The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-12-25
APPROPRIATIONS WANTED.
Large Sums Will be Asked From
the Next LepiSlature

iva ~ SHS Will Do ASKED From
the Next Legislature.
Pierre, Dec. 15.-The last legisla.
tive session provided new build.
lngs for practically every one of
the state institutions, and 1t was
thought that there would be but
little demand for such Improvements
IN the way of increased building
room for the institutions from the
coming session, and the capitol COM
mission felt the way was clear for
them to ask the necessary funds
Tor the completion of that work,
with the fitting up of the building
and the grounds. For that pur-
pose they will ask for approximately
100000. This is to be secured by
continuing the appropriation of the
last session for two hundred thou
sand dollars. which has not been
drawn upon; by the issuance of
100000 of capitol bonds, and
through authority to use 100000
more from sale of capitol lands.
The first three hundred thousand
can be cared for in the future by
sale OF lands, and the only reason
for asking for the appropriations
at the present time is that most
OF the lands yet left lie at so great
a distance from ran communication,
that to attempt to sell them at the
present time would make a sacrifice
of them. Up to the present there
has been realized from the sale of
lands $403,707.92, and if this $685.
los has been paid out, the balance
OF the fund being in mortgages and
deferred payments.
But the state institutions are not
intending to let the matter of new
buildings rest, and the coming ses-
sion will have to do some pairing on
the desires of the heads of these
institutions. They will come to the
legislature asking for approximate
ly million dollars for that pur-
pose next session. The state uni
versity will ask for s345,O00. the
agricultural college wants $185,7OO;
the Redfleld asylum for feeble mind
ed Is willing to get along with $127,-
600, and the rest of the institutions
think that from one hundred thou
sand down would about fit out their
plants in a proper manner for the
present The capitol is under con-
struction and the state departments
have entirely outgrown the old ram
shake building now used, and the
commission will insist that their
claims come first and if the legisla-
ture agrees with them, the other
institutions will have to wait for
at least two years more before they
get anything very expensive in the
way of buildings.
The coming session will have pre-
scented to it proposition for state
tax commission to look after the
matter of assessments and equaliza-
ton, instead of the present system,
in which the officials who are expect
ed to do the work have their time
taken up with other official duties
and cannot put in the time ecessary
for proper handling of the situa-
ticn
After the enactment of the
amanded pure food law at the last
session, A. H. Wheaton, the state
pure food commissioner, held that it
meant that no patent medicines
could be placed upon sale in this
state unless the wrapper had printed
In 81
A test case in court resulted in his
contention being defeated and it is
reported that he is preparing an
amendment to be presented at the
coming session, to specifically cover
that point
The question of two cent passen-
ger fare will probably be pushed,
as 1t is part of the platform of both
parties in this state at the recent
election. At present a suit is in
progress in the United States court
to prevent the putting into effect
in the state a two and half cent
rate, which was ordered by the state
railway commission under instruc
lions from the last legislative ses-
sion; the securing of physical valu-
ations of railway property for the
purpose of taxation, and rate regu-
lation Is also under way in the state,
and with this work only partly COM
pleted and the test case in the court
on higher rate, just what action
the legislature may take is an open
question.
The insurance men of the state
will attempt to secure the repeal of
the valued policy clause of the safe
insurance law. That provision Of
the law was fought for years, and
only secured after so long a fight
that it is hardly probable that the
legislature will so soon after its
adoption, before it has had fair
trial, reverse their action.
On account of the amount of work
which has accumulated in the SUI
preme court, the increase Of the
mem bership of the supreme bench
from three to five will probably be
pushed at the coming session. If
a fair district division is presented
with it, the law will probably be en-
acted with but little opposition.
Several theories in regard to the
control of the state lands are being
shaped up into bills, but just how
far they will get remains to be seen
after their details become public.
R1ack Hills members will come