Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-01-16

all matters pertaining to his Office. and ap-
peal should be from his decision to three
sitting as council, with adequate provisions
for the enforcement of its DEGREES.
1.-The powers Of the railroad commissioner
should be enlarged in many respects so as
To embrace the control of charges within
reasonable bounds. and especially CONFER
ring power to adjust through arbitration,
damages for killing stock and setting prai-
RE fires, with penalties for failure to reverse
its findings adequate to prevent dilatory
appeals.
1.-The commissioner Of other corporations
should be especially charged with securing
assessment of banks and moneyed corpora |
tions, in order to their just taxation ana 10 |
enforce the provisions of the law as to usury |
and other subjects for their proper con- |
troll.
"The court OF Justice, as now organized
without such provision, affords practically
no protection to the rights of the citizen OF
small means as against the unlimited re-
sources OF the corporation. The state should
furnish counsel and conduct tho litigation
necessary to protect the citizen from the
oppression Of the artificial person Of its
creation. These officers should all be APP
pointed until the first general election, after
which they should be elected by the pco-
pie.
Banking and Other Subjects.
THE bonded Indebtedness of tho state is,
S11G,G00 ut per cent, $124,00O at per
cent, $a17,10o at ~ per cent, and s3oe,5oo
at per cent; besides the issue which is re-
ported to have been sold on the LIST inst.
$16O, 900 at 80 per cent, making q total of
81, 02O, 200, with an annual interest aud sink
ing fund charge OF about $4,000, which
with the additional amount necessary to
anHn ytctC ~ to
$40, 900. will make tho total Indebtedness
about 81 ,050,? 600, and this amount should not
be increased except for extraordinary en-
pcnses or public defense.
IA banking law should be enacted re-
quiring all institutions loaning money or
doing a banking business to incorporate,
| thus subjecting them to the supervision of the
public examiner, with power to cancel their
| charters for usury and other violations Of
the law.
| ''The executive again renews former
| recommendation that q reduction of the
legal rate Of interest will result in benefit
both to the legitimate banking business and
| to the general business interests of the
state.''
In reference to prohibition no said:
"While the law passed to enforce the pro-
| visions of the constitution prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors has not proven as successful as the
friends OF temperance could desire, it is be-
| loved that the result is largely attributed
to the decision of the supreme court of the
United States, which for the time weak
ened public confidence in the measure. 1t
is, however, enforced in most sections OF the
state, and by its means the evils OF intem-
perance are believed to be largely dimin-
ished.'
He recommended the Australian ballot
system, and in reference to the legislature,
said:
sit is specially recommended that the
number of each branch of the legislature be
| reduced SO that the house shall not contain
more than sixty nor the senate more than
| thirty members. Such a measure will re-
) duce the expenses OF the general assembly
so per cent, and will have q representation
ample to protect all the interests Of the
state and large enough for the duties de-
volving upon it. 1t is at least urged tina
the present apportionment be changed SO a.
, to include Fall River county"
Tho Indian Troubles.
. On the subject of the Indian troubles Ii
said:
1.-The Indian problem invites your atten
: ton. Since the opening of the vast tract @
ceded lands west of the Missouri river i
! February last there has been Il growing dis
content among the Indians resulting trol
: vexation Mt having to leave their land.
by vicious leaders through the agency G
, the ghost dance adroitly substituted i
the guise of q religious frenzy for tho wa
:. dance, which is ordinarily used to incit
savages to warfare and which had been fol
hidden among the Indians by the govern
ment. Growing INSTRUMENTATION during tn
+ year eliminated in the collection and OF
& ganization OF bodies OF defiant In
dams ON the outskirts Of the agen
cies west of the river who wer
. speedily brought to the frenzy whic
Q always preccdes an uprising. From nor
| l,on nd ST ri
where, in many places, notably on the uppe
Cheyenne, White and Bad rivers, they be
II came omen and defiant in their depreda
tions, pillaging and robbing the settlers an
conveying their plumber to q general rem
c devious in the bad lands, between tho fork
of tho upper White river The promp
action of United States troops In breakin
up the lesser camps, and the timely deaf
9 of Sitting Bull. the prince of the disaffectet
as he was starting with his band fror
Grand river to join the camp in the ba
" lands, has, it is believed, dampened thei
9 warlike ardor, although the main camp
: yet to be captured. The atfray at WOunde
5 Knee creek Il fortnight since, wherein 81
soldiers and a number of Indians wer
killed shows the trouble is not yet settled.
u cat the first appearance of alarm tn
: arms and ammunition on hand. about SO
g stands, were distributed among the settler
adjoining the reservations where the de
mand was the greatest, in charge OF com
petent person selected and commissioned a
" aide-de-camp of the governor, with admon
itory instructions as to the organization Q
the citizens for protection and genera
notice to settlers in case OF danger. Th
5 demand increasing, 1000 stands additions
: were obtained upon application to the hon
!, orable secretary Of war. and likewise dis
posed of. and still the demand continues.
1.-THE executive takes pleasure in thu
), publicly recognizing the valuable and un
selfish services of Col NJ. H. Day and Col
V. T. McGillicuddy in the Black Hills dis
9 trict, where all the active demonstration
o have occurred. Col. Day organized o troo
: Of 100 volunteers, who for some week
e patroled tie Cheyenne river opposite tn
principal hostile camp between Battle cree
and Spring creek, and kept back maraudin
parties in their raids upon the deserted prop
erty of settlers. AT Phinney's ranch tn
. . command had three lively engagements Il
y y one day with the Indians, and finally sue
- ceeded in their total defeat. Maj.
u Miles, commanding the United States forces
. has complimentcd the volunteer comman
for its gallant, patriotic and efficient ser
= vices.
"No depredations have been reporte
| Al f.s,,o =