Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-01-15
dirncult and responsible work entrusted to
Public Service Corporations.

" fAaNF0 g%St 80
higher valuations than before ~ ! be-
lieve they are now paying their ~reasona.bie
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 deHlurrage law, an
ti-pass law. anti-lobby law, primary cleo
ton law, and law making IL a crime for
corporations to make contributions 10 POI
litical parties or TO party candidates or
committees removed most of the abuses
OF which the people Justly complained; un-
der these laws, which are working wen
the corporation has been removed from po-
litical power In South Dakota NO rea-
sonable person wishes TO do an injustice TO
the railroads. We need them and they need
us and q spirit OF mutual fair dealing
should prevail between them and the peo-
pie, | regard IL as unfortunate that the
railway companies having ines IN south
Dakota did not comply with the law or
1907 and the order OF the board of railroad
commissioner t~heTeunder, fixing the max
imum passenger fare at 2ls cents per mlle.
The railway companies-after sending
their Representatives to the capltal TWO
years ago-Who admitted before the leg
islature that the average rate they We're
voluntarily charging In the passenger ser
vice was only pa cents per mile at a TIME
when they were carrying a large NUMBER
of privileges persons for ~nothing-saW nj,
after the free pass system was aDollShed
and everyone required TO pay fare, 10 go
~ NAAt ~
pOraFy Injunction gains the enforcement
of the order fixing the maximum fares at
212 cents per mile. II Is worse IMAM use
less to attempt to convince the people Jhat
2a cents per mile is confscatory when the
passenger trains in this state are cr0Wdeu
daily and when these same railroads are
carrying many Of the same passengers III
Nebraska. Iowa and Minnesota Tor =
cents a mile. 1t Is Just such conduct as
this that creates r feeling against the
railroads on the part of the people, Ihe
result Is that all political parties anu rae
tions I'm 1908 joined In a demand that TINS
legislature pass an absolute act, with an
emergency clause attached, making II Ell
fective at once, fixing the maximum pas
senger rate between points In this state
at 2 cents n mile. The people nave spoken
on this subject and your duty is plain:
Platform promises must lie 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
sun OF $4,000 for the purpose OF enabling
the bard of railroad commissioners to
ascertain the true cash value OF the rail
read lines within the state. For TINS pur-
pose, the commission engaged the serV-
ices Of Mr.. G. c.. Witt, an experienced en-
gineer; DR.. Homer NJ. Derr, professor or
civil engineering at the College OF Me
chanic Arts at Brookings, and Mr.. o.. F.
Swartz, for many years the efhclent dep
uty state auditor at Pierre.
This work has been going OIL for some
time and is reported I'm detail by the com
mission, who state, that when the work
Is concluded, they believe this state WIN
have a more compete and correct Yalua-
ton than has been secured oy similar
bodies in other states. There are 1000
miles OF railroad in South Dakota. The
ascertainment OF it's actual cash value is
the first necessary and important step in
proceeding to fix It's fair proporuonate
share OF the public taxes and In deterln-
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,
of the state treasurer, state
auditor and a telephone commissioners ap-
pointed by the governor, who draws q
salary Of 81, 200 a year. 1t was given gem
eral supervision and control Of all the tel
cphone lines and exchanges in the state,
with power to hear and determine com
plants, require reports, make
Of maximum rates, compel connections
and prevent unjust determinations. The
legislature, however, made no approprla-
zion whatever for the expenses of the
commission, and it has not been able to
accomplish much for the want of funds.
Under It's provisions, l appointed Hon.
William Eye, of Centervilie, as coEimis-
siCner. He has done all that he could do
without funds. Complaints have been
heard a1d adjusted from time to time,
and he has attended each meeting OF the
Ee3fQ OF assessment anu c~lUailZdIlOH ana
given To that board much valuable as
sistance and Information in connection
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 it also have supervision and
authority In matters pertaining TO the
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. l suggest that the
telephone commissioner be required TO act
in all matters relating TO telephone COM
panies with the board of railway com
missioners, instead OF with the auditor
and treasurer of the state, and that the
general supervisory powers given to the,
telephone commission by the law 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 commissioner, who shall be UNI
der their direction; and hat sufficient
appropriation be made TO enable him to
properly perform the duties assigned to
him. Also. that the supervision OF he
board OF railroad commissioners be ex-
tended to express and telegraph compa-
MES, and such electric transportation
companies as may hereafter be organized.
In other words, that the board Of rail-
road commissioners be given the power
of a 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,
and legislation must keep step with the
progress OF the time.
The board OF railroad commissioners OBJ
jects to the requirement of the anti-pass
law OF 1907 requiring q publication In It's
report OF passes, franks and reduced rate
tickets to employees and members of their
families. because OF the labor and ex-
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
clude only In the list furnished and pub
llshed all franks, passes and reduced rate
tickets issued 70 persons other than em-
ployes and members OF their families. II
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 70 persons.
IN order that an immediate and thorough
Investigation NAV he made for the pur-
nose OF ascertaining the cause and riac-
ing the liability where Il belongs. Both
recommendations are respectfully recon-
mended TO you.
A Travelling Vice.
Drinking and gambling upon railway
passenger trains has become a nuisance.
IL is disgusting to be compelled to sit
In a smoker. where oDe-third OF the per
sons travelling therein are Intoxicated
and where beer and whisky bottles are
being passed back and forth, or are
rolling about the car floor. accompanied
hv the 1o,ld. profape and filthy talk OF the