Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-01-10
GOV. HERREID'S MESSAGE
TO STATE LEGISLATORS
In His Inaugural Address He Makes Many Recon-.
mendations and Suggestions to Guide the
Favors Chaplain for the Penitentiary, Extended Scope
OF Governors Pardoning Powers, and Hopes for
Selection of Worthy Man for U. S. Senate.

The message of Gov. Charles n. Her
reid to the seventh legislative assembly
Of South Dakota is as follows:
To Members of the Senate and H-u e
Profoundly impressed with the great
responsibility attached To the office of
Chief Executive and grateful for the
confidence Of my fellow citizens, | ap-
proach the performance of my official
duties with al intention and ambition
to serve all the people of South Dako-
Ia with absolute fairness and fidelity.
In compliance with the constitution
OF our state, and conformable to Gus
tom. l have the pleasure Of submitting
to your honorable body a few recon-
mendations, for legislative c~onsidera-
ton, Lot in a spirit Of giving instruc-
ton to a coordinate branch Of the
state government, but rather to indi-
cate TO you that you will have my
hearty cooperation, and it is my earn
est desire that at all times the most
cordlal relations may be maintained
between the legislative and the execu-
tive departments; that we may labor
harmonlouSly for the welfare of the
state and the prosperity of the people.
1t Will not be expected that | could,
at the very threshold of my term, be-
fore having had time and opportunity
to familiarize myself with the condi-
ton of state affairs, make specific and
elaborate recommendations. The re-
ports from the different officers,
boards n departments of our state
are now, or soon will be, accessible for
HI n- rxy~II -
or the legislature, and / assume that
these reports will receive at Your
hands the careful examination to
which they are entitled.
HASTY AND ILL-CONSIDERED
LEGISLATION.
The evolution of legislative bodies
has produced what is popularity known
as the Sitting committee" Such q
committee is usually an evidence of in
difference or incompetency Of the mem
bers Of certain standing committees.
and a skillful parliamentary device for
defeating m%eritorious bills or pro not
ing vicious legislation. Every b IL
should receive the respectful, del;ber-
ate consideration CT the appropri tie
regular committee, and in due course
of procedure come before n or both
branches of the legislature for final
action. 1t is usually more merit Orious
to slaughter the proposed legislation
than to add to the mass Of laws on our
statute books; but let it be done wi h
decorum and order. Hasty and i'll con.
sidered legislation is too often he
cause of uncertainty, trouble and liti-
cation. In the enactment of new avs
or amendment of existing statutes, !
bespeak that careful preparation and
elaboration which should character.
ize all legislation.
A FREE BALLOT AND A FAIR
COUNT.
The election of 1900 developed a de-
feet in our election laws. which re-
auires careful consideration
The election laws of 1899 do not con
template a case where two or mo e
persons are to be elected to the same
office, like presidential electors, con-
gressmen at large, and in some coun-
ties, members of the legislature. Under
the law of 1895 a voter might erase the
name Of a candidate, and place a cross
to the left of the name Of another can
didate on another ticket. The legisla-
ture very properly attemD.ei t. do
away with and prohibit erasures
whereby ballots might be identified,
but overlooked a contingency which
very easily might lead to very serious
complication.
In the consideration Of legislation
upon this subject, I wish to emphasize
the vital Importance OF an absolutely
secret ballot. To permit erasnros is to
permit the identification Of a ballo..
Make it possible to identity a ballo,,
and you have made 1t possible not On y
to attack a free ballot. but free institu-
tions. The underlying principle in he
Australian ballot is absolute secrecy.
Regulations guarding the secret b'Hot
are of far greater Importance han
rules by which the intention of the vot
err is ascertained. This fundamental
principle of the Australian system Of
voting has usually beer ignored or
overlooked by legislatures and courte
by considering the intention OF the
voter as Of paramount imnortlrc &c
An absolutely secret ballot is of vital
Importance involving as 1t does The
quality and durability Of the very
foundation of free government The
voter should not only be pc m tied ia
| vote a ballot that by no possible m 7ans
could he identified, but he snofld ~
compelled to do SO. BY compelling The
dishonest man to marx his ballot In
secrecy, 1t becomes impossible Tor HIN
to prove his dishonesty, while the h n
est man is absolutely removed from
intimidation and coercion, Identified
ton of the ballot should be made
physical impossibility.
The legislature should provide IN
pie but rigid rules for the guidance o
the voter. A cross mede by a rubfe
stamp, in a designated circle or saua' G
Is q simple requirement easily observ
ed. Erasures should he neither neceT
! sary nor permissible Erasures may b
made in various WAYS for the pu' pc
of identifying a ballot. Certain name
on the ballot might Re erased "ccord
ing to asreewen. Consequently n
marks should be placed on the ballo
except q cross pleced in its appropr'at,
place. All marks upon a ballot except