The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-12

STATE ECONOMIES.

The Parkston Advance of the 9th inst.
throws out the following very instruct
i've suggestions in regard to Legislative
action the coming winter and probable
retrenchment in public expenditures:
The coming legislature will meet in
January and it viii be their duty to cut
all appropriations when it is possible for
them TO do so and not cripple the state
government. A number OF items of ex-
pense can easily be dispensed with en-
tirely, and some others greatly reduced
and the general welfare of the state be
not Inconvenience thereby. On the
other hand some branches Of the state
government will require more money
each year. One item of expense which
has not heretofore entered into our state
expenditures will be the taking OF a GEN.
sus of the state next year as provided by
the constitution. The most economical
method we know of will be to empower
The assessors with this authority and the
counties thereby the expense
according to population. To provide for
q separate enumeration as 10 followed in
some other states will require a great
outlay of money on the part OF the state.
We are, therefore, Of the opinion that
the method herein proposed is the best
one under the circumstances. Another
thing which should receive the attention
of our law making body is the matter of
governing boards OF our educational in
situations, At present there are nine
regents andstwenty-tive trustees. These
officers have five institutions under their
control and yet there is more friction
than Ia the control Of the charitable in
situations and the governing board for
managing these institutions consists of
only five men. 1t is safe to say that the
state would be much better off to pro-
vide governing the educational institu-
tions with a body Of five or seven men
than to have thirty-four men AS at pres
ent. The condition Of the people of the
state would naturally suggest the neces-
sity Of curtallipg the expense OF our ed
vocational institutions. They are too
many aud too high priced at present for
our needs. Another small item of ex-
pense, that OF preparing blanks aud the
expense OF sending them out notifying
counties Of the candidates for state Of
lice might be easily h~quidated by~mak-
ing candidates for state offices pay into
the state treasury q fee Of twenty live
dollars each when filing their certificates
OF nomination. This is req uir,d insome
states having The Australian ballot law,
n an expense Of that amount would
not be felt by the different candidates,
and yet by suchsa method the people
would not have to pay some expense
that Is now necessary. This method, il
adopted, requiring only a twenty-five
dollar fee would add over twelve hun
dred dollars in the state treasury. The
great state of New York has one railroad
commissioned and We have three. We |
feel satisfied hat one good man can do
as much ia thus directioh as the ordinary
board OF three, especially when it il
taken into consideration that with more
than one member 1t is necessary TO hold
a meeting of the board before any special
action can be taken. The irrigation en-
glneer and the commissioner OF labor |
statlstl> 5 are just offices and that is all
that any one can say of them. Arteslan
wells by the dozen are put down now |
that the engineer of irrigation kno xs
nothing about, and the laLor commis.
8 on has never benefited any one but
tie holder Of the office. If the plan to |
make state candidates pay "a Tee for hav
ing names certified were adopted it
would be "ell to extend 1t to county |
offices as well. Then the Q OF
elections would be- as before Me adop- |
Non OF the Australian law borne consid-
eraDty by tie men who want the office.
The BOARD Of charities have recommend
ed a change IN our laws, making the
duty OF the warden OF the p%enitentiary
to send for convicts instead of allowing
the sherItts to transport them. This
change would save much money, in some |
instances at least three foarths of the
present cost. There are a number OF
ways considerable saying might be
IN Ide.
G.--u a.