The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-02-29
BRAND OF INDULGENCE
PLACED ON SETTLERS
BY free SEED" LAW
Conditions To Which Drought
Stricken Must Submit In
Order To Get Aid.

Goldfeld, S. D., Feb. 26.-Some or
the eastern newspapers have oeen
running headNners to the effect tnst
the reports Of want and suffering IN
western South Dakota have been ex-
aggerated."
Under date of February 10. a sioux
Falls paper quotes State Senator
Harry L. Candy, Of Wasta. as saying:
"-he stories Of want and restitution
have been greatly exaggerated as are
also the stories Of suffering OF I'VE
stock" yet he admitted that In prac-
tically every county west Of the MIS-
souri, river there would De some Ie
quests for county aid to procure seeo
grain for spring planting. He furtner
asserted that a careful canvass showed
that the number would be mucn
smaller than had been anticipated.
This will probably be true as tne
settlers are greatly incensed over tne
seed grain law" passed by n ,ass
legislature In the MIDST Oh d SS'eie
drought period.
A clear explanation Of the proposi.
ton whereby the settlers may penent
(?) by this law has been distributed IN
a signed circular by John +. Evett'
chairman Of the board OF county coin
missioners of Meade county. A care,
.ul perrusal Of this circular Will reveai
why the settlers are so indignant
about the matter and will explain why
;here will probably be very few appl-
cations under this law.
To begin with. the settler, to take
advantage Of this law, must hrst NE
with the county auditor a sworn state.
ment that he Is destitute and must
petition the board Of county CON-
missioners for aid in the matter OF
seed. In order to obtain the SEED ne
must execute q note and mortgage
drawing Z per cent interest, at the
same time paying cost price Tor tne
seed and s cents a bushel pront TO
the dealers. Yet, Notwithstanding ne
has purchased same on the terms laid
down by the law, 1t Is not his prop
erty, as under the law provision IS
made for the punishment or anyone
selling, feeding, or using the grain IN
any manne whatever other thar tor
seed purposes" Further than this, II
the county commissioners see ny 70
grant the seed, he must be advertised
in all the official county papers as q
pauper, Notwithstanding that he must
own sufficient property to satisfy the
county commissioners as TO the secur-
ity.
Mention is also made in the circular
of the fact that Perkins county last
year C911) went into debt Tor SEED
grain to the extent of $4,000 n only
about $500 has thus far been repaid
1t is to be wondered how the COM
f! missioners could have expected the
! debt to have been n~quidated In ina!
season Of complete crop failure aho
the worst drought in the history OF
the state.
The circular, copies of which have
been placed in the different postofnces
for distribution, follows:
The matter Of the free distribution q
seed grain having been rougnt 10 .ne
attention of the board of county com
m~issioners, the following brief expla'
nation Of the law is hereby presented.
IT is impossible at this time. to state
iust what action will be taken In the
matter, but this explanation Is present
ed for the benefit Of any n inter
ested.
The seed grain law provides that tn
commissioners may, If they see mt, pro
vide for the purchase by the county
of seed grain, to be distributed amont
the needy and destitute farmers or TIT
county applying for them. In order TO
any one to take advantage OF this Law
he must first file with the county audi
tor a sworn statement that he Is des
titute and that he has tried ana pee
unable to procure seed grain In an
other manner. He must also give
minute description by legal subdivision
of the land upon which he intends t
SOW said grain, and Of the amour
needed, which must not In any case
exceed one hundred (100) bushels o
wheat, or the equivalent thereon. Pro
anyone selling, feeding, or using tn
grain in any manner whatever, othe
than for seed purposes.
The names Of all those applying 70
aid under the provisions of this lay
will be published in all Of the offcis
papers of the county.
At the time Of procuring the see
grain the applicant must execute a not
; and mortgage, drawing seven CD pc
sent interest, covering the land owne
, by himself on which he proposes to us
this seed. This Indebtedness must b
paid by the Goth day Of October, 191
failing which 1t becomes a first lie
upon the land. to be collected the sam
as other taxes are collected. If the ar
/, plicant owns no land the commission
ers may demand any other securir
|, they deem sufficient.
The price must be actual cost, pit
s cents per bushel.
Several objections nave been urged
: the distribution of grain undo TN
law, one of which is, that in the ms
jority of cases, anyone able to me-
I all requirements necessary " eHtil
him to it's benefits can ordinarily pr
cure his seed otherwise. 1t is not II
intent of the law by any means TO di
= tribute this seed gratis. 1t must all
o paid for with Z per cent interest.
q From all the information obtaint
from other counties it seems that II
experiment has not proven very ben
o fetal in most cases to the farmers al
n almost invariably 1t has proven disa
ferrous to the county. In Perkins coul
ty last year the county went In de
$4,000, only about $500 of which has
far been repaid.
. However, as before stated. 1t Is tr
possible to say just what action w
be taken in the matter. 1t may be ne
10 essary to resort to this law. despite
objections advanced. The matter w
- be definitely disposed Of in the mild
- Of February, meanwhile this parti
explanation of the law Is published
l. the consideration Of those interested.
might be will to state In same co
he nection that the board of county col
missioners is now arranging to ha
seed grain shipped free Of freight
the different dealers who will agree
DO sell 1t to the farmers at cost, plus
z. cents a bushel.