Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-08-25
MUST PRINT ITEMS
STATE AUDITORS REPORT WILL
HEREAFTER SHOW EVERY
ITEM OF EXPENSE
BALLOT is NOT ALL GREEK
A Seven-Hundred-an Twenty Square
Inch Ballot Need Not Alright
Voters if Approached
With Caution
BY DOANE ROBINSON.

BY DOANE ROBINSON.
Pierre-The first report Of the state
auditor, under the new law requiring
every item of every voucher to be
printd at large, is now in the hands
of the printer. The report will make
document of more than 800 pages,
and, for the FIRST time, the public will
have a convenient means of knowing
precisely how every penny of state
funds is expended. Hitherto this could
be ascertained only by an examination
of the vouchers filed in tho state au-
ditors Office. The new plan is causing
some perturbation among some Off
Gals, who declare they we're not In
formed that their vouchers were to be
printed That its result will be gen
even honest men will scrutinize the
vouchers they file for publication with
greater care, and there will be fewer
careless and improvident expenditures.
Officials, too, will be exposed to un
just criticism from those unqualified
to determine the necessities of ex-
penditures, and a new personal ele-
ment is certain to be introduced into
succeeding political campaigns.
There Ia good deal OF criticism OF
the referendum ballot to be voted at
the coming election. SIX laws ara up
for approval, and they make the bal
dot six feet long and ten inches wide.
In fact, the arrangement of the laws
upon the ballot is the best that can
DE devised and one least likely to lead
the voter into error. Each act stands
by itself under proper heading, the
lines of it running clear across the
ballot, SO that one could scarcely b
misled into voting for the wrong act,
as was the case with the former bal
lot voted two years ago. The legis-
lature spent much time in devlsing
"a form that would be clear and COM
prehendable. The great length Of the
ballot is chiefly due to the fact that
the military code was referendumed,
and has to be printed in Its entirety
upon the ballot
The forest service Is meeting with
excellent results in the Black Hills in
its efforts to reforest the cut-oyer and
burned-over lands. The plan pursued
is the simple one OF sowing pine seeds
broadcast at the rate of about eight
pounds to the acre. The birds and
gophers get away with big per-
centage OF the seed so sowa, but
enough is saved SO that q fine growth
of young pine is secured wherever tho
seed has been sown. 1t Is mistake
to suppose that forest fires in tho
Hills destroy all Of the timber in the
sections burned, or even consider
able portion of it, Very small trees
are killed. but it is really astonishing
to see how much burning pine for
est will endure without material In
jury. In fact, the law of health which
governs a pine tree IS pretty hard to
determine. A tree will come through
a dozen big fires with its trunk only
charred and live on for generations.
drives a single nail into it and it
dies.
The success Of James Holding Eagle
of the Mandans is another illustration
of view often urged Of the superior
results Of the work of the denomina-
tional school among the Indians. 1t
may be too strong a statement to say
that all Indians who have made good
in civilized ways came out OF the de-
nominational schools, but 1t Is true
that very many OF the successful rcd
men were SO educated Mr.. Eagle Ia 4
graduate Of the Congregational Norm
al at Santee, Neb., an Institution
whose foundations were laid by Al
fred Riggs of the Minnesota Mission
airy family soon after the outbreak In
. 1852 When the Minnesota Santees
were banished to the Missouri. Mr..
Riggs accompanied them and has boon
with them ever since and the men and
women who accomplished good things
for their race who have como from
his tutelage are very numerous. Such
schools deserve the substantial sup
port Of all who hopo for self respect
ing citizenship for the red man.
The Thomas murder case at Stursi,
promises unusually sensational devel-
opments, and the air is Allied with
sinister rumors Thomas himself had
been considerably in the limellsht In
recent months and Mrs. Mcmahon who
shot him had boen twice widow
within a very brief time, and hel
enemies more than intimate that both
husbands were cheerfully assisted IN
their taking off, Disinterment Of Nc
Mahon the last husband is suggested
The present condition Of the treas.
ury supports Governor Vessey's .con.
tention that the state debt will be
speedily extinguished. There is more
than quarter of million net casf
on hand, making the total debt 1T TIL!
time less cash in the general funt
about $3.50, 600, $4,000 OF which |:
owed to the Irvine fund.
Crushed Under Steam Plow