The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1907-01-09
PRESENT SYSTEM PERMITS COR
PORATlONS TO REGULATE
NOMINATIONS
WOULD PUT END TO LOBBYING
RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF WIS.
CONSIN LAW GOVERNING
THIS SUBJECT.


Crawford's first message to the legis
lature, which is accompanied by the
annual message of retiring Governor
Elrod and reports from the several de-
partments, opens by conGratulating
the people of the state upon the pros
porous conditions which SO generally
prevail throughout this commonwealth.
Regarding educational, penal and
charitable institutions of the state, the
governor says a fairly good order of
ability and faithfulness Is shown by
those in charge, the main defects be-
ing that lines Of work are not sharply
enough defined and a tendency to
overlap and work at cross purposes;
a constant temptation on the part of
one institution to enlarge its plan so
as to receive students who more prop
erly belong to the other. Each insti-
tuition should be given proper sup
port, but there should be a clearly
marked line fixing the limits within
which 1T is to perform that work.
A rule of civil service should be ap-
piled to the administration of the pub
lie institutions of the state. They are
maintained by taxation upon all the
people and their patrons and benefi-
ciaries come from all political parties.
The purpose Of the state to deal with
them along non-partisan lines should
be declared SO emphatically that no
faithful and efficient president super
intendent, professor, or employe need
have any fear Of losing his place
through intrigue, favoritism, factional-
ism or changing political fortunes.
found that in the management of
the soldiers home, the reform school
and the hospitals for the insane and
feeble minded, much difficulty is ex-
perienced to securing efficient help be-
cause the wages which the manage
ment is permitted to pay are not high
enough to meet the competition from
the outside This is not right. The
best service must be secured for the
comfort of the inmates of these insti-
tutions SO that they may be attended
with the utmost care and sOlicitude.
The appropriations to pay for help Of
this kind should permit the state to
pay wages high enough to secure the
best service, and hold it against out
side competition.
Condition Of State Finances.
1t appears from the report of the
state auditor for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1906, that state finances are
n,,4-
standing in revenue warrants the
sum of 100000, and in bonds less
than $4,000, the constitutional limit
to bonded Indebtedness since the pay
ment of the territorial debt assumed
by the state being 100000, and it ap-
pears that since that time all the
bonds have been paid. The auditor
recommends that the legislature ap-
propriate funds to enable the state
board Of assessment to perform the
duty imposed upon 1t by Chapter 40,
Session Laws 1903, making 1t the duty
of that board ito take such means and
measures as they shall deem proper
and expedient to ascertain, discover
and place upon the proper assessment
Tolls ana TAX lISlS XII IdAdDlb property
In any county omitted from such as
sessment," calling attention to the
fact that the legislature Of 1906,
which enacted this law, made no pro-
vision by appropriation for carrying 1t
into effect. | heartily join in the
recommendation of the auditor.
School ard Public Lands.
The opening paragraph In the very
interesting report Of the commissioner
of school and public lands fol the
biennial period ending June 80, 1905,
Is as follows:
ION June 30, 1906, there were only
z cents of the permanent school fund
uninvestad and lying idle in the state
tresau,y, the balance Of said fund,
consisting Of S3,267. 1882, loaned in
the several counties of the state, and
S1,540,0J7.G5 In deferred payments on
school lands sold, making a grand to-
tai OF s4,S07 .537.0S, which is drawing
interest. OF this amount s993, 403.19
In loans and f1,5+o,097.5G in deferred
payments is drawing per cent inter
est and the balance, s2,2690 086.33, is
drawing Ter cent interest"
While tie gnsold school lands are
steadily. advancing in value. it IL very