The Wagner leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-1912, 1912-03-29
PROGRESS Of STATE IS
HAMpERED BY ARCHAIC
PART OF ORGANIC LAW
Movement to Repeal Section Of
Constitution Which Cuts
Out Aid BY State.

Pierre, s. d March 25.-John HIP
ple, editor Of the Pierre Capital
Journal, fs instituting a campaign o.
agitation for the repeal OF section !,
article Is. Of the constitution, which
provides:
"Neither the state nor any county,
township or municipality shall loan or
give its credit or make donations to or
In aid of any Individual association or
corporation, except for the necessary
support OF the poor, nor subscribe to or
become the owner of the capital stock
Of any association or corporation, nor
pay or become responsible for the debt
or liability of any individual, associa-
ton or corporation: . Nor shall
the state engage In any work of In
ternal Improvement"
BY this constitutional prohibition the
state of South Dakota Is prevented
from carrying or by the use OF the
states credit and many
needed lines of internal improvement,
as good roads, possible railroads, ir-
rigation and water power projects and
the mining OF coal. A similar clause is
found In the constitutions OF practical
ly all western states. n as Mr.. Hip
pie argues, at the time of its adoption
was probably a necessary expedient TO
prevent the waste of the peoples mon
Gy Dy GxlIdSdkdlL IE6 ~ %
Incorporated In these later constitu-
tions because OF the experiences of IL
linois, Michigan and other central
states in the '40's, when their assem-
blies bound them for great sums for
turnpike, canal and railway promotion.
Todav in South Dakota, with the init
iative and referendum, whereby any
e~xtravagant appropriation would likely
be brought before the people for APP
prevail. his danger no longer exists, and
with it's removal, there is no longer
valid reason for the existence OF this
p%rohibitory constitutional provision.
State a Manufactures.
A few years ago a special constitu-
tional amendment enabled the state to
construct and operate a Irvine and shirt
factory at the Sioux Falls penitentiary.
This is the only industrial enterprise
carried on by the state, but there Is a
long list of internal improvements
which are vitality important to the de-
velopment of South Dakota, many of
which have been proposed to, and
would likely have been enacted by the
legislature II not unconstitutional.
Among these Is state aid for the con-
struction of improved highways.
Last session some important menu
bers, including Speaker Morris, con-
sidered the Introduction of such a bill
until they thought of the constitution
q 4 utillCuklts d. SuCn a law lHc Stdtc
could build model roads where they
would be object lesson to all. For a
long period Of years the railways re-
fused to invade the trans Missouri
country, leaving 1t for two decades an
undeveloped Indian reservation. AT hat
time some public spirited citizens on-
templated a state railway from the
Missouri to the Hills, but were pre-
vented from taking any active steps
because of the constitution. There are
. tracts OF easily irrigated land in
the state, the development Of which
will likely be delayed for years be-
cause of the impossibility of state as
sistance. The several hundred miles of
Missouri river through the state cry out
for improvement in order to enable
the people Of South Dakota to tax adj
vantage OF a great natural resource.
Resources Suppressed.
Here again its hands are tied. On
the Missouri there are two water pow
ers, h development of which would
produce hundreds of thousands of
horsepower which could be transmitted
throughout the state. but under the
present circumstances the state can do
nothing toward securing state control
or development of the same, leaving
them to some day be monopolized for
private gain. The people of South Da-
kota pay annually $11 600, 900 for fuel.
- iNA6c pei ICIL VI tliS Is LUZ lItIBilL
Within the state there are Ignite fields
capable OF furnishing heat for the en-
tire state at Q very much lower price.
BY modern briquetting methods this
Ignite a be mad equal to the very
best anthracite and laid down anywhere
in the state for from 81 to IS per ton.
Railway officials have said frequently
their roads would discourage in
every way possible the development of
these fields because they want the long
hauls from Pennsylvania. Indiana and
Illinois.
At the last session this matter of
state development OF its coal mines was
discussed by members. but the consti-
tuition prohibited any active steps.
In these and other of neces-
sary internal improvement which are
not attractive to private capital. or
which properly belong to the sphere OF
the state. the commonwealth of South
Dakota can take no active part until
this clause Of its fundamental law is
repealed.
FORM
SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS
Aberdeen, s. D., March 25.-The
South Dakota Scientific Farming con-
grcss is the title of a new organization
formed at Aberdeen. 1t takes the place
OF the former South Dakota Dry Farm
lAAS GOAAtCSS. III 0CGOIle ASSOclale0
with the International Dry Farming
The officers of the new or
are: President. G. r. Ma
lone, Of Draper; first vice president, r.
r.. Ginther. Of Morristown; second vice
president. T. o. Ramsland. OF Lemmon:
w. HI. Wenx. OF
Bath. The president was authorized to
select a vice president from each coun-
ty In the state. The officers, includina
the county vice presidents, shall con-
stitute the executive committee Of the
association. A resolution was adopted
urging additional legislation relative to
the establishment of state experiment
stations. and the passage of a bin pro-
viding for adequate funds to maintain
the experiment stations. The next
Of the association will be held
at Pierre at the time Of the state good
roads convention next fall.
RICH LAND OWNER 10
A PROBABLE SUICIDE
Hot Springs, 8. D., March 25.-Perry
Sickles. the richest land owner In Fall
River county, supposed to be worth
400, 900. was found dead last night In
a room over a saloon. 1t is generally
believed to be q suicide. but the post
AAL