The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-01-16
GOVERNOR BYRNE s MESSAGE

fOAbo wing dlS SOLlc vi tue LIOSl lul-
portant recommendations in Cover
nor Byrne's message to the legisla-
ture:
State Institutions
We have now 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-
lions, charged with the management
of the charitable and penal institu-
tons. Each board consists of five
MEMOIRS. Much of the work entrust-
ed to each board is similar in char
acter; for instance, the care of prop
erty, buildings and grounds, the pur-
chase of general supplies such as
fuel, furniture and general equipment.
Generally, the larger the quantity in
which such supplies are contracted
for the more advantageously they can
be secured. The purely educational
part of the work entrusted to the
regents l regard as of a different
class, and to nm 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 system
to have a nonpartisan, nonpolitical
board of three efficient members, to
have control of the general financial
affairs of these two classes of insti.
tutions, and entire control Of the penal
and charitable Institutions; the men,
bers Of such board to receive sufficient
salary to warrant them in giving 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 educational poll
cies and the employment of eXecu-
tives, deans, professors and instruc-
tors; the selecting and securing of
educational supplies and equipment
and similar duties. Such board of
regents to consist of three or five
members, and, being relieved Of very
much Of the financial duties devolv-
ing on the board of regents under our
present system, would not be expect
ed to devote their entire time to their
official duties.
The board OF control under such a
plan would have general financial con-
troll of practically all the institutions
and activities of the state, except
such as may be said to be within the
scope and under the control Of the
executive and judicial departments.
Such a board might we'll be entrusted
with the duty Of making an annual
tax levy, within strictly defined con
stitutional or statutory limits, for the
support of all these institutions. After
much study of the question, and con-
siderable experience with the present
method of appropriating money, l un-
hesitatingly 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 peo-
pie, 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. l suggest hat
the constitutional provision for such
board Of control should provide for it's
duties and limitations only in general
and comprehensive terms, leaving the
details to be provided for by legisla-
tive enactment, as the needs Of the
present and the future may from time
to time require.
Railroad Rates
Not only are our state rates inordi-
nately high in comparison to inter-
state rates, but compared to state
rates in nearby states, as we'll. There
is no good reason why freight rates
should be higher in South Dakota than
in other nearby states, and this fight
will be continued until they are re-
duced and made fair and reasonable
to the public as we'll as equitable in
relation to other localities.
The motives behind the contest for
fair and reasonable freight and pas
senger rates ase sometimes misunder-
stood and often misrepresented. There
is no desire to harass or inconven-
fence the railroad companies, nor to
reduce their earnings below what is
fair and reasonable. On the contrary,
everyone Is personally interested in
their success and prosperity, freely
conceding their right to make such
charges for their service as will en-
dUpS IuClu W pay a Oh iOtoAh VII ShS
amount of actual investment or value
Of their property, after paying main.
tenance and operating expenses. Let
them agree to and act on this simple
proposition, and then make full, fair
and honest report showing all their
transactions, their total income and
legitimate expenditures-which now
they do not-and we can agree at
once. What we object to is extortion
by ans Of unfair, unjust and un'
reasonable rates.
Taxation Question
The assessment and taxation of
property Is ever a difficult and per-
picking problem, here as elsewhere;
but while many other states have
made progress in the solution Of the
question, South Dakota lags behind,
It is time something was done to
remedy this. 1t is a well known fact
that under our present method the
burdens Of taxation rest upon individ'
uals almost exactly in inverse ratio
to their ability to pay. The man with
a little home or a small amount OF
tangible visible property, contributes
literally in proportion to his means
to the support OF government, while
the man Of large means contributes
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