The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-01-16

mend that you look into this matter
carefully and enact such legislation
as may be necessary to positively pre-
vent 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 if 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 coltemplates.
/ will take the liberty to say here,
in regard to public employment gener-
ally-not in regard to this board es-
pecially, bat as applying to all en-
ployes-that it is my understanding
that an official should give time to
the duties of his office as may be re-
quired to fully perform them. 1t is
no sufficient answer to 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. 1t is
no uncommon thing for people to &C
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. My doctrine is that having
accepted public employment, a man
should never let his private business
interfere with his public duty. and |
give notice now that 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
I 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 two general boards
with about equal duties and response
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-
tons, charged with the management
Of the charitable and penal institu-
tons. Each board consists of five
members. Much of the work entrust-
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 advantageously they a be Sc
cured. The purely educational part
of the work entrusted to the regents
/ regard as of a different class, and to
some extent requiring special and
different qualifications on the part Of
those entrusted with it.
In my opinion it would be a vast
improvement over our present sys-
tenn to have a nonpartisan. nonpoliti-
cal board of three efficient members,
to have control of the general finan-
cial affairs of these w classes of in
stitutions. and entire control Of the
penal and charitable institutions; the
members of such board to receive suf-
ficent salary to warrant them in Civ
ing their entire time to their official
duties and to be required TO 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
,ucational policies and the employment
of executives, deans, professors and
instructors; the selecting and secur-
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 devolving
on the board of regents under our
present system, would not be expected
to devote their entire time to their Of
fetal duties.
The board of control under such a
plan would have general financial o n
troll of practically all the institutions
ard activities of the state, except
such as may be said to 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. AT.
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 to a vote of the people,
at 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. | suggest that
the constitutional provision for such
board CT control should provide for
! it's cuties and limitations only in gen.
eral and comprehensive terms. leav-
ing the details to be provided for by
legislative enactment, as the needs OF
the present and the future may from
time to time require.
Freight and Passenger Rates.
The question of freight and pas
senper rates has occupied the atten-