Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-01-15

and everyone required to pay fare, to e
into the federal court and procure a TEN
porary injunction against the enforcement
OF the order fixing the maximum fares a
2'2 cents per mile. 1t is worse than use,
less to attempt to convince the people tha'
2L2 cents per mile is COntscatory when the
passenger trains in this state are crowded
daily and when these same railroads are
carrying many of the same passengers Il,
Nebraska. Iowa and Minnesota for
cents a mile. 1t is just such conduct as
this that creates a feeling against Ih'
railroads on the part of the people. The
result IS that all political parties ana rae
tions in 1908 Joined in a demand that tins
legislature pass an absolute act, with an
emergency clause attached, making 1t ef'
~fective at once. fixing the maximum pas
senger rate between points in this state
at ? cents a mile. The people have spoken
on this subject and your duty is plain.
Platform promises must b." Kept II 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 $1,000 for the purpose OF enabling
the board of railroad commissioners to
road lines within the state. For this pur-
pose. the commission engaged the serv-
ices of Mr.. {. G. Witt, an experienced Ell,
sineer: DR.. Homer NJ. Derr, professor of
civil engineering at the College of Me
Chanic Arts at Brookings, and Mr.. e; +.
Swartz. for many years the efficient dep
uty state auditor at Pierre.
This work has been going on for some
time and is reported in detail by the com
MISSION, VINO state, mat Wllel lne "olh
is concluded. they believe this state will
nave a more compel and correct Ealua-
ton than has been secured by similar
bodies in other states. There are 1000
miles of railroad in South Dakota. The
ascertainment of its actual cash value is
the first necessary and important step IN
share of the public taxes and in det"rm-
ming the reasonableness Of its tariffs.
State Supervision of Public Utilities
Complaints are made that the charges
Of the express, telegraph and te;ephone
commission was created two years ago,
composed of the state treasurer, state
auditor and a telephone commissioner APP
pointed by the governor. who draws a
salary of 81 POO a year. 1t was given gen
eral SUPERVISION and control of all the tel
ephone lines and exchanges in the state.
with power to hear and determine com
plants, require reports, make schedules
and prevent unjust determinations. The
legislature. however, made no appropria-
ton whatever for the expenses Of the
commission, and 1t has not been able TO
accomplish much for the want OF FUNDS.
Under its provisions, appointed Hon.
sioncr. He has done all thai he could do
without funds. Complaints have been
heard and adjusted from time to time,
and he has attended each meeting of the
board OF assessment and equalization and
given to that board much valuable as
with the assessment Of the property of
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-
ing express companies and electric rail
ways under the supervision OF that board,
and that 1T also have supervision and
authGrity in matters pertaining to the n
electric light and other wires over rail-
road tracks: Undoubtedly. all Of these
form of Supervision. suggest that the
telephone commissioner be required to act
panies with the board Of railway com
m~issioners, instead of with the auditor
and treasurer of the state, and that the
general supervisory powers given to the
telephone commission by the lazy of 1907
be given to the Members of the board of
railroad commissioners, said board TO act
upon such matters in connection with the
telephone commissioners, who shall be I'M
der their direction; and that sufficient
properly perform the duties assigned to
him. Also. that the supervision of the
b fsnddd Of f r exnrssl s s0%m faIsE2anb e be es-
MES, and such electric transportation
companies as may hereafter be organized.
road commissioners be given the powers
Of a public service commission. adopting
such provisions from Ino- the New York pub
trio lines Of railroad are being projected,
PROGRESS of the time.
The board Of railroad commissioners OBJ
1eCtS TO the requirement OF the ant1-DaSS
law of 1907 requiring a puhlica ion in Its
report Of passes, franks and reduced rate
tickets to employees and member Of their
pense necessary in the preparation and
publication Of the same. and expresses
will be effectively served If common car
clude only in the list furnished and pub
lished all franks, passes and reduced rate
tickets issued to persons other than en-
ployes and members Of their families. 1t
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-
mended to you.
A Travelling Vice.
Drinking and gambling upon railway
in a smoker. where one-third of the per
sons tEevelling therein are intoxieated
being passed back and forth, or are
placed in rows in the windows. or found
by the loud. p~rofane and filthy talk of the
drunken rowdy. Neither is 1t the place
for men to openly violate the laws Of the
repeatedly been called to the matter by
tralnnCn ana Dy the travelling public.
Not long since, on one of the North
western passenger trains. a drunken man
hurled a beer bottle through the glass of
a car window, and instances equally Of
fensIve are of frequent occurrence. I am
glad to note that the board of railroad
commissioners urges the enactment Of a
law which will. 50 far as possible. pre-
vent drunkenness and disorderly conduct
on railway trains in this state. A num-
her Of states have effective statutes alb
T pab,ie drifting Of i ftonnf an ileu eas
upon passenger trains. 7 join heartily in
tho recommendation Of the board that an
effective law be enacted to correct this
evil.
State and County Depository Law.
Both Of the great. political parties in
this state have declared in favor OF a
comprehensive state and county DC ,asi-
tary law, which shall yield a revei. 10
the state and county.
The retiring state treasurer in his re-
port recommends such a law and it will
have to perform 1t should, be so framed
as to bring to the state, as well as to
the counties. a return of interest for the
use of the public funds and it should, SO
far as 1t can safely be done, relieve the
state treasurer of the enormous RESPONSE
bility and risk. which. as the law now
half q million dollars. Instability is that
of an absolute insurer, and mis- salary is
only $500 per year. The depositary law
should be SO drawn as to deal justly with
the treasurer by placing a large part of
his tremendous responsibility elsewhere,
or by providing. in some manner, for
more adequate compensation.
Pa~rtisanship Cut Out.
In keeping with the declared purpose
set forth in my inaugural address two
years ago, 1 have absolutely refrained
from partisan political interference with
The members of the board who We're in
charge two years ago, are still in con-
troll. Under the provisions of ar act
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