The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-16
STATE LEGISLATION

STATE LEGISLATION
Governor MelIette's Message to
South Dakota Legislators.
The Confederation Of tho Finances
OF the State Is the Most lmpor-
tant Point Under Discussion.
PIERRE, s. D., Jan. 6-The annual
message of Governor Mellette, of South
Dakota, was read before the legislature
at noon today. The theme OF the doc
ument was rs follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
hvss Of South Dakota:
The first and most important subject
for your consideration is the public fnan-
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 body than tho adoption Of a
Systematic, comprehensive and efficient
code of revenue laws, and rigidly restrict
ing current expenditures by adequate pen
Without such legislation financial disaster
is sure to overtaAs the state to the ire
parable injury of her credit, her nstitu-
tons and her bushes interests. Members
from counties containing public institu-
tions and who may consider themselves
agents to procure largo 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 q war
rant for 81, worth 100 cents in the market,
remembering that the latter condition
means final ruin to the state and her in
stitutions. 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 improv ements and
he surely cannot after that afford to bor-
row for the maintenance of his household.
The state having built her public institu-
tions entirely on borrowed capital must, at
least maintain them out of the current
revenues.
There are now outstanding against the
state about S460O In warrants endorsed
by the trsasurer mot paid for want of
funds" and thence bearing per cont. In
! terest, which are already subject to a
heavy discount In the market, and but for
prompt measures on your part to prevent
1t their am cunt will rapidly increase and
their value decline correspondingly. This
condition exists after final resort to bor-
rowing an additional $780, during the
past year and increasing the public In
debteduess to the maximum limit under
the constitution. 1t is impossible longer
to dod &c this issue, 1t is now retrench ment
or disaster.
The governor then shows table of
statements, n synopsis of the total receipts
and disbursements of the general fund
from November $, 1889, to November 80,
lSgu, as shown by the detailed report OF
the state treasurer.
t4l5, 452.78. There IS but $-43, 900 to meet
this amount, hence it is necessary for the
legislature to make retrenchment of
tlT2, 452 IL per annum, In order to bring
the disbursements within the receipts.
First. To this end 1t is suggested, that
all Offices that can be dis pense1 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 tho public needs,
not the welfare of ndlviduals.
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 puilic institution,
including its supervision and management,
thus bringing under control these amounts
and fixing maximum beyond which no
responsibility can attach to tho state, and
supplement this enactment by provision
| in terms nullifying all territorial statutes
30 far as they can pess by be construed .,
appropriatory public revenues or author
izing any sihse officer or agent or board
to incur any Indebtedness or expend any
money on behalf of the state except as
specifically authorized by the state leglsla
ture, and Il a. the auditor shall not draw
tIA Are rar nav o nnt ~ I've
sreasury except in pursuance OF an appro-
priation for the specific purpose first made
and provid ingt e!ere penali - for its viola
tion. This stops expenditures and such Of
them rs are desired can be pla ed In the ap-
propriation bill. The people, through y on
how their money shall be expended AID no
| self-constituted agent should be allowed to
usurp this suprem, right OF the people
without su ferin, severe penalties. Until
this is done money VIII run out of the
! treasury like water out of . sieve and
there will always bo u deficiency.
| THE DEFICITS.
The executive is of this opinion that
! under the plain provisions OF the consti
tuition 1t was intended that the ordinary
expenses of the state government, outside
of interest on the public debt, should be
conducted within the limit of atwo mill
tax on the dollar. A liberal construction
may possibly authorize an additional levy
| to cover the deficit of the precedi ing year
under act of the legislature, as provided
by section |, article IL. 1t is ( r the iegis-
lature to determine this question before
making appropriations, and It should sc
govern its action that the revenues will
| meet the expenditures. Even If the legs
lature decide 1t is authorized to provide
for greater than two mill levy, 1t
should base all appropriations upon a
| most careful estimate of tho actual
| necessities of the state. resolutely cutting
off all unnecessary expenses, regardless oi
benefit or Injury to friend or foe, persona
or political. That policy in business OF
politics is fatal to either the individual OF
| party which rests upon any other basis
than conscientious regard to duty and
truth; duty AZ the heart feels It, and
| truth as tho mind sees it.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
1t 10 believed much good in every sense
has resulted to the public institutions OF
| the state from the new management ere
| ated by the constitution and further i'm
provements are being earnestly prose
cuted by the severa. boards.
| 1t 10 recommended that insurance ON the
public buildings be dispensed with or re
duced to much smaller amount, as the
state can as we'll have the profits of the
business a. the insurance companies. and
can as we'll afford the loss, especially az
the fees are often eIorbitant
| The expense of management, SO far q.
practicable, should be placed in the appro
| priation for the incidental expenses ol
| each institution.
As shown from the reports of the sc y era
boards the public Institutions are being
conducted strictly within the appro eria a
tions fixed for them, and the executive
will exert his prerogatiyes to the utm on,
to enforce this rule.
In the legislature is vested, by the peo
| pie, the sole law-making power. I'hi.
body, and this body alone, should declare
the will Of tho peoplc, and formulate 1,
into law.
The legislature alone is responsible TO,
the law, obtaining credit for its merits
and suffering criticism for its faults. The
| administrative agent does mt share thi,
responsibilit and is not called upon Il
| exercise his judgment or conscience as te
| what the law should be, any moro thar
the private citizen, and any ether theory
Is subsersive of all free government.
The administrative asent should be held
| accountable for the enforcement of ths
law, not for Its enactment, and every dis
| position to usurp the province of the law
maker should be rebuked by the publis
conscience and punished by statutory pro
visions. This doctrine is specially appli
| cable to laws involving the state revenues
| and is daclared to be the supreme law oi
the state In section ., article ri, of the con
Al. l. ~