The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-01-10
Would Have Predecessors Pay
Back Contingent Fund"
Into Treasury.
8 REMARKABLE MESSAGE
iemg With Recommendation Cor Re.
ierm in Matters OF Laws and
q Conduct OF State In
stitutions.

! his message To the legislature today
/ his purpose Co have two former gov
/ .ruors prosecuted Ia civil actions To-
,ompel them To cover into the state
| treasury several thousand dollars
Irawn by means OF alleged Illegal un-
constitutional acts OF past legislatures.
,;oyernor Coc l. Crawford today Gre
atsd "A big sensation.
He - the first ''inSurgent" governor
thr state has ever had. and his inaug-
ural message ~ n remarkable state
paper I'm many respects. IL teens with
.Ocalled party progresrivenss and ur-
gent calls for reforms.
| Resides charging that governors
have taken sums of money since 1901
varying In amounts from $500 TO $500
annually. ny means OF nm illegal con
,lngcnt fund" Governor Crawford
axes occasion To call attention IN de-
rIsivc language To the alleged political
intrigue which In said to pcrmeate state
institutions to their great detrlment.
10 Himself q Lawyer.
/ Governor Crawford ~ one OF the
states foremost lawyers and his declar-
alton that monies have been taken I'm
direct violation OF the state constitution
and can be recovered will have some
weight.
the two governors who served dur
ing the years since 1901 ar. Hon. 4.
y Herreid. of Eureka. i9Oi-i. and Hon.
:. g. Elrod. Of Clark. 1906, the latter
Just retiring.
......... ................
Certainly" said Governor
Crawford. 1T IL your duty Ia
/: omit any such provision from the
{: appropriation acts of 1907 for the
expenses OF the governors Office
or that of any other officer OF the
state. We are coming tn realize
that public funds are trust funds
: and public officers are trustees.
No Indirect and Illegal misappro-
/: printion Of such funds can be- toll
Grated and there can be no distinc-
ton between officers In applying :
. the rule.
'....sss. .ss....',.ss ...s...'...,....
After quoting the constitution pro-
hibitinK state officers from receiving
perquisites ana the Legislature from
granting any. Governor Crawford says:
Calls Them Transparent subterfuues.
Il consider II my duty to call your
attention To what I am convinced has
been an unconstitutional attempt OF
prior legislatures To circumvcnt the
plain and emphatic inhibitions OF the
constitution" He adds that " the leg
stature can give the governors this
money In installmeuts as has been
done without requiring itcmized
vouchers IL can do the same for any
officer Of the state. and these barriers
erected by the constitution are mere
sand.
He calls the appropriation acts
carrying this fund subterfuges OF the
most transparent kind and absolutely
void, and that officers who received this
money In the manner indicated can be
tn al mn N
civil action. / shall request the at
tOrney general to carefully examine
this feature OF the case"
In proposing the application OF n rule
81 civil service In the conduct OF state
Institutions. Governor Crawford hit at
system 81 political intrigue which
threatened the very life of the state
university at Nermillion. destroyed
much Of the usefulness OF the agricul-
tural college n Brookings and involved
several others OF the big state Iustitu-
tons I'm disastrous wire-pulling.
Governor Crawford spoke sharply OF
the unfortunate conditions and de-
clsrcd
The time has come when Il should
be made clear and emphatic that the
liked policy NJ the state In To place the
management OF these institutions en-
tirely above all questions of political
expediency and favoritism'
Besides the recommendations made
BY Governor Crawford as grouped Ga n
PARALLEL column, other significant sub
'ects were treated M follows:
lou have much Important work TO do
aud u IL my earnest hop" that you may
inter upon that work IN a spirit Of fairness
toward each other. with "a determination
20 be open and frank la all your differ
noes. and to make all personal and sci
hsh interests subordinate TO the highest
Nelfar" OF the state. Candor. courtesy.
courage. frankness, Kindness and open aud
tair dealing will D. ~ "a good cause pend
ing before Legislature just az rnectuui-
W as these traits Will help "A good cause
anywhere else. while intrigue stealth de-
"eption. trickcry. ill temper and intoler-
Ancc will hurt cause here jus; the same
a. such traits will hurt A cause elsewhere.
May ] NOT indulge the HOPE that loyalty
70 principi" aud duty may Ice IN" dominant
influence. with every member OF this legiT-
l1turc, and that consideration OF partisan
ship. personal ambition. hope OF personal
reward, and personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
VIII give way To- the command Of duty
received from the people, I shall b. glad
TO cooperate with you upon such a basis.
ana here and now Offer To Join heartily
me duties which have BEEN placed before
Us
Educational, Penal. and Charitable
institutions.
The development OF intellyrutlI power
aud physical strength alone may produce
men without Fcruplv aEu without con-
science. The man who wins first place in
rowing club or football team and takes