Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-02-07
WOULD TAX MINES
ON REAL VALUE
Senator McDougall Has a Bill
Which Will Raise Lots Of
Revenue in Hills.
OPPOSE APPROPRIATIONS
Money Will Be Voted Only Where Ab'
solutely Needed - Anti Compact
Insurance Bill Is Not Liable
to Pass.

Pierre, $. D., Feb. 2.-DroDaDly tue
most important and most revolutionary
bill which will come before the session
is the one introduced by Senator NC
Dougali of Marshall county, proyldlhs
for the assessment and taxation Oh
mines upon the basis of ---s product
thereof. Up 20 the present time the
mines of the state are taxed as acre
property, the great Homestake, as an
Illustration, being assessed Tor taxation
at the rate OF about 80 per acre, Inc
bill provides tull procedure for ascer-
tanning the product of each mine ana
the taxation OF il.
This is not the first time an attempt
has been made TO arrive at a more
equitable method of taxing mines, but
the attempt has before met with fall
ure; indeed, upon the Former occasion
the plan was concocted more 10 cluo
some OF the Black HiIls men into line
han for the serious purpc-e or Ell
fecting a real reform. This was nearly
twenty-five years ago.
Will Fight Appropriations.
The appropriations question is bear
ing heavily upon the minds of all class
es; upon the institution county MEM
bers lest the special building bills shall
fail n upon those from n~on-in~itu-
ton counties lest they pass. There is
constant talk OF an anti-approprlatlon
combine, but diligent search fails TO
reveal any attempt to organization,
though Senator Moody declares his
readiness to join with others to dis
eliminate in the appropriations be-
tween those that are absolutely needed
and those which are only badly want
ed.
The small democratic contingent have
adopted as a general policy extreme
conservatism and opposition to most
lof the specials. They viii, however,
discriminate in favor Of two or three
institutions whose work VIII be padly
crippled unless they receive aid.
Mr.. !. $. Crawford, who is here in
ItAe interest of the management Of the
fSt. Lou eXposition-and who, by the
way, is n brother of our Coe /. Craw-
iford-has made a GOOD impression,
and the bill will doubtless be reported
'favorably to carry $4,000. 1t will,
however, receive a good deal of OPP
position in both houses at that figure,
and many will stand for not to exceed
$685. 00. An effort, too, Will be made
to cut the number Of commissioners
from five to three.
For a Public Library Board.
Senator Dillon, who is the leading
father of bills, has introduced by re-
quest two of considerable interest; one
for a public library board to be APP
,pOlIllGu D% the SbNtIllCIp anu 10 ldhe
charge Of the whole scheme Of free
public and travelling libraries; the 9TH
ier to provide for the election Of alder
men and members OF boards Of educa-
ton at large in small towns and cities
having less han 1000 inhabitants.
DR.. Leonard G. Mead Of the Yankton
insane asylum, who is here to help
out his institution, is in poor health,
due to tomac troubles, which have
made "a In roo 1Tl n nnDu hig formerly
robust physique. His physicians think
rest will fully restore his health. lie
is accompanied by DIR. Adams, assist
ant superintendent.
The sentiment Of the legislature is
to do about what the people OF Sioux
Falls desire in the matter Of charter
amendments. There is no disposition
to enaCt anything which is p%rejudicial
to the public interests.
The members of the state board of
regents say the report that there is
any difficulty i'm relation to Brookings
college likely to result in a faculty
miXup is not true.
Anti-Compact Bill Doubtful.
Moody's a"nti-compact bill is a stem.
winder and makes any agreement to
ontrol insurance rates subject to q
$500 fine and forfeiture Of license to do
business in the state for one year. 1t
also provides the form of an affidavit
which the companies are bound TO
make of no compact before license shall
issue, and gives the insurance com
missioner power TO summon any Off
Ger Of any company to testify, u power
which he may enforce by CanCellation
Of license in case of refusal to respond.
He is confident of his ability TO bring
the companies to proper rates through
the medium of this law. Its efficacy and
passage is doubtful.
Governor Herreid expresses regret
that his explanation regarding the APP
polntment OF a regent OF education to
succeed Mr.. Hough OF the Black Hills
should have given undue prominence to
Mr.. Greeley, who has not been absent
from the board meetings more often
than two other members and has at
tended every meeting, with four eNCep-
tons, during the past two years. The
governor had no desire to censure the
board, but simply wished TO call atten-
lion TO the necessity for choosing menu
hers who could attend all meetings.