections
which should have charge Of the charitabl.
the warden and superintendeuts and cbie
officials Of said Institutions, said board t.
regulate the number of employees and the sal
aries OF the same and to have general contro
thereof, and board Of regents with full
power to regulate and control our educationa
Institutions, are suggestions worthy of you
consideration.
The cost to the territory during the pae
two years for the different boards hai
amounted in the aggregate to Geo, ,77739 Ger
tainly an exorbitant amount, considering tn,
suggestion is not followed the number o
meetings Of boards for which they receiv,
compensation should be limited and th
amount Of compensation therefor fixed, ant
no other compensation should be allowed
| save for such 9eryices as may be performed b,
the order or consent OF the governor and al
lowed by the auditor. Large bills for the ex
out the territory are frequently presented.
The cost of conveying the Insane to ant
from asylums, and prisoners TO penitentiar
les, should be charge upon the respectiv,
| counties, and the expense appertaining t.
regulations should likewise be chargeabIe t,
the counties. Excessive bills are constantly
being presented In matters OF this kind
Were these matters referred to the countie
the county commissioners would exercise
care aud scrutiny In allowing bills or elaiml
that would result In large saving and in NJ
Ewsy interfere with the public service. Tn,
! expense Of carrying the insane for the las
two years was t29. .0s4.s3; transportation O
convlcts, t7,59e.98: acquisitions, s7,714.6l
total, "a, 1856 90. This amount, together witt
the cost to the territory for various boards O
trustees (s29, ,777.32) amounts to t74, 1924.
The auditor Is powerless 10 many instances
| to prevent overcharges, having no power I,
examine into the justness thereof. The powe
Of the auditor should be enlarged, 60 that b,
may examine Into and allow or disallow, Ii
whole or in part, claims against the terri
tory.
There should be somc restriction regarding
| q class Of insane that come within our Dor
ders. There can be no good reason advanced