The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-01-14


INiiek Ray tnye asdufnMlutcds by reis
son of The Deposition public funds iii
banks belongs to the main fund, and IL
the books Of the treasurer do moi show
that such money has been regularly
icoyeredintosthe treasury the treasurer
is IN defanltS to the state. In view OF.
the great Importance OF this matter, i
submit the facts in detail, and recon-
mend that q committee of the 1egisla-
ture be appointed to settle with the
outgoing treasurer and to fully inpes-
stigate the fucts which are disclosed. I
further recommend that the legisla,
ture Immediately make available n
reasonable appropriation to be used
by the attorney general in prosecut-
ing the treasurer and his bondsine.
for the recovery of every dollar to the
state which X. O.. Phillips may have
collected as interest or profits on
state funds and converted to his y
use.o
ut is with pride that ! direct your at
tention to the initiative and %referen-
dun, which have been engrafted into
our constitution. and$now demand de-
tailed provision a tayour hands for ar
rying them into effect. South Dakota
has the enyiable distinction of being
the first state in the union to adopt di-
rect legislation.
Must Pass Dispensary Law.
The amendment to the constitution
providing for state control of the
liquor traffic, submitted to The voters
by the last Legislative assembly, was
ratified at the polls ut the recent cleo
ton, and it therefore becomes your
duty to make provisions necessary for
carrying out its explicit intent by put
ling into operation u d~ispcnsary law,
devised upon an economical and just
basis. The people have spoken, and it
Is your duty to give effective force to
the popular will, regardless of the pri-
vate opinions of those to whom is COM
mitted Legislative power.
THE fellow servant rule, embodied in
section 1888, complied laws, is a radical
injustice to railroad employees and SER
wants of other industrial corporations
whose business requires more or less
hazard to human life. 1t provides in
SO many terms that an employer is not
liable to the employe for injuries re-
II VI thS ACSi1
gence of co-employes engaged in the
same general business unless the en-
ployer has neglected to use ordinary
care in tne selection Of the culpable
employe. 1t is true this statute sim
ply enacts the common law rule which
prevails in states having no statute
upon this subject. But the common
law was exceeding harsh in this as in
some other respects, and states have
found it necessary i'll the interests of
advancing civilization and e%nlighten-
ment to modify many of the common
law rules.
81 call yonr attention to section 549S,
code Of civil procedure, which provides
for the recovery of damages by the per-
spna1 representatives or heirs of a per-
non, whose death has been occasiOned
Aby SStlenegligent act OF an employer.
sHhls1act sspecifcally eSenhpts raircaa
employees. Itsis negative legislation,
which, in effect, gives the railroads.&c.
specific privilege of killing or multi
lating their own employees while recog-
nizing the right of the general public
to o for damages of the same
character. 1t is a monstrous statute,
and should, in the interest of common
decency, be superseded by an amends
ed section which will recognize the life
and limb of railroad employees rs equal
to citizens.
For Cheaper Text Books.
"The demand for cheaper textbooks
cannot and will not be stilled by any
thing less than a radical reform III this
vital particular. 1t is useless to con
sumo time in u repetition of the fact
that school textbooks are too high In
price. We all know 1T. Every parent
knows it. Every person of mature age
in South Dakota long ago learned that
the school book monopoly was wiring
ing unreasonable profits from our tax
payers. but for one cause or another
no positive relief Inns yet been secured.
Experience is q profound though cruel
teacher, and If the people have paid
dearly for school books, it is because
they have never yet made their cries
for relief so imperative as to command
the obedience of their representatives.
In u previous message to the lesisla-
ture, I called attention to this intoler-
able evil, and suggested as Il remedy
that the state engage in the publica-
ton of its own textbooks. Ihereasons
urgelsin behalf of that system are rs
sound now as they We're two years ago.
/ renew the recommendations and urge
that the state undertake the work OF
preparing and printing its own text
books to be furnishcd to palpilssfreesof
charge, s5S# SS;sSs SsSss
ansIsssyds toseaueationais ans.I..,asDns q!
sfaie.arpaqnt EssaexHait
stSfttisss 0f2 4 I'LL .fft1ds s0
De sattitassysapror5lol.ssa al.ssaE aiaeT ssl.ss,-i
stutlons from politics, and the board OF res
gents could then plan severalsyears ahead.
in their work. The governor indorses rec
provements at the Madison and Spearfish
normal schools, but disapproves recon-
m~endatfons in regard to the Springfield
normal. which has not been recognized as
a state institution. The school Of mines is
also approved.
In regard to assessments, Gevenues and
tax att &, G9 ,sanr Lee = ed presents ra a ssp9n ns
the laws. He declares that GO 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 oil 1t is
worth and as much as 1t would sell for,
and In no case Is 1t assessed at less than
one-thtrd its value; that bank stocks
money, credits n all forms OF profit
bearing securities practically escape tax
alton: live stock is pretty generally as
sessed all 1t will stand; merchandise n
miscellaneous. property, while not bear
ing It's fair share of the burdens. is as
sessed more nearly right.
Railroads Escape Taxation.
The most crying injustice, the governor
says, and the one which the people are,
rightly resenting, Is the continued prac.
tiee of allowing the railroad corporations
to escape just taxation. These fnstitu-
ttolis have grown SO bold and uudaclous
that they appear to believe the state was
created for them TO plumber. During TIVE,
sessions of the state board of assessment
i have made Il conscientious enor to In
crease railroad valuations. but. being UNI
aided by any member of the board except
dormitory, burned nsyear or more ago,
causing u loss of seven livesA-one