The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-01-07
| d%ifhcuit and responsible work entrusted to
Public Service Corporations.

SIilce the enactment OF the law OF lDi
relating to the assessment and taxation o
corporate property, the public service cor
porations have been taxed upoh mucl
higher valuations than before and / be
iieve 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 losset
caused by fires, the fellow servant law
the law limiting the hours of continuous
service, the reciprocal denlurrage law, an
tl-pass law. anti-lobby law, primary cleo
ton aw, and law making 1t a crime 70,
corporations to make contributors TO po
Htical parties or to party candidates o.
committees, removed most of the abuse:
of which the people justly complained: un
der these laws. which are working well
the corporation has been removed from pc
litical power in South Dakota. No rea
sonable person wishes to DO an injustice IL
the railroads. We need them and they neec
us and a spirit of mutual fair dealing
should prevail between them and the PEG.
pie. | regard it as unfortunate that The
railway companies having lines in Soutl
Dakota did not comply with the law OF
1897 and the order of the board of RAILROAD
commissioners thereunder. fixing the max
nun passenger fare at ~ cents per mile
The railway companies-after sending
their representatives to the capital two
years ago-who admitted before the leg
stature that the average rate they were
voluntarily charging in the passenger ser
vice was only pa cents per mile at q time
when they We're carrying a iarSe number
of privileges persons for nothing-saw hit,
| after the free pass system was abolished
and everyone required to pay fare, to go
into the federal court and procure u tenn
| pOrarS injunction against the enforcement
Of the order fixing the maximum fares at
2i2 cents per mile. 1t is worse than use
less to attempt to convince the people that
22 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
cents Il mile. 1t is Just such conduct as
this that creates a feeling against the
railroads on the part of the people. The
result is that all political parties and fac
tons In 1908 joined III a demand that this
legislature pass an absolute act, with an
emergency clause attached, making it eff
fective at once, fixing the maximum pas
Senger rate between points IN this state
at 2 cents a mile. The people have spoken
on this subject and your duty is plain.
Platform promises must be kept If 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 $4,000 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 of Mr.. c. c. Witt. an experienced en-
gineei: DR.. Homer M. Derr, professor of
civil engineering at the College of Me-
chanlc Arcs at Bookings, and MI. E. r.
Swartz, for many years the efficient dep
uty state auditor at Pierre.
HIS WOEk HAS DStl SDlilS on lOT some
time and is reported in detail by the COM
mission, who state, that when the work
Is concluded, they believe this state will
have a more compete and correct valua-
ton than has been secured by similar
bodies in other states. There are 1900
miles of railroad in South Dakota. The
ascertainment of its actual cash value is
the first necessary and important step in
proceeding to fix it's fair proportionate
share of the public taxes and in determ-
lining the reasonableness of its tariffs.
State Supervision of Public Utilities
Complaints are made that the charges
OF rhe ni express srs t [eleg 5igb and tellephhone
commission was created two years ago,
of the state treasurer, state
auditor and a telephone commissioner APP
pointed by the governor, who draws a
salary OF Sl,2oO a year. 1t was given gem
eral supervision and control of all the tel
with power to hear and determine com
plants, require reports, make schedules
OF maximum rates, compel connections
and prevent unjust determinations. The
legislature. however, made no appropria-
ZION whatever for the expenses of the
commission, n It has not been able to
Under Its provisions, / appointed Hon.
William Eye, of Centerville, as commits
sinner. He has lone all that he could do
heard and adjusted from time to time,
and he has attended each meeting of the
noard OF assessment and equalization and
SlNCil- W tHit DSdTu. MUCH EV9luaDIe 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
recommends that a law be enacted plac-
ways under the supervision of tina board,
and that 1t also have supervision and
aantn9rity IN matters pertaining, to the
electric light and other wires over rail-
road tracks. Undoubtedly, all of these
matters should come under some effective
telephone commissioner be required to act
In all matters relating to telephone COM
panies with the board of railway com
and treasurer of the state, and that the
general supervisory powers given to the
telephone commission by the law of 1907
railroad commissioners, said board to act
upon such matters in connection with the
telephone commissioner, who shall be I'M
der their direction; and that sufficient
appropriation be made to enable him 10
properly. perform the duties assigned to
MIN. Also, that the supervision Of the
tended to express and telegraph compa-
MES, and such electric transportation
companies as may hereafter be organized.
road commissioners be given the powers
of a public service commission, adopting
smch nrayisions from h New York pub
y " vi 4cVtN do dlSl udDle %
the conditions Of our state. Already cleo
trtc lines of railroad are being projected.
and legislation must keep step with the
progress of the time.
The board of railroad commissioners OBJ
lects to the requirement Of the anti-pass
law OF 1907 requiring q publication in Its
report of passes, franks and reduced rate
llckets to employees and members of their
families, because of the labor and ey-
.pense necessary In the preparation and
publication OF the same. and expresses
the opinion that the purposes of the law
will be effectively served If common car
riers shall be required under oath to In
Guide only in the list furnished and pub
llshed all franks, passes and reduced rate
tickets issued to persons other than en-
p!loyes and members OF their families. IT
also recommends a law requiring railway
companies to report PROMPTLY TO the COM
mission, and in detail. all accidents oc-'
ctrrsng on railroads In this state which
result in loss of life or injury to nersons.
In order that nm immediate and thorough
Investigation may be nt..ase for the pur-
Dose pr nscertatnsng the cstiss and nlac-
ing the liability where It belongs. Both
recommendations are respectfully recon-
mended to you.
A Travelling Vice.
Drinking and gambling upon railway
passenger trains has become q nuisance.
1t Is disgusting to be compelled to SIT
In a smoker. where oDe-third of the per-
SONS travelling therein are intoxicate,1
y where beer and whisky bottles are
being passed back and forth. or are
placed in rows in the windows. or found
rolling about the car fiocr. a~ccompanie