The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-01-06
S. II. ELROD
To the Legislature.

There is too much Latin taught at
BrOokings and too much mechanical
engineering taught at Vermillion.
There is room and work for both OF
these splendid institutions, but neither
should t%respass on the rights of the
other. Not very many students in this
young state can take mechanical en-.
cheering. The general government
under the Morrill, act sends the agri.
cultural college S25 900 a year with
which to pay for the teaching along
the two lines specified in the act of
congress establishing the land grant
colleges. The name given by congress
to these colleges is colleges of agri-
culture and mechanic arts"
The department of the interior has
made a ruling indicating what subjects
may be taught at the expense of the
Morrill, fund, both in agriculture and
mechanic arts. There are nine of
these subjects in agriculture and
eighteen in Mechanic arts. The first
eight subjects in mechanic arts named
by the department of the interior are
as follows:
l, mechanical e~ngineering; ., civil
engineering; 3, electrical engineering;
4, irrigation engineering; ., mining
engineering; 6, marine engineering;
Z, railway engineering; s, experiment
tai engineering. Thus you will see
that the agricultural college receives
perpetually $25, 900 a year with which
to pay for teaching in agriculture and
engineering. Engineering is well
known to be exceedingly expensive
both for teaching and equipment. The
state has to pay the professors who
teach mechanical engineering at the
state university. 1t seems to lne that
it is unwise to attempt to teach me-
chanical engineering at the state uni.
verSity when We TAX into considera.
ton our financial condition and the
splendid facilities we have for teaching
mechanical engineering at the aericul-
tural college. The university has
scores and multitudes of subjects, all
groups of the professional school.
We would not in any way lnJure the
state university to build up h agri-
cultural college, or vice versa, but we
do think that all the money that can
possibly be appropriated for the state
university might better go to strength
en- the university in things other than
mechanical engineering.
1t is very gratifying to note that
our regents of education recommend
no new buildings for our numerous
state educational institutions.
We think there is nj pressing need
for the enactment of a primary cleo.
ton law providing for direct romina.
tons. Probably no state in the Union
is freer from internal strife within the
political parties than is South Dakota.
A good caucus law is all that is need
ed. Pass such a law, providing when
and where the polls shall open On eau.
Gus day and how long, etc. The law
should provide strict rules and legula-
tons prohibiting illegal voting. intimi-
dalton and the illegal use of money,
and there will be no further demand
for a costly primary election law.
1t seems that the time has come
when a state capitol should be built.
If the pioneers of this state, who laid
the foundation stones of this young
commonwealth, are to see and have a
part in the construction Of a capitol
building, the hour to make the move
is at hand.
We recommend hat plans be select
ed for a capitol building to cost $500,
600. A reasonable appropriation should
be made by this legislature with which
to begin such building if it can be
done legally.
The salary Of the attorney general
should be increased. The salary of
the state treasurer should also be in
creased, and some arrangement should
be made whereby a certain portion of
the surplus money in the state treas
ury should be loaned to reputable and
rncnnnCihlo honEc within fhiC cfofn
and the interest received therefor, on
daily balances, should be (by the
banks) turned into the state treasury.
The railroad regulation question is
one of great importance. 1t is the
most important question before the
national congress at this session, and
no man is better qualified to protect
the rights of the people than President
Roosevelt.
Railroads are public servants and
sonably. They should be managed
with due regard to the interests of the
people. The state should treat them
fairly, and they, in return, should re-
spect the wishes and rights of the
people. If existing laws are not ade.
quate to protect the rights of the peo-
pie, laws that are such should be en-.
acted.
My wish and hope is that we may
all serve the people of this young state
economically, 10 the end that every
dollar of the money that the people
have to pay for the support of the
state and all of the public institutions
may be wisely expended and fully ac-
counted for.
1t is the wish of the people that ap-
preparations be kept down. Hundreds
il not thousands of dollars can be cut
out OF nearly every appropriation.
Every such bill should be carefully
scrutinized and every item that can be
cut out should be.
In a word, this legislature, COM.
posed Of business men, should keep
appropriations within the revenues.
You should manage this business en-.
trusted to you by your constituents
the same as o would your farm,
your bank or your store. In plain and
simple words. you should not contract
debts without providing the money
with which to pay them.
The foregoing suggestions seem to
me worthy Of your careful considera.
ton. Doubtless you have many other