Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-01-14

i tdkc tAc lIUcrty 10 DrlnR IL again 10 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
q monopoly of the school book business. In
this connection suggestion regarding the
state printing may not be out of place. I
am informed by those who are competent
to give an opinion that the state could do
its own printing and binding much more
cheaply and Satisfactorily than under the
present arrangement.
Registration.
The demand for registration law APP
plicable to every precinct In the 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.
tice 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 compilation of
the laws of 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 that our laws are SO widely scattered and
so badly involved that it is difficult task
to determine what the laws really are. The
laws OF Dakota Territory were compiled in
1887, since which time the states of North
and South Dakota have been created out of
the territory. There have been four sessions
OF the legislature since the last compila-
ton, many new laws have been passed,
many OLD ones repealed and many others
rendered obsolete. Publishers decline to
print new editions, anticipating code revis-
ion at no distant day. In view of these
facts, q revision and compilation of the
code seems necessary.
At this point Gov. Lee called the atten-
ton of the legislature to the Taylor defal-
cation matter; the Trans Missouri expo
sition to be held at Omaha; oil inspection;
and dwelt upon these subjects at some
length.
Revenue and Taxation.
The question of revenue is one which is
very urgent in South Dakota at the present
time, and will continue to be unless the
Legislature at its present session finds some
new means to relieve the treasury. Usual
estimates as to probable receipts generally
fall Short This has been so continually.
and as result the state board of eQualiza-
ton has practiced levying 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.
The appropriations for necessary ex-
penses in the future are not likely to be
much more modest than they have been,
although the charitable and penal institu-
tons can doubtless be made to contribute
more largely each year to their own sup.
port II the farms and other industries are
properly handled and judiciously extended.
But unless there is marked improvement
In industrial conditions, which would give
immediate. relief to our people, taxes will
continue to become delinquent and the
public treasury will suffer. This is the
present prospect and the legislature must
face the conditions as they are. A consti-
tutional amendment increasing the legal
levy from two 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-
cessity OF seeking 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,
but it does not seem to me an impossible
feat for the legislature to modify our pres
ent laws, without, at this time, undertake
ing wholesale reformation of them so
that the burden will fall equally upon all
classes. Corporate property has been es-
pecially fortunate in escaping Just taxation.
This is particularly so with the railroads.
When property which is capitalized for
from $50 1000 to $4,000 per mile and is made
to 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 evade their public bur-
dens. shall not at this time enter into an
elaborate discussion Of the matter of taxa
ton in general, but incidentally will
recommend that the passage Of an act for
the payment OF taxes twice year, as in
Iowa would afford the people some relief.
Before concluding, I desire to call your
attention to the fact that in the range coun-
try west OF the Missouri River there is a
vast amount of property which annually,
escapes taxation. am informed by au-
thority, which am bound to believe is re-
liable, that there are in the neighborhood
OF 100000 head of cattle, aside from much
Otner STOCK, grazing on the range between
the Black Hills and the Missouri and the
Nebraska and North Dakota lines; and
still the state auditors report shows that in
numerous instances the cost of collecting
the state tax levied is greater than the total
tax collected. This Is ridiculous and in
excusable 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 in the unorganized counties
The state should either levy tax in the
unorganized counties equal to that levied
in the organized counties or else, where it
is impraoticable 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 .
matter for the legislature to determine.
Now IN conclusion 1t is my fervent desire,
as it will be my constant effort to give the
state . clean, conservative, business adj
mtnistration of its affairs, and to this end
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