Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1893-02-03

REGISTER, BROOKINGs:--
The circumstance which has
created the greatest Legislative
interest this week has been the re,
port OF the senate committee tc
investigate the charges agains,
w. 5. Frost and the final cul-
mination of the matter in the ap-
polntm"nt of a special committee
from the senate, consisting Of
Senators Dollard, Burt, Horner,
Chilcott, Andrews. Adams and
MAJOR to make a complete and
thorough examination of the man
agement and condition of the
Brooklngs agricultural college.
SO many interests are complicated
in this affair that it is creating far
more than a local interest in
Brookings; i'll fact in one way or
another the entire state is inter-
ested.
There is no probability that any
very sensational developements
will be made. The only real
question is whether or not the
long-drawn-out disturbance has
impaired the usefulness of DR..
McLouth to such an extent that it
is not longer practicable to main
tain him in his control of the col
lege. His enemies believe he
should be removed forthwith; his
friends think the investigation will
triumphantly v vindiCate him.
Next to this in interest is the
passage of house bill 123, Dona-
hue's railroad commissioner bill,
mention of which has been pre-
viously made. The bill passed on
Thursday with only six opposing
votes. The argument for it is
simply one of economy. About
$4,000 will be saved to the state
by it's operation during the next
two years. In this connection a
few words in relation to the duties
of railroad commissioners is of
interest. There is a sufficient
amount of correspondence and
and general clerical work to keep
the clerk in the office reasonably
busy. The commissioners them
selves, can in stated monthly
meeting of a single half day trans
act all of the important business
coming before the board which can
be dispatched by the secretary.
In addition to this the commits
sioners are required to make an
annual trip over the various lines
OF the state. This will take ten
days time. A trip to St. Paul
must be made in August to meet
the Minnesota board and fix the
standard grades of the season.
The investigation of an occasional
complaint, which can usually be
done by single member or by
delegation to the secretary, COM
prises the remainder of the duties
devolving upon the board. Thirty
days of real service is ample for
all of the work which the commits
sioners are required to do during
the year. AS our law at present
exists, the board can be invested
with no judicial power. An
amendment to the constitution,
vesting them with this power, is
now pending. Until the bill
passes it is useless to burden the
state with so great an expense for
the maintenance of an independent
board.
Little, if any, progress has been
made in the re-submission matter
during the week. The house tenn
perance committee is holding daily
sessions, and some time this week
will probably report the Fowler
bill back to the house when some
action will be taken. The PROPOSE
ton of the re-submissionists now
is for local option by municipal
tiles and towns.
One of the amusing proposal of
the session is a bill creating a
board of commissioners of concil-
iation, introduced by Senator Grill.
He proposes that four commission
ers shall be elected in each town.
ship, two of whom shall be sum-
moned to act in conjunction with