Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-10-25
Mr.. Crawford's Plans.

In an address at Letcher last week
Mr.. Crawford announced some OF his
plans for state administration, and they
are in the main plans which will meet
with hearty commentator from the
people of Lincoln county and the state
Of course he is first for carrying out IN
good faith all platform pledges After
| that he is for the utmost economy III
public expenditures, especially in the
conduct of the educational and char
liable institutions which he proposes
shall secure only their actual necessi
ties, regardless of the appeals based
soieiy upon local pride of the places
where the institutions are located.
That idea has always been the Lincoln
county policy in the legislature, and
will unquestionably receive hearty sup
port from our members. Having no
favors to ask for ourselves, we are in
a position to say that no appropriations
shall be made simply for the purpose
Of building up some rival town. What
is really necessary for the upbnildlng
of educational or charitable objects we
are ever willing to give.
Mr.. Crawford says that the vast
amounts of hidden property must be
chased from the dark places in which
it is secreted and made to pay its share
of taxes and we are unreservedly
with him in that matter. He can do
no greater service to South Dakota than
to devise means to make every dollar
of money or property bear its proper
tionate share of the burden. 1t is a
Herculean task but he may be sure OF
Lincoln county's assistance.
He would reverse the fellow servant
rule of the common law and make en-
ployers responsible for injuries to SER
wants, even though the injury is due to
the carelessness of fellow servants.
Modern conditions seem to have made
the operation of the old rule a real
hardship to many employees. In effect
it almost wholly applies to railroad
companies. In such employment the
negligence of servant should be deem
ed the negligence of the company.
Otherwise the servant who looses a
limb, or his life has no recourse.
MIR. Crawford would rush the build
ing of the new capitol, This is of the
| first Importance. The natural growth
of the states business has crowded the
present capitol to its utmost capacity
and loaded it to the danger point. The
past two years has added greatly to the
pressure, and to say nothing of the risk
of irreparable loss from fire, the pre-
sent building no longer accommodates
the business. The money is already in
the state treasury to complete the east
| wing and not a moment should be lost
in pushing the entire building to com
pletion. We feel sure that such a
measure is in accordance with good
business policy and that the majority of
our people will favor it.
Mr.. Crawford pronounces for the alb.
solute, non-partisan control OF all pub
tic institutions. The News believes that
despite charges to the contrary that non
political control has heen the strict
policy of the present administration
as it was of the administration of Gov
ernor Herreld, and that politics have
been projected into the matter only by
few democratic newspapers for the
purpose of making trouble and to the
great injury of the institutions. We
believe that Mr.. Crawford himself SO
understands the situation; but whatever
the present or past policy may have
been, the new governor will be heart
lily approved by all of the people in a
policy OF non partisan, non-factional
control. Nevertheless the control of
all OF the institutions is vested in the
respective managing boards and these
boards must act upon their own best
Judgment Wherever they act in good
faith they are entitled to the support of
the people and it is not wise to impugn
their motives, and charge partisan CON
duct, in the absense of proof OF such
intention.
Finally Mr.. Crawford favors the car,
fnl investigation freight and passen
ger tariffs with view to lowering
them. This Of course means that no
arbitrary action shall be taken. No
wise citizen wants from the railroad
companies any concession that affects
the legitimate profits of the business
but we do waEt the best living rates.
That is even handed justice to roads
and people. The Law already confers
the power necessary upon TIE railroad
commission and we have often won
dered why, in view of the great pros
perity which has come upon the west
lsince the official investigations Of the
rates in South Dakota that our board
of commissioners have not made some
investigations upon rate lines
\ LII conclusion Mr.. Crawford says he