The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-01-10
INAUGURAL.
New Governor Calls Upon Dominant Party in
Legislature to Redeem Platform
Pledges.

The inaugural message OF Gov. Coe /.
Crawford contains recommendations for
the enactment of much important legls-
iation for the state. The dominant party
In the legislature is strongly urged TO
redeem the pledges made in the party
platform, particularly the enactment OF
q comprehensive primary election law, a
law for the regulation of lobbying, An
anti-pass law and a law prohibiting cam
paign contributions by corporations.
The message is long. and all the sub
jects treated are covered In a most THOR
ough and comprehensive tanner.
In the following synopsis all the most
Important features OF the message have
been retained:
In opening the governor asks careful
firing governor and for the reports OF
tile various heads OF departments.
Attention IL called 10 the increasing
growth and prosperity of the state and
to the revolution in the of the
state being wrought by the various rail-
road extensions projected and being butt.
The educational. penal and charitable
Institutions OF the state are in splendid
condition and are being managed with
efficiency. The governor finds among the
CO.. educational institu-
SN~tc tons a tendency TO
Iin.titutions overlap and work at
cross purposes, ana
suggests hat the limit of the scope with,
in which q given institution is confined
10 it's work be more clearly defined.
The governor says:
There is a feeling OF uncertainty and
insecurity among many who are con-
nected with state institutions, when
grows out of a fear that, regardless OF
merit and faithful service. their tenure
of position is in constant danger from
political intrigue and partisan poltlcs;
and that merit and faithfulness must
pull There should be no ground for
concern OH this accoun The time has
come when IL should be made clear ana
emphatic hat the fixed and permanent
policy Of the state Is to place the man
agement of these institutions entirely
above all questions of political eX--
pediency and favoritism. A rule of ciVli
service should be applied to the admins
tration of the public institutions or the
state"
Much difficulty is experienced. says the
governor, in securing competent help LOT
various state institutions. because the
wages which the managemen is per-
mitted to pay are not big enough 10
meet the competition from the OUTSIDE.
Appropriations to pay for help OF TINS
kind should permit the state TO pay
wages high enough to secure the best
service, and hold il against competition.
Important recommendations are mace
regarding the needs Of the various lnsu-
%tutions. and the necessity for more re-
gard for permanency in the construction
of state buildings in the future is urged.
ut appears from the report OF the state
auditor Tor the nSCdl year eluHiS J'hI
30, 1906. that state finances are In good
condition. There We're outstanding IN
Conuition OF sum of 10000. n
State Finances. u 10 6 SSnd the 'e constitu.
tional limit to bonded Indebtedness: since
the payment of the territorial deDt as
sumed by the state. being SlOo,NJo, ana u
appears that since that tnae ~ tnr
bonds have been paid. The audltor
that the legislature appro-
pirate funds TO enable the state BOARD oI
assessment 70 perform the duty lmpnsSu
upon II by chapter 40, Session Laws 1900,
making It the duty OF that board 10
take such means and measures as they
shall deem proper and ~expedleht 10 rs
certain, discover and place upon lltI
proper assessment rolls and tax lists All
taxable property in any county omitted
from sdch assessment rolls and tax ISts
or which mas been omitted or concealed
from assessment calling attention 10
the fact that the legislature of 1909.
which enacted his law, made no. pro-
vision by appropriation for carrying IL
into effect. ! heartily join in the recon-
mendation of the auditor.
The governor points to the fact that on
June 20, 1906. there were only sever
cents of the school fund nninVested;
making a total of S4,so1,3s i.os ~hlch
School and Pub The Seepir of this
u.,a large und safely in
NC ~" vested. says the gov
ernor, requires great "a.chiu "
".sWhile the unsold school lands are
steadily advancing in value, II is very
doubtful wisdom to go on sei1hg SneLn.
In my Judgment, the PEST OIL rSet and I
heartily agree with the recommendation
of the commissioner that the minimum
price be raised to $40 per acre. IL ap-
nrice per acre of these lands sold from
iSgl 10 1894 was S13.56; from ls92 10
1898, $40. 70; from 1899 to Iso.. Sao.so,
from 19O3 to 1906, $26.S3: These nsuIss
the market the most desirable of these
lands and of raising the minimum
price"
thar the office OF clerk of the supreme
court be put upon a salary basis, that q
fee bill be enacted and that that orlclai
be required strictly TO account TOT al
fees collected.
penses incurred by the state officers DUR
ing the next two years, the governor
urges the legislature TO take INTO con,
Appropriations for that Il has been de
60. Ho.r termined by the
Ststc c people that officers
in tine service OF the state siaii not use
free transportation or accept courtesles
i'm the form of franks, passes, or Tree
tickets in any manner, PROVISION nlust
be made by appropriation For the rams
narration OF the state = OHitcIs hNNIS
sarily incurred while transacting the
business of the state,
The governor considers it his duty to
call attention TO he is convinced Has
heen an unconstitutional attempt OF
nrior legislatures to circumvent the
plain and emphatic inhibiticns or the
constitution in voting to the governor a
contingent fund, paid in twelve monthly
installments and without any itenized
voucher being hled with the auditor. The
governor believes that the officers who re-
ceived this money in the manner Indicated
can be required to give IN accounting IN
a civil action. and he will ask the at
torney general to examine this feature of
the case.
IT il declared to be the duty OF the legis-
lature tn omit any such provision from
the appropriations for 1907 for the ex-
penses OF any state oficer.
1.-The dominant political party in this
state which Is entrusted with the rcspon-
sibility for its government and each OF
the other political organizations in the
Platform Pledges s form r sss 10Y em-
Must Be kept. Rna fsynr OF 1 she enl
actment OF the following laws:
First. The enactment of a law making
Il a penal ofrense in this state for any
person, or corporation TO give to. or for
any public officer, party delegate or COM
mitteeman to receive any free pass or
free transportation over any railroad
within the state or any telegraph, teie-
phone or express frank.
Second. The enactment OF a law that
will prevent representatives of corporate
and special interests from attempting TO