Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-01-17
STATE LEGISLATION
Governor MelIette's Message to
South Dakota Legislators.
The Confederation OF the Finances
of the State Is the Most Impor-
tant Point Under Discussion.

ives OF south DAKOTA!
The first and most important subject
for your consideration is, the public finan-
ces. The states financial condition could
scarcely be more embarrassing, and her
revenue system could scarcely be worse.
No greater service could be rendered the
state by this boIy than the adoption of IA
systematic, mprehensive and efficient
code of revenue laws, and rigidly restrict
ing current expenditures by adequate pen
alties to the revenues thus prod uced.
Without such legislation financial disaster
is sure to o%vertake the state to the ire
parable injury of her credit, her ~institu-
tons and her bushes interests. Members
from counties containing public institu-
tions and who may consider themselves
agents to procure large appropriations in
the interest of their constituencies rather
than in the interest of the state should
consider whether they would not prefer "a
warrant for 81, worth 100 cents, to a war.
rant for 81, worth 100 cents in the market,
remembering that the latter condition
means final ruin to the state and her in
situations. There is only one safe policy
for the state or the individual, and that Is
to live within her income. 1t is bad enough
for an individual to mortgage his farm for
the entire value of his Improvements ana
he surely canno after that afford to bor-
row for the maintenance of his household.
The state having built her public institu.
tons entirely on borrowed capital must, at
least maintain them out of the current
revenues.
There are now outstanding against the
state about $40, 600 in warrants endorsed
by the treasurer "Not paid for want of
funds and thence bearing I per cent. in
terest, which are already subject to a
heavy discount in the market, and but for
prompt measures on your part to prevent
it their anu cunt will rapidly increase and
their value decline CORES pondingly. This
condition exists after final resort TO Dor
rowing an additional 500, 0OJ during the
past year and increasing the public in-
de TO the maximum limit under
the constitution. 1t is impossible longer
TO dod &c this issue, it is now ment
or disaster.
The governor then shows "A table of
statements, a synopsis of the total receipts
and disbursements OF the general fund
from November 5, 1889, to November 80,
1890, as shown by the detailed report Of
the state treasurer.
The present annual state expenditure is
S4l5, ASP. 76. There is but S943,0 900 to meet
this amount, hence il Is necessary for the
legislature to make a retrenchment Of
$l12, 452. 40 per annum, in order to bring
the disbursements within the receipts.
First. To this end it is suggested, that
all Offices that can be dispensed with, with
out detriment to the public service, be
abolished and others consolidated, and
salaries diminished until the expense of
administration is reduced to the minimum,
regard being had only to the public needs,
not the welfare of individuals.
Second. Provide in the general appro.
priation bill definite sums for the per
diem, mileage and contingent expenses of
each state officer and state agent, and of
each department and public institution,
-
thus bringing under control these amounts
and fixing a maximum beyond which no
res p )nsibility can attach to the state, and
supplement this enactment 10y n provision
in terms multiplying all territorial statutes
so far as they can posS by be construed a
appropriately public revenues or author,
izing any state officer or agent or board
to incur any btedness or expend any
money on behalf of the state except as
spec fically authorized by the state legisla
ture, and & a the auditor shall not draw
or the treasurer pay any warrant upol the
treasury exec pit in pursuance o. an appro
priation for the specific purpose first made
and providing Sc Fere penailis IS for its viola
ton. This stops expenditures and such of
them as are desired can be pla led In the ap.
preparation bill. The people, through you
their representatives, have n right to say
how their money shall be expended and nc
bNAANohobiNuNCN hESiN oApuAN 10 nAlpN ~ ~
usurp this suprem, right of the people
this is done money VIII run out of tn,
treasury like water out of a sieve and
there will always be a deficiency.
THE DEFICITS.
The executive is of tbs opinion thar
under the plain provisions of the consti
tuition it was intended that the ordinary
expenses of the state government. outside
of interest on the public debt, should be
conducted within the limit of a two mil
tax on the dollar. A liberal construction
may possibly authorize an additional levy
to cover the deficit of the preceding year.
under act of the legislature, as provided
by section ], article II. 1t is ( r the legis,
lature To determine this question before
making appropriations, and it SHOULD sc
govern it's action that the revenues will
meet the expenditures. Even IL the legis
lature decide it is authorized to provide
for a greater than a two mill levy, ii
should base all appropriations upon a
most careful estimat of the actual
necessities of the state, resolutely cutting
of all unnecessary expenses, regardless Of
benefit or injury to friend or foe, personal
or political. That policy in business OF
politics is fatal to either the individ ual oil
party which rests upon any other basis
than conscientious regard to duty and
truth; duty IA the heart feels it, and
truth as the mind sees 1t.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
II is believed much good in every sense
has resulted to the public institutions oil
the state from the new management ere
ated by the constitution, and further i'm
provenents are being earnestly prose
cuted by the several boards.
1t is recommended that insurance on the
public buildings be dispensed with or re
duced to a much mailer amount, as the
state can as well have the profits of the
business as the insurance companies, and
can as well afford the loss, especially as
the fees are often exorbitant
The expense of management, so far as
practicable, should be placed in the appro,
priation for the incidental ypenses o.
each institution.
As shown from the reports of the seyera,
boards the public institutions are being
conducted strictly within the appropria
tons fixed for them, and the executive
will exert his prerogatives to the utmos,
TO enforce this rule.
In the legislature Is vested, by the PEG
pie, the sole law-making power. This
body, and this body alone, should declare
tie will of the people, and formulate IL
into law.
TIL legislature alone is responsible foi
the law. obtaining credit for its merits,
and suffering criticism for its faults. The
uuministTdtiNe agent uOeS not Suafe TINS
respons Utility. and Is. not. called upon~ta
exercise his Judgment or conscience as te
what the law should be, any more thar
the private citizen, and any other theory
Is subsersiye of all free government.
The administrative agent should be held
accountable for the enforcement of the
law, not for its enactment, AMI every dis
position to usurp the province of the law
maker should be ebuked by the public
conscience and punished by statutory pro
visions. This doctrine Is specially appli
cable to law involving the state revenues,
and is declared to be the supreme law OF
the state in section y, article XII, of the con.
stitution, viz.
"All taxes levied and collected for state
shall be paid into the state treas
ury. No indebtedness shall be incurred O,
money expended by the state and no war.
rants shall be drawn upon the state treas
urer except In pursuance of an appropria.
tion for the specific purpose first made,
The Legislature shall provide by suitable
enactment for carrying this section into
e~ffect.n
Language would fail to make more sps.
ciic the doctrine under discussion. INC
Indebtedness shall be incurred 1. e., by
any state officer or state agent or state
board, nor money expended, without an
appropriation for the specific purpose first
made by the legislature This language IL
SO plain that no one who seeks the truth
can err concerning It's meaning. 1t fur.