The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-01-07
BYRNE DELIVERS
MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE

property thar heretofore has regu-
larry escaped taxation Is now on the tax
list and contributing Its fair share. some
property that h~ersiofore has been f1a-
grantly undervalled is now assessed equit-
ably. Some property that heretofore has
borne more than It's due share Of the tax
turden is now relieFcd, in some measure
at least. And some persons whose names
have not heretofore been familiar on the
tax lists are now contributing approxi-
mateiy their fair share of the public ex-
pense.5 That this much has been accom-
plished in the last TWO assessments can
not fairly be denied. More than this Is
Bank Guaranty Law.
The guaranty of deposits In state banks
llas shgaged the attention of the people
OF the state for some time. urged the
eIlaclnlent or such a law in my inaugural
aooress to the last legislature, and again,
n a special message toward the close OF
5a me, session a;ns There was no considerable.
ana yet the legislature could not be
proughl 70 enact q guaranty law. 1t Is
probably true that neither OF the bills
have proved entirely satisfactory, and
there seemed to be no one to work out
the details of a Law to meet the approval
plished.
Finally, with the assistance of The pub
ne examiner and the attorney generals
orally the provisions q. the bin above
mentioned, making only slight changes
wltn a view to strengthening the control
guaranteed under the law. This bill will
be presented to the Legislature for consid-
eranon; l say, with al confidence, that
bank guaranty law.
l definitely and urgently recommend the
enaetinent OF this law at as early a date
alton of it's terms. 7 am satisfied fhis
measure VIII increase confidence in. and
r ,lnd prosperity Of the banks guaranteed
time, will not on,y furnish certain SCI
curity to depositors ii. our state banks.
put p re se ar az ~apprgehension and anxiety
the people demand it yes, expect it. They
nave a right to expect 1T. 1t is promised
n = the platform of the majority party,
l were elected. 1 have myself SO per-
slstentiy advocated it that I feel that my
eieetlon Is a definite Endorsement of the
undue delay.
Good Roads.
me last legislature made provision for
a highway commission to consist az fhree
T meaip aI 70 pc appointed by the governor.
me law defined in considerable detail tha
duties of the commission, but failed to
make any appropriation, ether for sal
a r. y expenses. This is a serious defect.
II can not be expected that we can con-
tlnue to secure men to act on such a COM
MISSION under conditions requiring them
ttlC oWI1 personal 6YDenSeSA In al.
d1tion to devoting their time without COM
pensation. The present commission hawa
aenaered very considerable service and ac-
tbaiI tts sne much good, personally paying
tnsif tfaVeling, postage, stationery. print
ing and other necessary expenses. and
nave carried on an effective Campaign In
the interests of better roads. have rn-
sponded to calls from various ,arts ~ 49,
state to attend meetings, explain the law
aama counsel with road officials and adj
Dress the people on matters pertaIninee In
highway building and Improvement 1rl,eI
nave rendered this service. not only VIII
oet pay, but at very considerable expense
gratltude of the people of the state Monay
should be appropriated to pay the neces.
sa an ana proper expenses incurred by
OF a per diem payment for the time actli-
any engaged in their public duties. Not
WINS the fact that there were no
MISSION nave made and issued a report
containing valuable information. q ma nal
f nnd ii q recommendations. You will
iilu l. Worthy OF your careful attention.
Abolish Death Penalty.
believe that the practice of ia kinr ~,
man ne under provision of law should be
abandoned IN South Dakota, and so 7
Tor the infection of the death nenalty fnr
any cause or under any circumstances.
= MAKE TINS recommendation earnestly
NO good can possibly come from lsilIi,,9
human beings deliberately and In cnii
plopd unaef circumstances that mako
GNery cltlzeti q party to the deliberate act
mere Is not a vestfge Of evidence to sun.
port a claim that it tends to discourap pc
or prevent CRIME. On the contrary. there
are some indications that a wave ar in,
Pulse Of crime sentiment may. and some
uines does, sweep over a community 40
the result of a legal execution No one
VIII maintain that states or countries
where human life is taken under legal NO
visions are freer from crime than y
those where it is not. Tt is a relic of bar
barous times, carried over into our mod
ern life, largely because of the Inertia of
society, which tolerates but does NOT con-
sciously approve it. and as a rule does
not take the initiative to shake it off In
the very nature Of the circumstances srr-
rounding an execution, 1t has a demoraIz-
ing and depressing, If not a degrading. ef-
rect upon the officers of the law whose
unfortunate duty it Is to participate IN IL
and indirectly, upon society.
IN the interest not so much of the I'M
fortunate victims of legal executions as Of
our own moral welfare and the develop
ment of our higher ideals, in the interest
of aspiring Christian civilization. LEI 1s
put this practice behind us.
Many important matters will come he
fore You for your consideration, recurring
the exercise Of your best care and i,l5r-
ment. The duties of a legislator are al
ways important, and often trying and ar
duous: Much is crowded into the brief
period of your session. I want to lend a
hand and help wherever I can and to co.
operate with you in the service of the
state and its people.