Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-01-17
'HERREID'S MESSAGE
VERY COMPREHENSIVE
Legislators Regard 1t the Best
in History Of State
Papers
REVIEWS EVERY ISSUE
Governor Says That Good Management
Must Characterize All State Insti.
tutions-SoIution of Financial
Problem Is Badly Needed.

Pierre, S. D., Jan. S.-Govcrnor Hell
feid's message was read Immediately
upon the convocation of the two houses
Tuesday noon. The document is vo-
luminous, and embraces every DEPART
ment Of the state administration.
The message is favorably commented
on by all members of the legislature as
covering more comprehensively the af-
fairs of the state than any similar
document issued since statehood.
Governor Herreid says in his mes
sage:
Since the meeting of the last legisla-
ture the people have mourned the loss of
three of its most distinguished citizens:
died July !, 1901; Attorney General Joihn
L. Pyle, February u, 1902, and Circuit
Judge Frank j. Washabaugh, May 20,
difficult task of filling the vacancies thus
created In these important positions was
thrown upon the executive of the state.
1t is a source of comfort that the appoint
ments made have given entire satisfac-
ton.
These men were honored officials of
the state at the time of their death, and
their memory will be lastingly cherished
81 all who knew them.
To the people Of South Dakota the first
two y-aIS sc the new century have been
a period OF contentment and happiness.
1t has becn a period of wonderful growth
and unrivaled prosperity. All Industrial
and commercial energies have 1ourished
under most favorable conditions. All the
intellectual and moral forces of the state
have been active in the cause OF enlight-
eminent and righteousness. \
Two years ago, in obedience to the Will
of the people, nearly all official positions
and some of the institutions required APP
pointments In harmony with the new ad-
ministration. Never before had the ex-
ecutive of the state been confronted wit.I
so many vacancies. Impressed with the
belief that the affairs of the state should
be manage according to rules of business
recognized by managers of great and sue
cessful Industrial corporations, my first
efforts to apply these convictions came
i'm the selection of men to All the various
positions In the service of the state.
1 soon found that my ideals Of good
government were not easily put into prac-
tice. Whenever l believed that the public
service could be made better l have ig-
nored applications for appointment and
even the recommendations of my best
friends in order to carry out my convic-
lions of duty. Generally speaking, the
offices nave been seeking the men. Some
times it required a personal appeal to
their sense of duty as good citizens to as
sumo official burdens which to them
meant neither honor nor reward.
l have constantly endeavored to enforce
the doctrine that the offices were not
created for the benefit of any individual
or class of individuals; that with each
position there are certain peculiar duties
and responsibilities; that whenever any
official fails to measure up to the require
ments of his position he must step out,
willingly, if possible. but If not, then ex-
peditiously by order of the appointive
power. TIL act Of the legislature Of 1901
giving the governor power to unceremoni-
ously remove officials is a most important
step towards good government.
In the performance of his duties the
executive is constantly hampered by a
mass of restrictions and limitations of
power that should be swept away. A dis
tribution of responsibility is demoralizing
and not productive Of the best results to
the people. With greater freedom of ac-
ton, more power, would come greater
personal accountability: An enlightened
and active public sentiment under such
conditions would be productive OF the
highest degree Of efficiency in every de-
partment of the public service. Let the
public official who betrays a public trust
repent, and be forgiven in the next world,
but in this world-never!
Following this introduction Governor
Herreid describes the condition of thel
state treasury and the various state In
situations, all of which are shown to be
In excellent condition. He practically
lndorses the recommendations of the
state boards and officers for the appro-
priation for improvements On public
buildings, and also indorses the scheme
for providing employment for convicts
by the establishment Of a binding twine
plant or by some other means. All Of
these subjects are dealt with in the an
nual reports of department heads.
Governor Herreid recommends a new
basis for the payment Of salaries Of
county officers, n says:
1 recommend that the entire registra-
ton list as filed by the county auditor by
the various boards Of election in each
county, multiplied by five, shall be the
basis of determining the population.
The law as IL now stands DlaCpS the
salary upon a fiuctuating, elastic and un-
certain basis. At the recent election
vote Of the state was cast. The result Is
q material reduction in the salary of the
county superintendent of every county,
estimated at from 800 to $500 per year
for the next two years. Such a shifting
basis should be abolished. We now have
q legal and correct way of ascertaining
the exact number of votes, established by
law chapter Sc, laws of 1899, which re-
quires ali legal voters TO be registered by
the assessor, and provides that those who
are omitted by the assessor, or who move
into the county and establish their resi-
dence after the legislation has been made,
shall be registered by the registration
board, and making still further provisions
for its correctness.
If the entire number of votes Is to be
used as a basis for determining the en-
tire population, and the superintendent
salary Is to be In part based on the pop
ulation as determined by the vote, then
1t seems to me self-evident when an alb
solutely correct and legal standard has
been established by law by which the ex-
act number of legal voters can be ascer-
tanned, hat standar should be used d.
rectly for determining the exact popula-
ton, and indirectly for reckoning the SUI
perintendent's salary. This proposition IS
SO simple that it needs but to he stated
to be approved. A county seat fight, or
other exciting causeS may in one count
bring out a remarkably large vote, while
in the mex county, on account Of various
conditions that might be mentioned, less
than 50 per cent of a full vote may be
cast. In the former county the salary OF
the superintendent would be abnormally
large, while In the latter county 1t might
be reduced to a point where II might be
impossible to fill the office with a com,
petent and worthy man.
The proposed amendment will not in+
crease any superintendent salary; II
will simply give him his full salary, con-
templated but not guaranteed by the pres
ent law.
The governor also recommends the
building of good roads throughout the
state. He says the road tax system Is a
farce, and adds:
1 could mentor more than one county
In the state where for twenty years or
more the ROAD tax has been worked out"
and the only tangible evidenc OF this fact
consists in huge packages of Cancelled
warrants on the oun fund drawn for
imaginary services on the part of the dis
trict road supervisor.
l believe the subject Of good public
highways is worthy Of your individual
ton.
WOUNDED WOMAN GAINS