Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-01-10

II v - 800 ~
organizations in the state, Troop A, S.
D.. V. c., three officers and thirty-sev-
en- men Of Deadwood, organized and
mustered into the state service in Oc-
tober, 1899, and Battery i" n Off
Ger and forty-one men. Troop A was
organized for service in the Black
Hills and on the reservation in the
event that it might be needed, but
with the distinct understanding that
the expense Of it's maintenance should
be borne wholly by the Troop or its
friends in the city of Deadwood, which
has been done up to this time so far
as I am informed. There are no oDli-
cations against the Troop for which
the state, under the terms OF the order
creating the organization, can ever be
honestly bound.
MINE INSPECTOR.
The report of the inspector of mines,
: James CusicK. brings gratifying Intel
ligence of unexpected gains in the min
eral productions of the Black Hills
mines during the last year. His report
for 1899 showed a gold product amount
ing to SO, 131, 436. His report for this
year shows a product Of SIS, S37,611.65.
This enormous increase cannot be re-
| SdluCu III any lliS THAN q lLoos -
nate light. The new processes for the
extraction of ore, by means Of which
the low grade ores may be worked at
a good profit has revived the gold
mining industry all over the Hills
| country as if by magic. Eight new
cyanide plants have been erected dur
ing the year and a large number of 9TH
ers are either in course of construc~
ton or under contract. The conSe-
quence Of this great activity must be a
splendid increase in the wealth OF that
section of the state, a steady rate OF
wages for workers and a rapid substan-
tial increase in the population. There
have been no labor troubles during
the past year, the workers having made
no complaints except in a minor in
stance or two which was easily ad-
justed. Three lives were lost and
twenty-five men injured, two Of these
being totally disabled. This record
shows not that this year was a lucky
year merely but that mining corpora
tons are finding it to their advantage
to properly protect their workmen
against accident, so far as is possible.
STATE INSURANCE..
The report Of the commissioner of
insurance shows a considerable growth
in the business of that Office. The fees
received have increased and the bust
ness done by insurance companies has
grown me%asurably. The laws of the
state are imperfect in respect to local
mutual companies. No power is given
the commissioner to exercise authority
I'VE them, they being virtually a law
unto themselves, while he exercises
autocratic power over outside compa-
MES. The commissioner should be Civ
en- the same supervisory power over
domestic concerns that he has over
foreign companies. Our laws provide
a paid up capital of $3.50, 900 as a per-
quisite to the organization Of a domes-
tic stock Insurance company. An ad-
mission fee Of S25 will permit a for
eign company of $500 900 capital stock
to solicit risks in the state. This is
unfair and impolitic. 1t tends TO in
duce capital to leave the state to Or
ganize to do business in the state.
But l am satisfied that our only re-
fuge from the extortion and difficulty
Of the present insurance system is the
adoption of state insurance and | re-
new my recommendation of two years
ago to that effect. During the last ten
years foreign fire and life insurance
companies have written risks in South
Dakota ~aggregating $2S7, 760, $1,000 for
which they have charged premiums
amounting to $9,014, S47.59. They have
paid back in losses 8 ,759, 263.S1, or
about 81 for every $3.50 received in
premiums. Allowing them so per cent
for expenses they have paid about 100
per cent profits. This has been a tax
of at least S12 per capita on the peo-
pie of the state in support Of a bust
ness purely predatory in character.
The state OF South Dakota can insure
its people and it's property at an ex-
pense SO trifiing as never to be felt
and so small in comparison to what we
have been paying as to put to shame
any argument in favor of private in
Gurance companies. The system is not
q novelty. 1t has been in successful
operation in the German states for
more than twenty-five years and has
been supplemented by an old age PEN
sion provision which has practically
done away with pauperism. If a state
may employ the taxing power to sup
port paupers 1t may do it to prev ent
men from becoming paupers. If it may
require the lives of men in it's military
service it may protect the lives of all
its citizens. If it may pay its soldiers
pensions it may pay it's citizens life in
surance annuities. The local fraternal
and mutual companies furnish som
relief from the insurance trusts but
they lack the power which would he
possessed by the state and do not gain
the public confidence that a public mo-
nopoly would enjoy. The subject is a
new one to a vast majority Of our peo-
pie, but in view of the extortion prac-
ticed upon us by the insurance compa-
MES | believe it is worth serious con-
sideration.
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
The status of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee and st. Paul rate case now in the
federal court for this district is such
that an additional appropriation may
be necessary to carry the case to com-
pletion. The case was won for state
in the district federal court and on ap-
peal to the supreme court of the Unit
ed States it was remanded back with
the instruction that a master in chan
Gerry be appointed to make proper rate
computations. There is every reason
to believe that with an energetic, CON
1 SciontiOus and oh1a puardiapab;U ~ tbo