Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1915-01-09
BYRNE'S MESSAGE
Governor Favors Adjustment of Capital
Punishment-Economy Urged for
State-Ideas on Legislation.

flerre, Jan. oth, l9l5.-At noon To-Day
the Fourteenth Session of the South
Dakota legislature convened. Practic.
ally every house and senate member
was present The senators gathered
first in their own chamber, with the old
officers presiding while the oath of Office
was administered by one of the Justices
Of the Supreme Court. At the same
hour the house met across the corridor
in its own chamber under Frank M.
Rood, Secretary of State. The oath OF
Office was taken. after which the sena-
tors filed in to meet with the house in
joint session. President Judge Mccoy
of the Supreme Court then administered
the oath of office to Governor Frank M.
Byrne and the other state elective off,
GERS. whereupon Governor Byrne per-
sonally read his rather exhaustive mes
sage.
This evening occurred the Governors
reception and inaugural ball. This is
the one big social event of South Dakota
politics and everyone of political prestige
in the state was present, almost every
lady in gown made specially for the
occasion, some of them of SURPRISING
elegance, while most of the gentlemen
were in evening dress. The corridors
were crowded by eight o'clock In the
Governors reception room-the show
place of South Oak ota, with its beautiful
Blashfield, "The Progress of Civliza-
tion," its mahogany finish and furniture,
and deep carpeting and splendid drap-
eries-Governor Byrne with Mrs. Byrne,
Lieutenant Governor Peter Norbeck
President Judge McCoy, ex-Judge Haney,
Justices Smith, Whiting, Gates, and
Policy of the Supreme Court; Secretary
Anderson; Treasurer Ewart; Land Com
missioner Hepperle. and Railway Com.
missioners Dougherty, Robinson, Smith
and Murphy with their ladies held
court. Each guest was presented to the
Governor, by his secretary G. X. Sellers
and was introduced along the line by
one of score of ushers. After the two
hours reception the ball was held on
the stone tagging of the basement floor
corridor-the wax being applied directly
to the terrasa.
| Governor Byrne's message is very
comprehensive survey of his entire two
years administration, together with re-
Communications for the future. The
State Is at present without bonded in.
debtness, the only outstanding obiga.
tons at the present time, being some
$4,000 revenue warrants, equal in
amount to the balance loaned by the
state out of the general fund for the
construction of the state house and Sc.
cured by the capital building lands.
This warrant Indebtedness has been re-
duced 100000 during the Governors
administration and will be completely
| wiped out two years hence, without any
| addition to the tax rate of one mill on
the dollar for state purposes. At pres
ent the average state tax is less than
50 90 per capita. The. income for the
next biennium will be about $500, 00O
Governor Byrne urges an economy that
will live within this income-not by
pettily pairing necessary expenses, but
by wisely administering the funds. The
printing commission was shown to have
saved 100000 the past two years.
The tax commission was highly COM
mended for the work it had done in the
beginnings of taxation reform-and its
recommendations, especially that urging
the repeal of the present constitutional
provision requiring all property to be
taxed equally-was earnestly advocated
because tho present law is inequitable
in its operation and impossible of en-
forcement. Further it puts a premium
on negative goodness. The man who
improves his property is penalized for
his public spirit.
All charitable and penal institutions
were found to be in fine shape. The
work of DR.. l.. C. Mead at the Yankton
Hospital for the Insane, both in admin
istration, and in the construction of
magnificent fire proof buildings under
his own methods at minimum of cost
was highly praised. An increase of
equipment at the Redfeld School for
Feeble Minded and a new Industrial
plant at the Blind School at Cary was
urged.
Much attention was given to penal re-
form. The death penalty was condemn
ed. The Sioux Falls penitentiary was
considered far above those of other
states-but the governor wants change
from the present methods of admins.
tration whereby the young and Uniform.
ed convict may not be cramped, but
may rather be helped to be better man
by his prison experience. The purchase
of large prison farms and road making
while the shirt factory operated under
contract was strongly condemned. A
dormitory system for the less dangerous
inmates was suggested.
All State educational institutions were
considered to be doing splendid work,
although no special attention was given
to the different schools. Farmers Insti.
tute work ought to be connected and
under the supervision OF the State Col
lege; better wages for teachers, and bet
ter grade schools we're recommended.
HARRY A. ROBINSON