The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-01-06

the country west Of the river, shipping
grain to Minneapolis, pays double the
tariff that the well-todo established
farmer east of the river is called upon
to pay.
/ trust the Railroad Commission will
put before you a full and complete re-
port particularly in regard to these
determinations, and I hope that your
honorable body will act in such q way
as to give these people relief.
The Primary Law.
AT the last legislature our primary
law was ~re.enacted and the result
shows some Improvement over the
former law. We find, however, that il
is still inadequate in several respects
and we believe that it should be re-
vised and amended in such a way that
it will more effectually protect the
parties and assure their solidarity.
Attorney General
For the past two years the Attor
ney Generals Office has been one Of
the busiest and probably the most
overworked department in the state.
The work which has been done to as
sist the States Attorneys in the strict
enforcement Of law has cost the depart
ment a great deal Of time and quite .
large amount Of money.
The expenses incurred in the prose
cution of the rate cases far exceed the
estimate that was made by the last
legislature and on account of these an
l~ooked-for necessary expenses, the APP
preparation has been practically ex-
pended. I trust the legislature will
give this matter its immediate atten-
tion and appropriate not only sufficient
money to take care of this department
Tor the balance Of the fiscal year, but
make its appropriation for the coming
two years sufficiently large to permit
a continuation of the effectiveness Of
this department in its work in the in.
terests of the people Of the state.
Constitutional Convention
During my incumbency in the Office
of Chief Executive my attention has
often times been called to various de-
fects in our state constitution and I
am convinced that the question Of call
ing a convention for the purpose Of
revising the present instrument Is Of
enough Importance to warrant your
serious consideration at this time. 1T
is evident to me and it must be to all
who are informed on the subject that
the state has developed so rapidly that
our constitution is now q mis-ft-in
other words the coat has been out
grown. Our statutory laws need
amendments, in some instances com
plete revision, and our entire system
Of administration is in need Of many
changes. We are of course unwilling
that any Of the safeguards now con
tanned in the constitution be done
away with but the fact remains that
there are many new provisions as much
needed as any now within the bound
aries Of the instrument.
State House Grounds
i believe that the Legislature should
make a liberal appropriation for prop
erly parking and land-scaping the
grounds surrounding the Capitol Build
ing. This necessary work should be
commenced with a complete, systemA~
tic and symmetrical plan in view for
the entire grounds. The beauty Of
mr. new state house will be very much
e%nhancad thereby. The services Of IN
efficient land scape gardener should be
secured and retained until the work 10
Care Of the State House
In my Judgment, the care and man
agement of the state house should be
under the control Of an executive conn
mittee Of three or four of the state
officers, under whom the custodian
should have full power in regard to
the management of the building.
! also believe that some provision
should be made whereby County and
City iails would be inspected by some
officer delegated for that specific work.
Waterways
The subject of the Improvement and
navigation Of the internal waterways
of d country is one of large impor-
lance to the individual states as well
as the nation, and has become a vital
issue pertaining to the commercial
welfare and industrial development Of
every state.
The federal government has entered
upon a policy OF systematically deepen
ing and improving our navigable wat
ers. South Dakota, having in the ME-.
souri, River and some Of her tributar-
les and in the lakes upon her eastern
border, the means of greatly enfarg-
ing our commerce and of cheapening
the cost Of transportation, should, 1t
is believed, encourage this movement
in all proper and practicable ways.
Conclusion
There are many other subjects de-
serving of special mention but / have
already overtaxed you and in conclu.
sion I have only to say that i trust
the measures enacted by the Twelfth
Legislative Session may be q source
of benefit and qualification to many
and Of injury to none.
The privilege of legislating for the
people of a state is one embodying
high honor and carries with it a posi-
tion of trust, but a yet higher honor
is due the legislator who serves tne
state and not any individual
class, or corporation, and who seeks
only the betterment of the common
wealth.
Continuous trouble, much litigation,
and great injustice to the people of