Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-01-13
aovERNoR LEES MESSAGE.

The message Of Governor Lee to the
legislature Of South Dakota is vigor-
.ous document, and in nearly every
particular it appeals to reason. Espe-
cially upon the subject Of handling the
public funds by the state treasure and
the question Of taxation does the mes
sage appear strong.
The poei,ion taken by the governor
with reference to the action of State
Treasure Phillips in taking interest on
public funds deposited by him in vari-
ous banks, and failing to tnrn in snch
interest to the state, cannot be success
fully assailed. The governor is right
when he says: "The money received
- interest on public funds cannot be
separated from the funds themselves =
The practice Of treasurers in applying
to their own use interest on public
funds may bs more or less common. but
it is not for that reason to be winked
at. II il not right or just that : public
servant should profit above his salary
for performing duties which his election
to nfdcs imposes upon him, and for
which work he receives . fixed salary.
The size Of the salary is known to the
treasure even before he goes to the
nominating convention and asks for
the Office, and he certina1y cannot COM
plain ii he is compelled to observe the
plain contract entered into with the
people when he accepts Office. But
aside from the demand Of common jns-
tice in the matter, the law Of South
Dakota is explicit upon the point. It
il felony for any public official to
mske any profit directly or indirectly
out Of any public funds. and if. 20 Gov
ernor Lee asserts in his message, there
10 documentary proof that Mr.. Phillips
accepted some interest mo matter how
large or small the eamount-and failed to
turn it in to the treasury. the statue
applies regardless of whether it ever be
proved that the total amount Of in
tsrest realized BY the treasurer exceeds
$50, 600.
This bold stand taken by Governor
Lee must greatly weaken the election
contest in behalf of Mr.. Phillips. and
possibly it also indicates one potent
reason why the defeated candidate for
governor has been so unwilling to ac
cept the result Of election. And the
average South Dakotan who has no
partisan bias will probably conclude
that it was good thing for the state
that Governor Lee was reelected.
This conclusion is warranted not
alone by the attitude Of the governor
with respect to interest on public
moneys, but can be formed after read
ing other parts of his message. That
tsxation in South Dakota is unequalsd
and unjust 10 we'll known, and this
without particular reference to the
railroads alone. The system needs 4
general ovsrhauling, and tho repub-
lican legislature will only injure itself
and the party if it ignores the duty so
clearly defnded by Governor Lee.
There must be more equaled distri-
button of taxation in the state. if the
people are to be satisfied, and unless
the republicans are given credit for
more political sense than they possess
they will take particular pains to at
tend to the reform
The position of the governor that,
irrespective of individual opinion on
the questions, it is the business of the
legislature to provide laws placing the
initiative and referendum and tho dis.
pensary system into operation, 10 also
sound. The people voted for these
things and should be allowed to have
them in full operation.-Sioux City
DALEY Tribune.