Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-01-18
ECONOMY NECESSARY
SOUTH DAKOTA MUST REDUCE
HER EXPENSES.
Radical, Measures. Must o. Resorted to In
the PAIRING of Appropriations for Some
of the State lnstitutlons-A Suggestion
That All but Two of the Colleges 30
Closed.
state,M uat Economlse.


The present session of the State Legisla-
ture is destined to he the most famous in
the history of the state. In addition to the
selection of a United States Senator there
are many other matters OF grave Importance
to occupy the attention of the lawmakers
of the atate.
CHIEF among these is the problem of re-
ducing the expenses of the state, which are
now bearing heavily on the taxpayers. 1t
is the opinion of every business man in
the state that radical measures must be re-
sorted to in the pairing of appropriations for
some of the state institutions.
The demand for this reduction does not
come from any political party, but fcom
members of all parties who have the true
interests of the state ut heart. 1t will be
well nigh impossible to make the necessary
reduction and still maintain all the public
institutions with which the state is now
burdened. The adjustment of all unnec-
cssary offices and sinecurcs. the cirtail-
ment of the expenses OF the state offices.
Which seem TO have increased during the
past few years, and even a reduction in
salaries is urged in some quarters, together
with the management of the state institu-
lions, will, if done successfully, and with
out extravaganza in other directions, tend
largely to accomplish the desired result.
But these things in themselves will not be
enough; something more is needed. The
State Pcnitcntiary, Insane Asylum, reform
School and Deaf Mute School are institu-
tons which the state mustllavc. They not
only have to he maintained in their present
condition, hut as the number of inmates in
each continue TO increase improvements
must lie made, and there will he a cOrre-
NsN. Nar az, rp.,, sn tI.~ ,wS.>. ,s,r ~py NrNc
Of these institutions. The last Legislature
made an appropriation and provided for
the establishment of Il binding ttwine fac
given beneficial employment to the con-
victs and aided in supporting the institu-
tion, as well as giving the farmers of the
state the benefit of cheaper Irvine. BUTT III
Board of Charities and Corrections have
done nothing to carry out this project.
The suggestion that the penitcntiary
should be maintained by the counties ac-
eOrding to the number of convicts each
sends to the penitcntiary, is not considered
worthy of serious consideration by the Leg
i~slaturc, as it would make no difference to
the taxpayers. 1t would simply be taking
money out Of n pocket to put into an
other. The Insane Asylum is maintained
in this manner, which saves the state some
expense, but 1t III out of the Taxpayers
inst the same, through the county tax, and
the fact that the state has shouldcred this
expensive institution upon the counties
only emphasizes the urgent necessity for
economy in the administration of the
states affairs. The expense of these insti-
buttons annot materially he changed.
The only institutions, therefore, that can
be closed or managed SO as to provide
against the otherwise inevitable deficiency
are the five educational institutions, and
the feeling seems to be spreading through
tie state that some of them should lie
closed, at least temporarily. This is natur-
ally raising opposition from the towns
where they are located. Many favor the
closing of all the state educational institu-
lions for the present except the Madison
Normal School and the Agricultural Col
lcge at Brookings. The public schools are
a necessity and must he maintained. 1t is
estimated that not over 10 per cent. of the
young people of the state are able to secure
the luxury of a college education. The
main question before the people Of this
state is that of keeping the states ex-
penscs within the states income.