The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-01-11
CRAWFORD'S INAUGURAL.
New Governor Calls Upon Dominant Party in
Legislature to Redeem Platform
Pledges.

The inaugural message OF Gov. Coe I.
Crawford contains recommendations for
the enactment Of much important legis-
lati0n for tho state. The dominant party
In the legislature is strongly urged to
redeem the pledges made in the party
platform, particularly the enactment OF
: comprehensive primary election law, a
law for the regulation Of lobbying, an
Anti-pass law and 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 manner.
In the following synopsis all the most
important features of the message have
consideration for the address Of the re.
tirinE governor and for the reports OF
the various heads of departments.
Attention Is called to the increasing
growth and prosperity of the state and
to the revolution in the commerce of the
state being wrought by the various rail-
road extensions projected and being buiit.
The educational. penal and charitable
institutions Of the state are in splendid
smciency. The governor finds among the
s+.+. educational institu-
tions tendency to
l;nsfit,fiona overlap and work at
suggests that the limit Of the scope with,
in which given institution tta tic, seasd Is confined
The governor says:
'rhere is feeling OF uncertainty and
insecurity among many who are con-
grows out Of a fear that. regardless of
merit and faithful service, their tenure
0f position Is in constant danger from
opa that merit and anq faithfuiness must
pull There should be no ground for
concern OH this account. The time has
come when it should be made clear and
emphatic that the fixed and permanent
policy OF the state Is to place the nt,eIy H,ahr
above all questions of political ex, .,
pediency and favoritisYn. A rule Of civil
service should be applied to the admins
tration of the public institutions OF the
state.
Much difficulty is experienced. says the
governor, in securing competent help Tor
various state institutions, because the
wages which the management Is per-
mitted to pay are not big enough TO
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 it against competition
Important recommendations are MADE
regarding the needs of the various lnstl-
tutions, and the necessity for more re-
gard for permanency in the construction
of state buildings in the future Is urged.
'It appears from the report of the state
auditor for the fiscal year ending June
50, 1906 that state finances are In good
revenue warrants the
Nono't'on OF sum of $250,OOO, and
State Finances II so 6" bends ,be less consttn than
tional limit to bonded indebtedness; since
the payment of the territorial debt as.
stunned by the state. being Sioo,ooO, ana II
appears that sa since that IA time me al AUDITOR M
recommends that the legislature appro
pirate funds to enable the state board OF
assessment to perform nn eso the duty ws 1,p ,ao5
making it the duty OF that poard ~
take such means and measures as 'ney
shall deem proper and e;spe eMpeoient ,non 70 the
proper assessment rolls and tax nsts az
taxable property in any county ofnltteu
from such assessment rolls and tax hsts
or which has been omitted or concealed
from assessment calling attention to
the fact that the legislature OF 1yUo. HTn
which enacted this law for mace Carving w it
into effect. heartily join in the recon-
mendation of the auditor" .,.
June SO. 1906. there were only seven ,ad
cents of the school fund uninvested. m
making a total Of s4,so7. .5s7os which
schoo, and Pub i The o'Rsl1iT keeping of this
a. l. large funC safely IN
"c .~"u vested, says the gov,
srno., requires great watchfulness ana
.While the unsold school lands ara
steadily advancing in value. IS her; ners
noun,tu In NV iudgment. the best of these lands
should be taken from the market and !
heartily agree with the recommenuia.ios,
Of fca the ra,ses to $50 per acre 1t ap
hears from his report that the average
price per acre of these lands sold daoi IRON IN
1 1ssa e s,a7s isS4 fro was 1893 to 1907
from rom isoa to 1908. s26.s5: These figures lres
show the wisdom of withhoioing .h.sa l,o.a
tonde ana of raising the minimum
price" oou earnest,v recommends
~ ~
court be put upon salary basis, that t,a,
Zee biIi be enacted and that that official
be required strictly to account for al
In making appropriations ter,tln for the d,r- ex
ing the next two years. the governor
urges the legislature TO take .t.o .h font
Appropriations for sfas'it'i that It ha. been de-
state ofdcers. ,srm1ned raanin that oy yotcers ens
! IN the service of the state snail not ;ss use
ASree transportation or accept courtesies
in the form Of franks. passes, Provi.,oo or must
teksas be made m by S appropriation fca the trans
nortation Of the states officers neces-
sariiy incurred while transacting the
oTslresr The Governor considers it his. duty to
nall attention to what he is convinced mas
been an io ercumvsmt the
pfiaGip ppiain and d'',a emphatic inhibitions Of the
Constitution in voting to the gn,s,.. governor
contingent fund, paid IN twelve nlon.ny
instaiiments and without any. itemzed
vnucher being fled with the auditor The
Governor believes that the officers who re,
csived this money in the manner inoicateo
can be required to give an accounting IN
4 civil action, and he will ask the At
torney general to examine this feature OF
Il il declared to be the duty Of the legis-
1ature TO omit any such provision from
the appropriations for 1907 for the ex-
nensee OF any state omcer.
.:The dominant political party In this
state which 10 entrusted with the respon.
Ability for its government and each OF
the other political organizations IN the
platform Pledges fea1e' form resolution esS % % en-
Must es kept phattically ta,dr ., declared tSa red
aotment Of the following laws:
Tirst The enactment OF law making
II : penal offense in this state for any
person. or corporation to give to. or for
sny public oficer, party delegate or COM
mitteeman to receive any free pass OF
free transportation over any Iahroao
within. thu state or any telegraph. teie-
nhone or express frank.
second. The enactment of law that
will prevent represent atives. OF corporate
and special interests from attempting to
irN,,orco Hesitation except by OCen ana