The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-01-12

fore becomes your duty to make proyi-
sions necessary for carrying out It's ex-
phcit intent by putting into operation a
dispensary law, devised upon an economi-
cal and just basis The people have
spoken. and IT is your duty to give effec-
tive force to the popular will, regardless
of the private opinions of those to whom
Is committed legislative power.
The fellow servant rule embodied in sec-
lion 1898 Compiled Laws is a radical in
Justice TO railroad employees and servants
OF other industrial corporations whose
business require more or less hazard TO
human life. Itprovides in so many terms
that an employer is not liable to the en-
pioye Tor Injuries received i'm consequence
OF the negligence of coemployes engaged
In the same general business unless the
employer has neglected to use ordinary
care in the selection of the culpable en-
ploye 1t is true this statute simply en-
acts the common law rule which obtains
In states having no statute upon this SUBJ
1ect. But the common law was exceed
ingly harsh in this as in some other re-
spects, and states have found it neces-
sary In the interests of advancing civiliza-
ton and enlightenment 10 modify many
or the common law rules.
call your attention to section 5i9S,
Code of Civil Procedure which provides
Tor the recovery CT damages by the per-
Sonal representatives or heirs of q per-
son, whose death has been occasioned by
the negligent act of an employer. This
act specifically exempts railroad ON
ployes. 1t Is negative legislation which,
In effect gives the railroads the specific
privilege of killing or mutiRating their
own employees while recognizing the right
of the general public 10 recover for dam
ages of the same character 1t is a mon
strous statute, a disgrace to the state,
and should, in the interest Of common
decency, be superseded by an amended
section which will recognize the life and
limb of railroad employ ess as equal to
citizens.
The demand for cheaper text books can
not and Will not be stilled by anything
less than a radical reform in this vital
particular. IT is useless to consume time
in repetition of the fact that school
text books are too high in price. We all
know 1t. Every parent knows 1t. Every
person of mature age in South Dakota
long ago learned that the school book
monopoly was wringing unreasonable
profits from our taxpayers, but for one
cause or another no positive relief has
yet been secured. Experience is a pro-
found though cruel teacher, and if the
people have paid dearly for school books,
1t is because they have never yet made
their cries for relief so imperative as to
command the obedience OF their repre-
legislature l called attention to this in
tolerable evil, and suggested as a remedy
that the state engage in the publication
OF its own text books TIE reasons urged
in behalf OF that system are as sound
now as they We're two years ago. / re-
new the recommendation and urge that
the state undertake the work of pre-
pairing and printing it's own text books
10 be furnished to pupils free of charge.
In regard to educational institutions in
general the governor recommends the
levy OF a tax to the amount CT eight
tenths of a mill, as a permanent fund to
be equitably apportioned among the in
situations. This would divorce these in
stitutions from politics, and the board OF
regents could then plan several years
ahead in their work. The governor in
dorses recommendations for new build
fngs and improvements at the Madison
and Spearfsh normal schools, but dsap-
proves recommendations in regard to
Springfield normal, which has not been
recognized as a state institution. The
school of mines is also approved.
In regard TO assessments, revenues and
taxation, Gov. Lee presents a strong
showing in favor of a 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 IL is
worth and as much as ii would sell for,
and in no case is 1t assessed at less than
one-third its value, and that bank stocks,
money, credits and all forms of profit
bearing securities practically escape tax
alton. Live stock is pretty generally as
sessed al all it will stand, merchandise
and miscellaneous property, while not
bearing its fair share of the burdens, is
assessed more nearly right.
The most crying injustice the governor
says. and the one which the people are
rigyht lNy ont TIM 10 hn nnpti ,a1
tice of allowing the railroad corporations
to escape just taxation. These institu-
tons have grown so bold and audacious
that they appear to believe the state was
created for them to pluEder During two
sessions OF the state board of assessment
/ have made conscientious effort to in
crease railroad valuations, but being I'M
aided by any member of the board except
the auditor, / found the task practically
hopeless.
1T is an outrage upon the state that this
class of property dictates how much
taxes it will pay and this outrage has
been rendered no more bearable by the
frequent insolent declarations of railroad
representatives before the board that
their companies would pay no taxes UNI
less they were allowed TO virtually fix
their own valuations
The governor declares that the railroads
do not make an honest return OF their
that for five years, practically ever since
the agitation began for statutory regula-
tion of railroads. the principal lines have
reported less earnings every year. He
quotes the figures furnished by the Chi
cago, Milwaukee q St Paul to illustrate
this. The report for 1898 showed earnings
on the company's lines in South Dakota
to be Sc, 444 1881; the reports show grad
ually decreased earnings each year until
for 1896 the amount was 81, 55I, 10000.
Is it possible, the governor asks. that
this great railroad did only trifle more
than one-fourth as much business in 1896
as ii did I'm 1893? Is it not more proba-
BILE that, discerning a contest with the
people, after two great political parties
had declared in favor of railroad legisla-
ton, this corporation deliberately pre-
pared to deceive the people by doctoring
its return of earnings to suit the emer-
gency? Is ii reasonable that this COM
pany should decrease it's running ex-
CHI m fah