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

every wear WHICH, I'D uioDuI GSu Dy Them
and is not accounted for in the state
For instance at the state
penitentiary there has been taken in
of such funds since 1890, $62, 791 $50, an
average of $6,279.19 per year. The
same applies 70 the reform school and
other institutions. These officers un-
der present laws, are not obliged to
furnish bonds to the state as security
for such funds, which is unsafe and un-
businesslike. These monies should be-
paid into the state treasury and dis
bursed only on the warrants of the
state auditor, authorized by an appro-
priation by the legislature.
The clerk Of the supreme court, who
| receives fees amounting to more than
50, 900 per year seems to have been en-
tirely overlooked in previous legisla-
ton for the payment of fees into the
state treasury. All fees collected by
this Office should be covered into the
state treasury each month and a suita-
BILE salary provided for the clerk to "a
paid as other official salaries are paid,
An enactment providing for the cleo
ton of the clerk of the supreme court
by the people would place that office
upon a dignified footing and would
e Win ptbiiN i"'NA
FINES.
Section 8, Article VIII Of the consti-
tuition provides that the interest and
income of this fund, (meaning the
school fund.- together with the net pro-
ceeds Of all fines for violation of state
laws and all other sums which NAV
be added thereto by law, shall be faith
fully used and applied each year for
the benefit of the public schools of the
state ............" 1t is evident that
it was the intent of the trainers of the
| constitution that all fines for offens-
es against state laws should go directly
into the income fund of the school
fund. Nc statute has ever been en-
acted TO carry this into effect and there
are many thoCcands of dollars due
the state on that account if this view
OF the constitution is correct. There
is now $37 in th.c fish fund OF the state
which has been carried there since 1893.
lt was sent in by Hanson county and Is
the only fine ever remitted on that or
any ether account, the law of 1893 pro-
yiding that half the fine for .yiolation
Of the fish laws should go to the in
former and the other half toward the
propagation CT food fish. The game
law of 1897 provides that the fines shall
go to the school fund Of the counties.
Nowhere is there a provision enforcing
the evident constitutional intent. The
legislature should provide suitable leg
isiation now in order that the matter
may be reconciled before too many
years have elapsed when Ii would be
much more difficult of settlement. The
auditor desires 10 transfer this item
into the general fund, as it has already
cost more to carry it on his books
than the principal sum amounts to.
but has been unable to get an agree
ment with the treasurer TO do 1t or an
opinion from the attorney general that
1t would be permissible, the latter Of
fetal declining to give an opinion
which might involve grave constitu-
tional questions. The subject is one
meriting thorough consideration.
SOLDIERS HOME.
The Soldiers Home of South Dakota
is admitted by those who have made a
careful investigation Of such instltu-
lions, to be the best conducted of any
of its kind in the United States. 1t is
claimed to be the only home where the
evil Of intemperance does not exist to
excess. The commandant has been Sc
verely criticised for his strict disci-
pline against liquor but he enjoys slis
distinction today of having the only
sober home il the United States. | be-
lieve that there are not five men IN
the entire home who would wish TO
have it conducted as IL was under the
former management. The food is plen-
tiful and well cooked. Cleanliness is
a striking feature through the entire
institution.
The hospital, while not pr~etentious
in appearance, is especially well ar
ranged. The rooms are light and airy
and it is provided with everything ne
cessary to add to the comfort of the
old veterans. Many substantial i'm
provements have been made. A large
number Of fruit and shade trees have
been planted and are making fine
growth. A stone walk has been laid
from the house to the entrance OF the
grounds and the road has been graded.
giving the grounds an attractive ap-
pearance. This institution should be
especially well provided for that the
declining years Of the men who so
faithfully served their country in its
darkest days may be made as peaceful
and comfortable as possible.
CORPORATIONS.
The corporation laws Of the state
need amending. They are entirely too
lenient. The small fees which we en-
act FOR chartering domestic companies
and the scruplousness with which we
haVe refrained from taxing these con
Germs on their capital stock, places a
premium on the organization of Wild
cat concerns capitalized for millions OF
dollars and based upon no honest pur-
pose to engage in business mere or else
where. Most Of them are speculative
enterprises conceived to furnish char
tiers ready made for great corporations
seeking certificates to do business. The
capital Of companies chartered by
u Dakota during the last four
years amounting to 1890, III, 600 Most
OF this capital is a pure fiction. The
favorite method of securing a state
foot-hold is to hire some one to he
come a director OF the company. in or
der to comply with the provisions Of
ou law requiring that one-third of the
officers OF the company shall be resi-
dents of the state. From SO to az ia
the ruling price for n resident ",,roc-