Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-01-15
GOVERNOR CRAWFORD
DELIVERS MESSAGE
Advises Rigid Economy Until
the State Wipes Out
Present Indebtedness.

lature today Governor Crawford sub
mitted his second biennial message to
both bodies In joint session, dealing
with the administration of state affairs
during the two years which he has
served the people, closing his work in
an executive capacity with the presen-
tation of his message, which ls here
given In part:
In a young and growing commonwealth
like South Dakota, each succeeding ses-
sion of the legislature is pressed hard by
the representatives of its institutions ana
the growing demands of its officers, as
well ak by the needs of It's people, for IN
creased appropriations. Two years ago
the legislature. in response to insistent
and jealous appeals, based In most cases
upon actual merit, increased the appro-
priations considerably above those made
during the four years proceeding.
re comply with the vote OF the people
at the preceding election, the last legisla-
ture also authorized and directed the
state board of assessment and equaliza-
ton at its annual August meeting IN 1907,
20 levy q tax or one and one-fourth mills
on each dollar OF the assessed valuation
Of all taxable property In the state for
the purpose of establishing, installing,
maintaining and operating "A hard hber
Irvine and cordage plant at the state penl-
Tertiary at Sioux Falls, and IL authorized
the state board OF assessment 70 levy a
deficiency tax OF 2 mills In 1860 and a de-
tictency tax OF 2 mills In l9Oo,
To provide for the payment OF the gem
eral appropriations for ordinary current
OF the state administration, the
state board levied a state tax of 2 mills
in each Of the years 1857 and 1903, and also
levied an additional mill in 1901 and an adj
ditional mill IN 1908 To provide for defic-
iencies I'm revenues. and in l901,-as direct
ed by the legislature-it levied one ana
o~ne-fourth mills for the installation OF a
Irvine plant at the penitentiary, making
the Tnt "A law nf stat /. 10 vac fngs 14E fnIIT
and one-fOurth mills, and for 1903, three
mills. While the above appropriations
were reasonably necessary. and the state
appears to have received full value for
the money expended, the end of the fiscal
June 30. 1908, shows an increased
deficit which must be provided for by a
deficiency levy in 1909, and IL Is the duty
OF this legislature 10 firmly hold the APP
preparations within a limit that will en-
able the state TO keep its expenditures
within it's income, and pay its outstanding
warrants.
This shows an increase in our floating
Indebtedness during the year just closed
of g200, 100000. 49, However If the coming
session will carefully consider all requests
for new buildings and special appropria-
tons OF all kinds, use reasonable judg-
ment for allowance for maintenance, we
shall, In a very short time. pay up all in
debtedness and be on a cash basis. Surely
no prudent man, IN the management of
his private business. will plan on the ex-
pNiuit0At " more IMAM MS possible IN
come
New Demands Ahead.
The heads of the several educational
and penal.and charitable institutions, in
GLIDING the Soldiers home and the boards
OF control, recommend special APPROX ria
tons amounting in the aggregate % more
tnan a million dollars, not incluulnC the
amounts recommended by the state CAPT
tol commission as necessary to enable it
10 complete the erection, furnishing and
%equipping Of the half completed building.
The specials include S3l5
for the university: $4,000 for the nor
NAL at Aberdeen; $500 for the school of
mines; slS3, 200 for the college of agricul-
lure and mechanic arts al Brookings:
S96. 600 for the normal at Madfson go 800
for the normal at Spearhsh: 500. 800 for the
asylum for the blind at Gary: $50. 500 for
the hospital for the insane az Yaukton.
$lZi,VN for, the Northern hospital at Red
field; Sl5,GW for the p"enitentiarv al Stony
Falls, $4,000 for the Soldiers home al
Springs, n $1,000 for the training
school at Plankington. / do not wish 10
be understood as maintaining that these
new buildings will not some day be nee
essafy, but do say that to ask of this
legislature that it-so soon after the ib-
eral appropriations of two years ago. and
while 1t has the burden of providing for
the completion and furnishing OF the new
capltol building ON its hands-undertake
TO meet these demands for special appro-
priations, is to ask of IL what is unreas-
enable and impossible, under the circum-
stances.
For Capitol Completion.
The state must still raise an additional
sum OF $4,000 to fully complete, furnish
and equip the new capitol building and
MI up, grade and landscape the grounds.
For TINS purpose IL still owns Al, 431 acres
or land, most of which cannot be sold for
u number or years without substantial
loss. To meet this emergency. the canitoI
commission recommends tAat Che unused
appropriation of $500, 600 from the general
iund made by the legislature OF 1907 fo,.
tne hscai years 1908 and 1909, be reappro-
pfiated by this legislature in exactly tho
same manner and made available for the
nscai years 1910 and 1911 and further. that
ms legislature authorize the sale Of
sioO,oV0 In capitol building bonds TO run for
10 years, to be issued by the state and
paid out of a regular sinking fund 10 he
reimbursed, however. out of the proceeds
OF the sale OF public building lands when
ever the same can be sold without unnec-
essary loss to the state.
Let II be understood that the carito,
commission has not committed itself 10
any plan as yet. The landscaping should
NOT De SO elaborate and expensive as TO
DC out OF proportion to the character ~
the building; and regard must be had for
expense. l do not believe hi more than
5000 or $4,000 should be expended FIR
ms purpose. | recommend the exercise of
the greatest care and the closest scr,1tinv
In matters proposed involving lavish ex.
pendituFe upon the grounds out of keepiny
Win the modest character OF the building
erected, and out OF keeping with Tho
states finances and it's duties toward the
other Institutions intrusted to its care.
Assessment and Taxation.
a discussion of the condition OF the
finances OF the state and of the expenses
connected with the building OF the new
capitol, also the appropriation OF public
moneys, leads TO a consideration OF our
system or assessment and taxation.
Under the law passed by the ieais,a, IN "a
or lyVs, relating to the assessment and tav-
alton or the property OF railway. tele-
graph, telephone, express and sleeDinv car
companies, the state board OF assessTnant
mas been able 10 procure much additionni
information regarding the value OF The
property Of railways an other public SER
vice corporations in the state. and 70 as.
sess the terminals and structures of ,ho
railway companies situated within the Inn
It's or incorporated cities and towns. ,rbe
law mas proven TO be a most excellent
one.
l heartily agree with the outgoing state
treasurer IN the advocacy OF a law Great
ing q n~on-parttsan. appointive tax com
mission. The proposed amendment IN tha
constitution. submitted 10 the voters =,
the last legislature and rejected by them
q ~ View a change In the organic Ia "a
which would permit a graduated or uro.
EreSslve tax upon Incomes and inferi-
tances and contained some excellent provi.
sions. The fatal defect In It. and the one
which undoubtedly caused its defeat. was
the proposed removal OF the limit OF taxes
levied for state purposes to two minis 10,
estimated ordinary expenses and reuuirina
legislative authority for deficiency levies
To remove this limit would be a mistake
Inc proposal 10 permit subjects for tax.