Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-12-11
SOME GOOD ADVICE.

henry MltcneM OF ELK fOlnb makes
lsome good suggestions to the legislature,
through communication to the Sioux
City Journal, as follows:
'sAs a state we are living beyond our
means. The representation in the legis-
lature is to large, it now being 169,
greater than the wealthy state Of New
York. For salaries of members of the
last house senate alone it cost $53, ,235;
for clerks in the two houses 81 /, 600; for
mileage OF members of the two houses,
$19, ,342.20, a total Of over $83,500 be-
sides the cost of printing. The legis-
lature last winter appropriated $105,000
for the support Of the state universities
and schools. It is commendable to sup
port high schools provided we can afford
Lit, which we cannot do. Especially
should there be total extinction OF the
following Offices: Commissioner OF i'm
migration, for which an appropriation of
81 ZOO was made; also that of railroad
commissioner, which costs us $4,000;
state veterinary surgeons Office, 81, 700;
a useless appropriation of $4,000 to the
state militia, which exists chiefly on pa
| per, should be checked; d so-called
board of charities is maintained at the
expense of the state for no good; the off
ice OF county attorney should be abolish
ed and one elected for each Judicial cir
cult; the Office OF county judge should
be abolished and the probate business
done in the circuit court. We also could
do without the court reporter, as well as
many other luxuries, until we can afford
them. The recent election tells us we
must economize. Too many counties in
the state pay but nominal tax. Ten
counties in the southeast corner OF the
state and the Black Hills district will
have to pay the major. portion OF the
levy. We do not know what our farmers
in the dry district will raise next year.
Should they be as unfortunate as the
last three, we who are more fortunate
cannot pay the tax and live. 1t is to be
hoped that the senate, which is repubI-
can, will profit by the above suggestions
at the next session, and see that such
bills are introduced and passed in the
way of reform as will keep the reason
able expenses within the income"
Commenting upon the above, the
Journal points out several of the evils
that exist in the way Of extravaganza in
the state. 1T is opposed to the member
ship of the Legislature being SO large, a
fact that has been generally recognized
by the people for some time.
"It is easy to trace, as the Journals
correspondent does, heavy needless ex-
pense to this excessive membership. OF
course, this item alone does not account
for the deficit. On the other hand the
indirect expenses caused by it perhaps
equal the direct expenses. In addition.
the Legislature created multitude of
Offices that might very well have been
dispensed with-boards, commissioner
ships, etc. An appropriation went with
each of these. Many of them were little
better than sinecures. All of them were
nuclei for additional items Of expense.
Another serious mistake was the haste to
multiply the institutions of the new state.
The state has 'plant" in the way of in
stitutions that would be adequate for a
commonwealth Of many times its popu-
lation.
"For many OF these errors the people
themselves were more to blame than the
republican party, although it is held re-
sponsible as the party in power. The
multiplication of state institutions for
example, grew out of the eager local
competition to secure the benefits of pos
session Of such institutions. But it was
a mistake; mistake which temporarily
cost the republicans dearly in the late
election. The aggregate cost Of all these
errors is large. The effect was aggravated
by drought and short crops in many 10.
calities.
j The true remedy is economy. A wise
economy will go far, il not to prevent 9
deficiency in the treasury, at least to
bring things back to satisfactory con
dition in comparatively short time
Let the membership be cut down at ths
earliest practical moment. Let the use
less commissionerships and boards be
Topped off. It is always easier to create
than to abolish an Office, but South Da
kota may well give it's attention to re-
trenchment for time. It cannot afford
to do otherwise.
III I'm this way, il it be followed with
good business Judgment for year O
two, the evil now complained Of can b
entirely cured, and vet not dollar o
additional taxation put upon the people
il A first class row is in progress oye
the Dakota Knights OF Labor Office a
NV "A Ill.,,