Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-10-13
STATE TREASURER
MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS in
HIS TRANSMlSSAL LETTER
TO THE GOVERNOR
TAX OF PHONE COMPANIES
Suggests that the Manner of Collect.
ing Taxes From Railroads be
Applied to Several Other
Corporate Bodies

Pierre-State Treasurer Johnson,
In his letter of transmittal to the
governor with his report makes the
following recommendations and sug-
gestions:
During my entire term of office,
there has been difficulty in securing
the prompt payment of taxes assessed
against telephone companies doing
business in this state, and in some
instances it has been impossible to
collect any of the taxes assessed
against certain telephone companies.
In my opinion, a law should be en-
acted that would provide a speedy
and effective remedy to compel the
payment OF such taxes. 1t is Suggest
ed that such law contain provis .ons
that would permit and require the
attorney general and the states at
torney's of the several count es to in
stltute proceedings to extinguish the
franchise and revoke the authority
of such delinquent companies to do
business, as we'll as the payment OF
tax, as above suggested.
''It is also recommended that the
tax assessed by the state board OF
assessment and equalization again
telephone, telegraph express and
sleeping car companies be collected
by the different counties of the state
in which such companies do business,
in the same manner that the railroad
companies taxes are now collected,
and that law to that effect be en-
acted at the coming session of the
legislature.
The era OF progress, prosperity and
plenty that has spread her mantle
over our fair state, bringing health
full vigor to all lines of business, is
being equally enjoyed by the farmer,
the laboring man. the merchant, the
banker and the manufacturer and re-
fleets a glowing promise for increaseu
revenue for the state. This will be
especially noticeable during the COM
ing year for the reason that several
hundred miles of railroad now under
construction within the borders of
this state will be completed and be-
come taxable. This will necessitate
the building of new towns to be SUP
piled with residences, stores, banks,
elevators, ETC., that together with the
vast amount of taxable property, Gre
ated from the advent Of these new
railroads and the opening of the pub
lie domain for private settlement, and
the unprecedented sale of private
lands to actual settlers who are COM
ing to our fair state to make for
themselves permanent places of abode,
will, in consequence, add many mil
lion dollars assessable property, both
real and personal, to the tax rolls
next year.
And yet with all the splendid
promise of increased revenues for the
future, there is ever lurking danger,
as past experience has taught us, that
the Legislative assembly will, in max
ing up the appropri atoms, lose sight
of the most essential and important
item to be taken into consideration
and that is, the source and amount OF
the revenues, and submit to the
clamorous and powerful pressure that
is always brought to bear and appro-
pirate far in excess of the income,
thus making it necessary for the state
to issue revenue warrants in large
amounts and pay interest upon the
same condition of affairs which
should not be permitted to exist e1-
cept in times of invasion, Instruction
panic, famine or war"