Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-01-15

atE ulileHtS Ill It's favor have been made
many times and never successfully refuted.
a the liberty to bring it again to your
attention in the hope that something prac-
teal may be drafted as a measure of relief
from the eXtOrtiOn of those who now enjoy
a monopoly of the school book business. In
TINS connection a suggestion regarding the
stare printing may not be out of place. I
am informed by those who are competent
10 give an opinion that the state could do
its printing and binding much more
cleaply and satisfactorily than under the
present arrangement.
Registration.
The demand for a registration law APP
pllcable to every precinct inthe state seems
to be quite general among the people.
There are SO many arguments in its favor
that they need not be discussed here. An
other evil which has grown up and which
should be throttled. if possible, is the prac-
tee Of betting on election results.
Code Compilation.
After paying some attention to the unor-
gained counties and the development of
school land, the governor says:
A bill will doubtless be introduced at
this session providing for a compilation of
the lawsof the state. The reasons assigned
for the general demand for compilation,
which comes from the judges of the courts
and all those connected with court practice,
Is tlat our laws are so widely scattered and
SO badly involved that it is a difficult task
to determine what the laws really are. The
laws OF Dakota Territory were compiled in
1881, since Which time the states of North
ana South Dakota have been created out of
the territory. There have been four sessions
OF tnn InUiSlntIVn cinnn fl,n Inst n,,,,.l,
many new laws have been passed,
many old mes repealed and many others
rendered obsolete. Publishers decline to
prlht new editions, anticipating code revis-
ION at no distant day. In view of these
facts, a revision and compilation of the
code seems necessary.
Atthis point Gov. Lee called the attcn-
ton of the legislature to the Taylor detail
cation matter; the Trans Missouri expo
sltion to be held at Omaha: oil inspection:
and dwelt upon these subjects at some
length.
Revenue and Taxation.
Inc question of revenue is one which is
very urgent in South Dakota at the present
Tune, and will continue to be unless the
legislature at its present session finds some
new means to relieve the treasury. Usual
es.ilhltcs us to probable receipts generally
fall short. This. has been so continually,
ana as a result the state board of equaliza-
tlon has practiced levying a deficiency tax.
The constitutional limit of two mills has
been repeatedly exceeded, which has led
TO no end OF discussion and criticism of our
public servants.
Inc appropriations for necessary eX-
penses in the future are not likely to be
mllrl mora mnIasf t1tnn ti,, l,,o l.,..
although the charitable and penal institu-
tlons can doubtless be made to contribute
more largely each year to their own sup
port if the farms and other industries are
properly handled and judiciously extended.
But unless there is il marked Improvement
IN industrial conditions, which would give
immediate relief TO II people, taxes will
continue to become delinquent and the
public treasury will suffer. This is the
present prospect and the legislature must
tiicethe conditions as they are. n consti-
tut!onal amendment Increasing the legal
levy from w to three mills would
not at this time meet with public
favor, and as the usual sources
seem to be pretty we'll drained: the
legislature will appreciate the pressing me-
cessi,y OF seeking Il new field from which
to derive money. Our laws relating to tax
alton do not give satisfaction. Indeed the
question of taxation is difficult OF solution.
No system can be made to suit everybody.
Dtit 1t does not seem to me an impossible
'eat Tor the legislature to modify our pres
ent laws, without. at this time, undertake
ing Il wholesale reformation of them so
Thai The burden will fall equally upon all
classes. Corporate property has been es-
lleci'lly fortunate incscaping Just taxation.
IiiiS is particularly so with the railroads,
When property which is capitalized for
from $4,000 to 10000 per mile and is made
10 pay interest and dividends upon that
valuation is taxed for but one-tenth.of that
amount, it is not strange that property
owners attempt to evadc their public bur.
dens. ] shall not al This time enter into an
elaborate discussion of the matter of taxa-
zion in general, but incidentally | will
recommend that the passage of an act for
the payment of taxes twice a wear. as in
iowa would afford the people some relief.
Before concluding, I desire tn call your
attention to the fact that in the range conn
try west of the Missouri River there is a
Vast amount of property which annually,
escapes taxation. l am informed by au-
thority, which | am bound to believe is re-
liable, that there are in the neighborhood
vi 100000 mead of cattle, aside from much
other stock, grazing on the range between
the Slack Hills and the Missouri and the
Nebraska and Sorth Dakota lines: and
Sui the state auditors report shows that i'm
numerous instances the cost of collecting
the state tax levied is greater than the total
tax collected. This is Il ridiculous and in
eNcusable condition. The stock is much of
it owned by foreign corporations and due
to the low tax levied by the state and the
failure to properly enforce collection, par
ties in the organized counties adjacent
to the range seek TO have their stock
assessed i'll the unorganized counties
The state should either levy a tax in the
u~norganized counties equal to that levied
in the organized counties or else, where it
is impracticable to organize new counties,
the boundary lines of the organized coun-
ties should be extended to include the un-
organized territory. How to successfully
handle this veXed question of taxation is a
matter for the legislature to determine.
Now in conclusion it is my ferventdesire.
as it will be my constant effort to give the
state a clean, conservative, business ad-
ministration of its affairs, and to this end 1
ask the legislature to contribute its best eff