Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-02-04
PROBLEM FOR
LEGISLATORS
How to Meet Expenses without
Increasing STATE Debt


Expected That Proposed immigration
Office and Other Much Discussed
"Hobbiss" Will Fail Of Enactment.
Both Houses Fix Feb. Is a. the
Last Day on Which Dilis May -
Introduces.
Pierre. Feb. 1.-The Legislature 70
turned from the weeks vacation with
most conservative views regarding the
fiscal affairs of the state and II even
liberal appropriations are made 1t will
be accomplished after = change Of
views has been effected In fact there
is real concern about the condition of
the treasury. The total state debt ut
this time is about $850.000, or about
the total annual revenue upon the s.
mill basis. This debt must be I'm
creased by legislative expenses and
special appropriations before it can
be reduced. The actual demands upon
the treasury will absorb all Of the
revenues of the next year and how to
get out of this session without max
ing appropriations which will not fur
thsr burden the state with debt is the
problem which 10 uppermost In the
minds of every one.
J. + +
1t is believed = plan has been found
by which the capitol can be finished
without drawing upon the general
fund for more than a nominal amount.
The special building bills Of the vari-
Gus institutions will, IL the present
views are carried out, b cut to the
lowest sum consistent with the abso.
lutte requirement to keep up the work
and frills generally will be dispensed
with. This ultra conservative spirit
will perhaps lead to giving up any
attempt to set up An immigration
Office and many other much exploited
hobbies will fail. The fact in it re-
quires at least f. mills annually to
conduct the states Affairs upon even
conservative basis and our Ills at
this time are wholly duo to the at-
tempt to get along on mills.
!. \ +
Governor Vessey's first appoint
ment was made on Thursday and was
promptly confirmed by the senate. 1t
was Hon. e. A. Hitchcock Of Mitchell
for regent of education to succeed
DR.. Spafford of Flandreau, whose
term has expired after twelve years
of acceptable service. The law re-
quires the appointment of regents to
be made during the session of the
legislature before Feb. / and to be
made from the different political par
ties. Mr.. Hitchcock is q Democrat,
an old resident of the state, fne
scholarly fellow and he is now mayor
of Mitchell. Hon. T. w. Dwight of
Sioux Falls is the governors second
appointment for regent. II there 10
anything in blood Mr.. Dwight belongs
to American educational royalty. Two
grandfathers were presidents of Yale
college and he is directly descended
from Jonathan Edwards rs we'll. For
many years he resided in Bridgewatsr,
In McCook county, and served In the
state senate Of 1899 from that county.
+ !. 1.
Senator Dillon has turned his bat.
teries upon legislative expenses and
has prepared three bills which are in
tended to make good big saving in
the future without In any wise affect
ing the efficiency of the service. The
first bill provides what shall consti.
tute the officers and employees Of each
house. Certain onicers under the
constitution are elective and each
house must choose these. Other clerks
are placed under the appointment and
control of the secretary OF state and
are TO be efficient stenographers and
typewriters, who win their positions
through competitive examination.
These are limited in number to the
actual requirements Of the service
Under another bill all bills are to be
engrossed and enrolled In record type.
writing and the bill provides for the
means of Identifying the typewriter
sheets to prevent forgery. This
method will insure rapid and accurate
work in transcribing bills and greatly
reduced expense. The third bill does
away with the expensive written per
manent journals Of the two houses
and which simply cucumber the
shelves of the state department. The
printed journal, after correction and
approval by the respective houses, are
made the permanent journals. These
three reforms will. 1t is believed, save
several thousand dollars each session
/. + + +
The first thing after the recess boil
houses fixed Feb Is as the last day
upon which bills may be introduced
without the consent Of the respective
houses, except committee bills. Th'
resolutions on the subject declars'
. | zach hill ahOuld he considered uuol