The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-01-07

Public s.ryis. Corporations.

Since the enactment OF the law OF 1907.
relating TO the assessment and taxation OF
corporate property. the public service cor
porations have been taxed upon much
higher valuations than before and i be-
lieye they are now paying their reasonable
share OF the public taxes. The connect
ing track law, the double damage laws,
relating to killing OF stock and losses
caused by fires, the fellow servant law
the law limiting the hours OF continuous
! service, the reciprocal demurrage law ans
ti-pass law, anti-lobby law, primary cleo
ton law, and law making 1t a crime for
corporations to make contributions to POI
committees. removed most OF the abuses
OF which the people Justly complained: un-
der these laws. which are working well
the corporation has been removed from POI
nticai power in South Dakota. No rea-
sonable person wishes to do an injustice TO
the railroads. We need them n they need
us and a spirit Of mutual fair dealing
should prevail between them M the peo-
| Pile. ] regard II as unfortunate that the
railway companies having lines in South
Dakota did not comply with the law of
1907 and the order OF the board OF railroad
commissioners t~hereunder, fixing the max
tmum passenger fare at IN cents per mile.
The railway eompanies--after sending
their representatives 10 the capital Two
years ago-who admitted before the leg
~islature thai the average rate they were
voluntarily charging in the passenger SER
vice was only IA cents per mile at a time
when they were carrying a large number
of privileges persons for nottingham fit,
after the free pass system was abolished
and everyone required to pay fare, TO go
into the federal court and procure a tenn
porary injunction against the enforcement
of the order fixing the maximum fares at
2h cents per mile, II Is worse than nse-
less to attempt to convince the people that
2is cents per mile is confiscatory when the
passenger trains In this state are crowded
daily and when these same railroads are
carrying many of the same passengers In
Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota for 2
NRnfq a mftQ n fc inst alfch conduct ms
this that creates a feeling against the
railroads on the part OF the people. The
result is that all political parties and fac
tions In 1905 Joined In a demand that this
legislature pass an absolute act, with an
emergency clause attached, making It ef-
fective at once, fixing the maximum pas
RI 2 cents a mile. The people have spoken
on this subject and your duty is plain.
Platform promises must be kept IL we
expect to hold the confidence Of the people
who place us In power.
Ascertainment OF Cash Value.
The legislature OF 1907 appropriated the
sum of 10000 for the purpose of enabling
the board OF railroad commissioners to
ascertain the true cash value of the rail-
pose. the Commission engaged the serv-
ices or Mr.. G. G.. Witt, an experienced en-
gineer; DR.. Homer M. Derr, professor Of
civil engineering at the College Of Me-
swartz, for many years the efficient dep
uty state auditor at Pierre.
This work has been going on for some
time n is reported In detail by the COM
mission, who state, that when the work
is concluded, they believe this state will
have q more compete and correct yalua-
ton than has been secured by similar
bodies in other states. There are 1000
miles OF railroad in South Dakota The
a~scertalnment OF its actual cash value is
the first necessary ana important step IN
share OF the public taxes and In determ-
ming the ~reasonableness of its tariffs.
State Supervision of Public Utilities
Complaints are made that the charges
of the express, telegraph and telephone
companies are too high. A telephone
commission was created two years ago,
composed Of the state treasurer, state
auditor and a telephone commissions APP
pointed by b governor, who draws a
salary OF 81, 200 q year. 1t was given gem
eral supervision n control OF all the tel
ephone lines and exchanges In the state,
with power to hear and determine com
Of maximum rates, compel connections
and prevent unjust Determinations. The
Legislature. however, made no appropria-
commission, and it has not been able to
accomplish much for the ant of funds.
Under Its provisions, I appointed Hon.
sioner. He has done all hat he could do
without funds. Complaints nave been
heard and adjusted from time to time,
diiQ nc has dllGHQGQ chCn t1etIlI1k " Tie
board of assessment and equalization and
given to hat board much aluab as
sistance and information in connection
telephone companies. Public utilities in
the cities are left to the control OF city
councils and city commissioners.
The board OF railway commissioners
ing express companies and electric rail-
ways under the supervision OF that board,
and that II also have supervision and
la1I fhnFffU In M affara MARTA tntnO 70 fhn II
hanging of wires OF telephone, telegraph,
electric light and other wires over rail-
road tracks. Undoubtedly, all OF these
matters should come under some effective
form of supervision. i suggest that the
telephone commissions be required TO act
in all matters relating to telephone COM
missioners, instead of with the auditor |
n treasurer OF the state, and hat the
general supervisory powers given to the
be given to the members of the board Of
railroad commissioners, said board to act
upon such matters in connection with the
commissioner, who shall be un- |
der their direction; n that sufficient
appropriation be made to enable him to
properly. perform the duties assigned TO
him.. Also, hat the supervision of the \
board of railroad commissioners be ex-
tended TO express and telegraph compa-
MES, n such electric transportation
In other words, that the board of rail-
commissioners be given the powers |
of q public service commission, adopting
such provisions from the New York pub
lie utilities act Of 1907 as are adapted to
the conditions of our state, Already cleo |
trio lines of railroad are being projected,
n legislation must keep step with the
OF the time.
The board OF railroad commissioners OBJ
5ects to the requirement OF the anti-pass
Law OF 1907 requiring a publication I'm its
report OF passes, franks and reduced rate |
tickets to employees and members of thefr |
families. because OF the labor n ex-
pense necessary In the preparation and
publication of the same, and expresses |
the opinion that the purposes OF the law |
will be effectively served IL common car |
riers shall be required under oath to In
clnde only In the list furnished and pub |
lished all franks, passes and reduced rate
tickets issued to persons other than em-
ployes and member of their families TIL
also recommends a law requiring railway
companies to report promptly to the com |
mission, and in detail, all accidents oc-
curing on railroads In this state which
result In loss OF life or injury to persons, |
In order that an immediate and thorough |
Investigation may be made for the pur- |
pose of ascertaining the cause and plac- |
ing the liability where 1t belongs. Both
recommendations are respectfully recon-
nended to you.