Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-01-20
TO SWING Big AK
THE LEGISLATURE MAY A6OL'9''
SEVERAL UNlMPORIANl
STATE OFFICES
OFFICE OFSTATE ENCINEER
Inspectors of Hotels and Telephones
are Among Those Most Likely
TO be Singled Out as
~Dispensible

Pierre-If some of the contemplat-
ed legislation of the present SIS
sion is placed upon the statute D0oAS
there are some prominent state ON
GERS slated for the legislative ak. lheIe
is a movement in both houses TO 40
away with certain offices, Whlch, II Is
commended, are unnecessary or nave
outgrown their usefulness.
Perhaps the most prominent or those
departments, whose very existence Is
in jeopardy, is the office Of state en-
gipeer Lea. A bill was introduced III
the house today by Halgerson, calling
for the abolition of the office u
placing the department under the dl-
rect supervision Of the state surveyor.
The office of the state engineer was
created by act of the legislature III
1905. 1t calls for one expert hydro-
graphic engineer and surveyor to De
appointed by the governor at a hGeu
salary of So, 900 per year. An assistant
engineer is also provided Tor, the
salary being fixed at 81, 500 per year.
This latter office is perhaps h only
assistant state position where the IN
come is set by statute. In addition
appropriations are allowed for the
hiring of field assistants and clerks
and for general and travelling expenses.
Allowance is made for what is known
as the photographic fund, to be used
for materials and i~ncidentals. Inc
yearly appropriation for this fund IS
$1,000.
Samuel H. Lea was appointed by
Governor Elrod, to the head OF h
newly created department. AT the
time of his appointment Mr.. Lea was
H. 40 ~ryarpnoant Cprvicp at TT.
Meade. but he assumed his new duties
July /. 1906. His term does not expire
till July 1, 1912.
The duties of the office require the
making of photographic surveys of all
lakes, rivers and streams in the state,
which together with all the available
statistics concerning them, are to be-
come a part Of the records OF the de-
partment. In addition the department
is made the court of last resort in any
questions or disputes on irrigation,
drainage and the application for wafer
right permits.
1t is claimed by those fostering the
bill, that no big irrigation projects
have been undertaken by Mr.. Lea IN
his official capacity. Mr.. Lea IS crlt!-
cided for his expenditure of the maxi
mum appropriations for his depart
ment, from which it is claimed, the
state has received little Or no benelt
In his official capacity as supet1n-
tending the construction of the state
house, Mr.. Lea received from the state
81 per day-this in addition to the
$4,000 per annum allowed him In MS
official capacity as state engineer.
From July 80, 1907 to March s, 1910,
he drew $4,554 for his services on the
building.
Following are the appropriations for
the engineers department, since 1T was
created: 1906, $4,000; 1907, $1,000;
1908, So, 900; 1909, $4,000; 1910, $4,000;
total, $4,000.
The above figures do not include the
$1,000 photographic fund, With for
he five years, would make the total
s44, 200. Thus the total amount OF
money turned over to Mr.. Lea tor
his services as engineer n in the
maintenance of hat department, to-
gether with the 81 per day allowed
him as superintendent OF the construc-
ton work on the capitol, is brought
up to $48,754. :,
Representative Cranston introduced
house bill No. So, calling for the abol1-
ton of the offiee of telephone inspect
or, and a similar bill may be introduce
ed to abolish the offise OF hotel in
spector. The former office was Great
ed in 1909, and the latter in 1907. The
plan is to put the duties of the hotel
Inspector in the hands of the fire mar
shall in the department on insurance
and have the railroad commissioners
take care of the business Of telephone
inspector.
c.. M. Hopkins, of Aberdeen, is the
present hotel inspector. He is paid
solely by fees for inspecting hotels
and all fees so received in excess or
$3.50 and expenses per year must be
turned into the state treasury. w.
%. Egge, is serving in the capacity Of
telephone inspector and draws a sal
airy of $1,000 per year.