The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-03-30
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The county auditors Of the state will
be disappointed by the failure of the
late legislative session to make any
provisions for the expenses of their an
nual meetings for the next two years.
No attempt was made to repeal the
law providing for the meetings, but as
no money was appropriated, 1t is not
likely that any great number Of the
auditors would attempt to attend the
meeting at their own expense. In re-
fusing to provide funds for this pur-
pose, the annual meetings were desig-
mated as "junkets of the auditors At
state expense" While there has been
but two meetings under the provisions
Of the law, they resulted in far greater
uniformity Of assessment returns from
the different counties than had been
the rule prior to the calling of the
first meeting, and as a further result Of
less dissatisfaction over the state, and
complaints of the work Of the state
board, which was obliged to equalize
the differences between the views Of
the different county assessors and
equalization boards, raising some of
them almost 100 per cent to put them
on an equality with other counties
which returned higher figures. An
ticipating that there will be no effort
Of the county auditors to attend the
meeting this year the state board of
assessment will hold a meeting on the
date fixed, and will outline their views
as to the best manner of securing
equality Of assessments, and send the
results of their work to the different
county auditors over the state to take
into consideration before beginning the
assessment business Of the year.
Gov. Crawford in response to a tele-
gram of inquiry took the position that
he does not consider 1T the best policy
TO fix railway rates, either passenger
or freight arbitrarily and without elias
kicity by direct legislation, but that
where railroad commissions can be Sc
cured which are uninfluenced by rail-
ways, to place the matter under their
control the commissions Of the differ
ent states through which a system op-
crates working in harmony and with
Joint understanding so far state rates
interstate commerce commission ac-
ton should be taken by the railroad
commission the true value Of the rail-
way property in the different states
should be learned, and the rate MAX
ing be upon a basis which will give
fair return to the roads upon their
value. This he looks upon as a bust
ness method of handling the question,
and one which would work with the
least friction.
While the railroads were regulated
to a greater extent by the late reform
legislature than they have been be-
fore since the organization of state
hood, If all the individual ideas in re-
gard to railway control which were
advanced in different bills introduced
had been enacted a new and special
railway code would have been a ne
cessity to keep within hailing distance
of what would be required, and the
railroads would have been pretty near
Ey as badly off as the plain citizen,
who, If he attempted to go through
life observing all the laws which have
been framed to control bis actions,
would find himself SO hedged about
that about the only thing he could do
would be to keep within his own
premises and be careful to speak softly
to all corners, whatever their mission,
In his presence.
The reports of national banks show
that the deposits in that class of banks
in South Dakota have increased $3,-
096, 505.49 in the past year. In the rs
banks doing business in the state in
January, 1905, there were deposited
SIS, 09S, 417.58; and in the 70 bands in
January, 1907, there is deposited $18,-
1874, 923.07. The increase in the state
banks for the same period will show a
much heavier increase on account of
the great number of new state banks
which have been organized within the
ear.
Residents of both Fort Pierre and
Presho feel confident that before the
end of the summer they will be con-
nected by an electric line. They claim
that New York capital is back of the
scheme, and it is certain to go. The
failure Of the legislative session to pass
the bill giving such railways right of
way on highways may have some eff
feet upon the project, but 1t is not be-
lieved by the people interested locally
that this will have any serious bearing
IN the matter.
Gov. Crawford has announced the
appointment of +. G. Huss, Of Pedro,
to succeed himself as member of the
state live stock commissioner; N. F.