The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-01-10
ELROD'SMESSAGE
Retiring Executive Reports State in
Prosperous Condition and Makes
Important Recommendations.

II COISluGT1IlOu IL the p'Sl Ss"NS
Union. Year after year she shows the
greatest net cash returns from her plains,
fields and mines. 1t is a fact that the ad-
ministration of the affairs of South ia
kota costs less, per capita. than any othel
state in the Union. If we want the s'a'e
to keep on developing. we must nave
more people and more capital IL WIN hot
do to let the state stand still. Two Things
are essential to assure her going ior"aru'
immigration and capital.
Continuing he says:
ct beg of Won, pass no law that VIII
make IL necessary to increase taxes,
rattle set an example that VIII iead 70
tax reduction. Conservative autnlhis.ta.
ton protects capital and insures work ior
the laborer."
The state has had a wonderful grown
during the past six years, says the gov
ernor. improvements have 9etn on nav
grown. Many people have come 10 the
state and thousands of new homes anu
farms have been opened.
Under the policies which have preValleu
taxes have gradually grown lower ana
they will continue TO grow lower, us-
clares the governor. if this and succeed
ing legislatures are economical, conserN"-
dive and wise. lie ADDS:
do not vote a single dollar in the way
Of appropriations that is not needed.
Above all things keep the appropriations
within the revenues of the state. DO noun
AllS hiioI WA ANN"AN NNN
development of the state
During the past two years no less than
ave new railroad companies nave beeh
Incorporated under the laws of this state.
On this subject the governor says:
These new COM
, p.u... panies are creatures
We" pa"'ooH of the State of South
Dakota and their
success is largely in your hands. The
people of this state have waited long ana
sorely need the roads. You can encour-
age railroad building or you can disco
age it. Nothing should be done that
would retard the completion of the lines
about to be built. In passing laws tor
he governing OF railroads. be careful ana
Just"
The governor urges the passage of a
dill prohibiting the acceptance of rail-
road passes by all state, county ana
municipal officers.
The need of an immigration commission
: pointed out, and the governor strongly
urges the legislature to create such an
office and make provision for carrying out
he work OF advertising the advantages OF
he state.
The governor declares that the ma
jority of our people want a primary cleo
ton law, and he advises the enactment
Of such a law with an emergency clause
attached. The primary law enacted by
the legislature OF Illinois is urgently rec
commended as worthy of serious consld-
The rerort of Prof. M. NJ. Ramer,
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton, is a very full and complete review
Of the work accomplished in oar schools
during the biennial
Dur Common period; IL rs IN
esting from begin
ming to end and is
worthy Of a most careful examination.
1T is a wonder TO me that our schools
are SO efficient when we take into con-
sideration that the average wages paid
male teachers in 1906 was but $40. II and
female teachers but $3s.O1. We are un-
In1Thfn1tU inRTan GinEp fha standard nt n1lr
teachers, but are not increasing their
pay as we should. Increase wages and
the quality and quantity of teachers will
Improve.
1T is my opinion thai the membership
Of the county board of education should
be cut down and limited to the county
superintendent and experienced teachers.
Cigarette smoking seems to be quite
prevalent among schoolboys. The law on
this subject should be strengthened. The
law should be amended prohibiting the
sale and use of cigarette papers in the
state.
County superinuendents have too much
on their hands. This is especially true
in some of our large and densely popu-
lated counties. 1t seems to me that 1t
would be advisable in counties where
the population is more than 5000 to al
low the county superintendent to appoint
an assistant"
Our educational institutions were never
in better condition or in better hands; All
concerned are entitled to congratulations.
''Our state schools are of such high or
der and are doing such good work that
earnestly wish that
4iuher Education our people would be
n.t;tr+;one loyal enough not TO
" send their children
out of the state to
be educated.
"In regard to the bonds of the State
Of North Carolina donated for the Bone
fit OF the South Da-
North Carolina kota university. the
poaas governor reports that
~ following suit to col
lect these bonds a
check for SO, $4,000 was delivered to him
and deposited in the treasury. The
G1vcrnor continues:
II recommend that the legislature pass
an act carrying az appropriation to re-
turn said sum to the State of North Car
DINA. We took it away from our sister
state. North Carolina; simply because the
law said we could. Might did not make
right in this instance.
Morally, we nave no right TO one cent
of this money, and we ought to be brave
enough and true enough to give 1t back.
''Thi money was clearly intended for
our university. She can use 1t. but 1t is
tainted money. I would send this money
back TO North Carolina for her university
and appropriate a like sun for our SPLEEN
did university. 1t will be no burden on
our people. 1
schemers are using our state for private
ends.
at is clear to me that our state ought
not to become a collecting agency.
neither ought 1t to forget the doctrine of
''comity between states"
"Under the Federal Constitution indi-
vjdusIs cannot sue states on such bonds.
so the holder gives, or sells, them to US
and we sue the state that issued the
bonds.
North Carolina does not owe South
Dakota anything and never did, at least
in this transaction. Let US balance the
account by giving back to her that which
il hers and not ours.
.It is gratifying to be able to report
that all our penal institutions are in most
excellent condition.
'Your attention Is called to the report
of the board of charities and corrections.
II should be read by every member.
Under the head of Moneys returned
to the treasury we find the following:
Good business man
Penal Institutions. ag e m e requires
that no more OF the
available runds to be used for the sup
port of the institution than will serve a
careful and economical administration.
This policy was early adopted by this
board and Is fundamental At the solicita-
ton of your board the last legislature
reduced the appropriations for several of
the Institutions. Notwithstanding this re-
ductiou a surplus has accumulated and a
splendid financial showing has been made.
Nor has this been don at the EXPENSE
of the inmates. for never in the history of
the institutions ave their populations
been better fed or better clothed or better
cared for according TO the spirit and pilr-
pose of the Institution than they are to-
day, Notwithstanding the prices Of food.