Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-01-13

OsAAN4 " y AAVV w w A AAsbso
less than Q radical reform in this vital par
It Is useless to consume time in q
repetition of the fact that school textbooks
are too high In price. Every person of
mature age in South Dakota long ago
learned that the school book monopoly was
bnt for one cause or another no
relief has yet been secured. Ex-
is q profound though cruel
teacher, and II the people have paid dearly
for school books, It is because they
have never yet made their cries for
obedience Of their representatives. In
previous message to the Legislature, I called
attention to this i%ntolerable evil, and sug-
gested as q remedy that the state engage In /
the publication of Its WI textbooks. i
the recommendation and urge that
the state undertake the work Of preparing
and printing its own textbooks to be fur
nished to pupils free of CHARGE"
In regard to educational institutions in
general, Coy. Lee recommends the levy Of
a tax to the amount Of eight-tenths Of a
mill, as a permanent fund to be equitably
appOrti0ned among the institutions. This
would divorce these institutions from pol
itics, and the board of regents could then
plan several years ahead in their work.
The governor indOrses recommendations
for new buildings and improvements at the
Madison and Spearfish normal schools, but
dtsappr0veS recommendations in regard to
the Springfield normal, which has not been
recognized as u state institution. The
school of mines is also approved.
In regard to assessments, revenues and
taxation, Gov. Lee presents a strong show
ing in favor of q complete reform of the
laws. He declares that 60 per cent. Of the
taxation burden in the state is now upon
land. that in a great portion of the state
land is now assessed for all it is worth and
Qc m,loh 90 II would coll fO,s and in nm ocSn
is it assessed at less than One-third its
value; that bank stocks, money, credits and
all forms OF profit bearing securities prac-
tically escape taxation; live stock is pretty
generally assessed all it will stand; mer-
chandise and miscellaneous property, while
not bearing its fair share of the burdens, is
assessed more nearly right.
In regard to the practice of allowing rail-
road corporations to escape Just taxation,
the governor says:
s.'These institutions have grown SO bold
and audacious that they appear to believe
the state was created for them to plumber.
During two sessions of the state board of
assessment l have made a conscientious
effort to increase railroad valuations. but,
being ulaided by any member of the board
except the auditor, l found the task prac-
tically hopeless.
ut is an outrage upon the state that this
class OF property dictates how much taxes
rendered I" 10 more "au hearabie hx fine freo,,eni
insolent declarations of railroad representa-
tiyes before the board that their COMPANIES
would pay no more taxes unless they were
allowed to virtually iiX their W valua-
TONS
not make an honest return of their earnings
and prOnerty TO thc state. Figures ware
given Which were fi,rnisiiedb v the CHICAGO.
Milwaukee, q Sd. paul to illustrate tilis.
The report for 1873 showed earnings on the
company's lines in South Dakota 10 be S.
creased earnings each year until. for 1885.
the amount was 81. III. i0o.sO.
sis fl mossihle flat Ills Treat railroad did
only a trifle mere than one-fourth as much
business i'm 1895 as it did in 1893? is it not
more probable that, discerning a contest
parties had declared in faSor of railroad
Legislation. this cornoration delibcrateiv
DE cared 70 deceive the neonie bv doctorinss
lis return Of earnings to suit tie emery
ency?! is it reasonable that this company
should decrease its running expenses. as
shown in the table. without materially re.
rsu, Is to S halieve the ~ bis;n mos e ~
company has actually increased during the
time slated rather tj,.n diminisheia IN
Again. Il find that fine Chicaro q North.
western. which onerates ~ miles Of road
in the state. Oaid SSS. ON OW for EXPENSES i'm
1904. and earned accoriinv IN its rennrt
S556.61i.44 Is If nrohahie that II cost this
COMPANY in ISM oyer S2M0.O00 more to
opcrate its IA miles of road than fl cost the
Nilwaukee TO onerate its lion miles This
conclusiOn is r~enuonant 10 reason when We
discover that the earninps of the Milwau.
keef for 1SqS were nearly Al OMD IN in excess
Of those of the NorthWestern' The truth
Of the matter seems to i've that tbe railroads.
jugrie firnres 10 DECEIVE fhe neonIe with
RESPECT to their earnings. They faisifv
EFFORTS of earnings and faIsify exnense mr.,
counts to avoid n redmctinn ~ Rites md
escape taxation. The Miiwankee Railroad
renorted over 81 ON ON mora nesonai nron.
erty represented Inv iocnmnfives and cars
in iS9B than If did the wear nrey.ious. Iris
hidden prOperty was bronaht to Iisht hw
the trial Of fife rate eases and wn'I;3i
doubtless be in hiding TO-DAY INT far The
eyidence brought ont IN that trial As
~ find fiat An fnyya tI,S ft,Scnco Mil
Yankee e. ST PAM NAYS n, aoIreU,ta 1f
S2IS.6S7. is in taSes. or si41 - meE ,1;,e
While in this stats II na,s au"raJ nts tn ~.
amomntinr 10 SIM. gsdE psl9 or ~ M1 aar MIL, ,m;is
The ChicarO K N~ortlIWester nnws spii .
9SSS 10. or SIS7.41 ner mile in Iowa While i,
South dakota If ilays a Total of Nh, NV; ~.
$500 oer mile tn iowa the Ideal 'v'y y,t os
CHARGED are Int little more Than hoif NO
great as they are in Somth Dal,ota' In +"