The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-31

charitable and penal Institutions, leav-
ing the additional cost of state gov
eminent proper at less thar a half
million dollars more than for the
earlier period. or almost exactly the
same per capita and considerably less
in the rate of the levy. II was knowl-
edge Of these facts that led the Re-
publican leaders TO desire the burden
OF the investigation to be thrown
upon the Democrats. who. 1t is be-
lieved, will be compelled to officially
provide the Republicans with their
campaign thunder for the next cleo
ton.
The senate has passed the resolu-
ton submitting to the people the
question OF calling a new constitu-
tional convention and 1t will most
likely receive the assent of the house.
1t is figured by the friends OF the re :
olution that it will be cheaper to
hold a convention than to constantly
tinker with the constitution.
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A question of great interest has
arisen pertaining to the status of
laws initiated by the people. Some
lawyers argue that the Legislature has
no powers except those granted by
the people and. the people having re-
served to themselves the right to
initiate laws and having failed to be-
stow upon the Legislature the right
10 amend. alter or repeal laws SO in
itiated. that such laws become funda-
mental. as is the constitution itself,
and cannot be altered except by tho
people. Some of the lawyers of the
highest authority take this view and
it seems logical. As the initiative
has spread to a large number Of
states the topic is of general impor-
lance throughout the country.
X :. =
The Grand Army of the Republic
and Kindred organizations are NOV
ing to erect unon the capitol grounds
n monument commemorative of the
veterans of the civil war and have
asked authority to do SO from the
legislature, which. of course, will be
granted.
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There has been for some years a
difference Of opinion between the
state board of regents and the Cit
Zens Of Aberdeen as TO the scope OF
the course of study which may be
pursued at the Northern Normal and
Industrial school. The institution,
the Youngest in the state, has had a
most satisfactory growth until 1t
leads In attendance all OF the schools
Of its class and for several years car
ried It's students through the first two
years of . college course. The re-
gents, however. believing that the in
stitntion was intended chiefly for he
training of teachers. have limited it's
activities and cut out the college
courses. The subject has caused a
good deal OF feeling and at times the
situation las been tense. The Brown
county delegation. assisted by Judge
A.. W. Campbell. is promoting a bill
expressly comforting upon the Abor-
deem school power to conduct the coli
leee courses TO the end of the second
year.
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Tnquestionably there is a deep in
tcrest. which is annually growing and
spreading among the people. favor
able TO a reorganization of the insti-
tutions Of higher learning and CO.
originating the work Of them upon
more economical lines. President
Hitchcock Of the board of regents has
tor several wears advocated Very rad
ical changes. preferably the consolida-
ton of the schools Of collegiate de-
gree upon n campus but IF that is
not feasible TO coordinate the work
so that II will not be duplicated. The
State Grain Growers last week unani-
mouslN approved the Hitchcock plan
and there is a strong sentiment
among legislators to do nothing fur
ther toward buildings for the schools
until a definite plan for the future
has been adopted. Several solutions
have been suggested. Some favor a
commission 10 examine III whole sit
nation and submit a plan to the next
session. while Others would be glad
to support q measure that would en-.
tirely reNolutionize present conditions
AT this session.
X j. =.
The state owns a good deal or land
first and last and does not pay n
taxes upon il, a fact that makes the
commonwealth rather unpopular in
some townships. Where there are con
siderable bodies OF this land it comes
particularly hard to construct roads
across il and there is a movement
which has been gaining Roadway FOR
several years TO provide a fund from
which state lands will contribute to
this object. The new a building
movement has given impetus to this
idea and it is quite probable that some
thing will be done to help out HI 10
~calities where large tracts OF state
land are located.
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