The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-01-17


such that Il can be terminated imme-
diately, IL should be done. ! recon-
mend hat you look into this matter
carefully and enact such legislation
as may be necessary TO positively pre-
ven the renewal of this contract, or
ever again making such contract in
this state. and providing for the ter
mination of the present contract In
the near future II you find that prac-
ticable.
Officials Must Serve State.
The law very clearly contemplates
that the board of charities and cor
ections should devote a very consider
able portion OF their time to the duties
OF their positions. much more. In my
opinion, than they have in the past.
| have been interested in the work of
this board. and | feel warranted in
saying that they have not given such
time TO the duties of their positions
as would enable them TO get in touch
with the workings of the various in
situations and render the help that
should be expected of them and that
the law clearly contemplates.
| will take the liberty to say here.
in regard to public employment gener-
ally-not in regard to this board es-
pecially. but rs applying to all EN-
ployes-that il is my understanding
that an official should give time TO
the duties of his office as may be re-
CURED 10 fully perform them. II is
no sufficient answer 10 say that the
compensation is slight and insufficient.
These positions of trust and impor-
lance are accepted with full knowl-
edge OF what the compensation is, and
having been accepted. the state is en-.
titled TO full service in return. II Is
no uncommon thing for people 10 ac'
cept positions OF trust and RESPONSE
bility on the apparent theory that
their public duties shall not interfere
with their private. personal business.
This is exactly the reverse of the prop
er rule. Ny doctrine is that having
accepted public employment, a man
should never let his private business
interfere with his public duty. and
give notice now hat those serving in
| appointive positions in my administra-
ton must give their time and services
TO the state. and perform the duties
OF their respective positions fully and
efficiently or quit and make way for
those who will. This is not an un-
reasonable demand. and is only what
| shall do myself during the term OF
my official life.
Financing institutions.
In dealing with the plan of manag.
ing and financing the so called insti-
tutions OF the state the governor says:
We have now two general boards
with about equal duties and responsi-
bilities: the board Of regents. charged
with the management and care OF the
various state institutions Of learning.
and the board OF charities and correc-
tions. charged with the management
OF the charitable and penal institu.
lions. Each board consists Of five
members. Much of the work cntrust-
ed to each board is similar in charac-
ter: for instance, the care OF property.
buildings and grounds, the purchase
of general supplies such as fuel, FUR
niture and general equipment Gen
orally. the larger the quantity In which
such supplies are contracted for the
more adyantageously they can be Sc.
cured. The purely educational part
Of the work entrusted TO the regents
! regard as Of a different class. and Ia
some extent requiring special and
different qualifications on the part OF
those entrusted with Il
In my opinion il would be- a vast
improvement over our present sys-
TEN TO have a nonpartisau. nCnpCliti-
cal board OF three efficient members,
10 have control OF the general iinan-
cial affairs OF these two classes OF in
stitutions. and entire control OF the
penal and charitable institutions the
members OF such board 70 receive suf-
fcent salary 10 warrant them In Civ
ing theis entire time TO their official
duties and TO be required 10 do so.
Then a board Of regents to be charged
with the duty of looking after the
educational features Of the various
state schools. and the directing OF ed
vocational policies and the employment
Of executives. deans, professors and
instructors: the selecting and sCcur-
ing of educational supplies and equip
ment and similar duties. Such board
OF regents TO consist OF three or five
members. and. being relieved OF very
much OF the financial duties dcvolving
on the board OF regents under our
present system. would not be expected
20 devote their entire time TO their Of
fetal duties.
The board Of control under such n
plan would have general financial o n
troll OF practically all the institutions
ard activities of the state. except
such as may he said 10 be within the
scope and under the control OF the ex-
ecutive and judicial departments.
Such a board might we'll be entrusted
with the duty OF making an annual tax
levy. within strictly defined consti-
tutional or statutory limits. for the
support Of all these institutions. AZ
te- much study OF the question. and
considerable experience with the pres
ent method of appropriating money. |
unhesitatingly say that this change
would be a great improvement over
the present system.
| urgently recommend that YOU en-
act and submit 10 a vote Of the people,
al the next general election. a pro-
posed amendment TO the constitution
providing for a general board OF con
troll and a board Of regents. along the
lines indicated herein. I suggest that
the constitutional provision for such
board Of control should provide for
us Cuties end limitations only In gen
eral and comprehensive terms, leay-
I'll. - 10 ntnpfdnI Tor hN