Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-01-12
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of

We are all justly proud of our state
and our splendid citizenship. 1t is the
hope OF these moments, in the pres.
ence of these honored judges, in the
presence Of this true and tried citizen
who now turns over to me the Office
he has so ably filled, and in the pres
ence OF you, the representatives of and
from the people, to say something that
will aid you in the performance of
your duties and that will help you To
assist me in the performance of mine.
1t will be my constant aim to serve
the people Of the state faithfully and
economically, and ask your co-opera.
ton. your help and your abiding
friendship.
The tendency of things, under exist.
ing laws, is to escape taxation, and if
something is not done, before we real.
tze 1t real estate and the homes of our
people will be paying all the taxes
This is not right. If any class of prop
erty is to be exempt it should be the
little home of the family. It is no
torious fact that no tax is paid on
probably rs per cent of Our personal
property. Moneys and credits are not
listed. Assessors fail to find either.
Some scheme should be devised
whereby an equitable part of all prop
erty should appear on the tax rolls. If
this could be brought about it woul,i
swell the revenues very materially and
1T would reduce the rate Of taxation.
The money loaner will not willingly
list his thousands, neither will the mar
that has $4,000 on deposit in a bank
drawing 4 per cent.
We have little faith that a costly
tax commission can bring about a rea-
sonably satisfactory adjustment. How
ever, 1t this legislature thinks other.
wise, well and good. The state wants
revenue and the people want equal as
sessment, just taxation and less ap.
propriation.
After referring to the personnel of
the legislature, which he stated was
the strongest the people had ever
elected, he called special attention to
the Importance of enacting tax laws
chat will be faifsr and more equitable
to all the people; the decrease in rate
of legal interest; the toll charges of
telegraph and telephone companies;
the provisions necessary for the state
census to be taken this year; the
eoan1ng OF school funds and the neces-
sity of passing law whereby the dis
ease known as cattle mango may be
checked and cured. He then proceed
ed:
At the earliest date possible Irvine
plant should be established at the pen
ftentiary, for three reasons: First, it
would give useful employment to the
prlsoners; second, it would reduce the
cost Of Irvine to our farmers: and
third, with careful management, it will
out money into the state treasury, in
stead of taking it out The board Of
directors of the Kansas penitentiary
say, "The Irvine plant has been a sue.
cess and with proper management will
continue to be; it is no longer an ex-
pertinent, as it has been demonstrate
ed that a good quality Of binder Irvine
can be successfully manufactured at
this institution and furnished to the
customer at a less price than they can
obtain it for from outside concerns.
No taxpayer of the state can consist
entity object to the expense of estab
fishing and operating the Irvine plant"
II the revenues of the state would
warrant it, now, or in the near future,
we would urge you to make an ap
preparation for initiating this impor-
tant undertaking.
Recently 1t was our pleasure to in
spect cur penitentiary, and it is sim.
pie Justice to say that the order and
discipline certainly is of the highest
order. Cleanliness, which is next t.
goodness, was much in evidence
There are many prisoners therein
who might be out on parole, and we
recommend that you provide for the
intermediate sentence of conyicts.
This provision is giving splendid sat
fsfaction in other states.
We also urge that you provide for a
chaplain. The unfortunate men WHO
are confined in our peniIenJiary need
the daily influence of clean, true
Christian man. The power of kind
word spoken by a good man at the
right time cannot be overestimated
In a word, we believe that the peni-
Tertiary should be largely governed by
Kindness. Employees and guards can
be kind and firm at the same time.
In this connection, we want it UNI
derstood by the people of this state
that we will not, in the language Of
my worthy predecessor, .'usurp the
functions of courts and juries; that
the pardoning power will be exercised
strictly according to the theory OF our
system Of jurisprudence and the spirit
of our constitution
The main building at the soldiers
home is badly out Of repair and there
are many other repairs which need to
be made in and about the home. It is
Of the first Importance that an appro-
priation be voted for these better
ments. The old soldier who has no
other home should have ali the real
comforts Of one in our soldiers home.
His bed should be as good and as
clean as yours or mine, and his food
should be wholesome and adapted to
his age and condition of health. Let
the old soldiers welfare be your first
care.
Much progress has been made in
building up our state militia, and Gen.
g. ]. Conklin and all those who have
aided him are entitled to congratula-
tions. Gen. Conklin Is asking for a
H.