The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-03-05
iNoUis,ToRs FILE REPORT.
Lax Methods in Dakota Secretary's
Office.

Lax Methods in Dakota seeretary's
Office.
Pierre.-The report OF the special
legislative Investigating committee Sc
leceted to look into the system of state
accounting has been made. It deals
! principally with what it found in the
department of the secretary of state
and with the statement of former
State Auditor Anderson in his last IN.
nual report, where he declared the
state could ave q half million dollars
a year by a correct system Of account
ing and bookkeeping.
IN regard to the department of the
secretary of state the committee criti-
cizes the laxness of methods of the
heads of that department in allowing
the office force to manage its affairs,
and finds that there is a shortage and
discrepancy in the accounts. which
amount probably can v be def
nitely ascertained on account OF the
loose manner in which the affairs Of
the office were conducted.
The committee expresses a doubt as
to the statement that the desk of the
assistant secretary was robbed OF
1000, II suggests that this should
be further investigated. Many of the
methods Of that department are criti-
cized and changes are suggested ever
il laws are required to bring them
about.
In regard to the statement Of the
former auditor that a saving of half
a million dollars a year should be
made, the committee says:
1T is the opinion Of the committee
that said statement is misleading to
the public and unwarranted. and his
testimony would not s~ubstantiate the
statement"
The house definitely disposed of the
proposition to purchase a residence for
the governor by defeating the meas
ure, giving it only 81 votes on a propO
sition to expend $4,000 for a furnished
residence, the present home of E.. p.
Farr.
In the senate the house five-sixths
jury verdict bill for civil cases was
passed. This has been one Of the pet
measures Of Lieutenant Governor Nor
beck when he has been a member OF
the senate, and while he has succeeded
in getting it through the senate it
has always failed in the house.
Stanley county's Problem.
One of the hard fought propositions
of the session is the bill which seeks
to provide a method Of dividing the
assets and debts of old Stanley county
among the three counties of Stanley,
Haakon and jackson. There appears
to be a wide difference OF opinion
between the residents of what yet re-
mains as Stanley county. and those Of
the new counties Of HaakOn and Jack
son as to just what the division should
which will give them as mnch of a
showing as possible when the final
adjudication is made. With a court.
house at Fort Pierre. the newly or.
ganized counties take the position that
they are in no way bound for any pay
ments to be made on that structure,
and other features appear to be both
a ANA ia "a III VI 81
ment.
The general appropriation bills have
been introduced in both houses. and
under resolution this closes the nitro
duCtion Of bills in the house. with the
senate open until after they care to
stop sending IN committee bills. With
no more pew bills il is up to each
house to rush work il they succeed in
getting to an adjournment on Friday OF
this week as they are attempting to
do. If they accomplish this il will
be for the second time in the history
of the state. the other being at the
1905 session when the adjournment
was taken at moor Friday.
Bonesteei Normal Lost.
In the house the bill TO establish
q normal school at Bonesteel was re-
ported in without any recommends
ton. and the bill for distribution Of
the surplus of the game fund among
the counties, With an u~nfavorable rec
"Ommendation.