Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-11
MILEAGE CRAFTS MAY
RESULT IN Definite
EXPENSE ALLOWANCE
Profit In Travel Induces Some
Officials to Spend Much
Time on Road.

~ =. L., II GU. u ~ II
duction OF a bill by the senate judiciary
committee, giving the attorney general
a hxed expense ccount of 800 per
month and actual railroad fare, is the
beginning of a movement with some
determined hackers to abolish the en-
tire mileage system for state officials
and boards. There is a growing con-
Flctlon that the state Is paying out
thousands of dollars every year in
mileage which is a source of profit to
members of boards and commissions
Under the system of paying 8 or 10
cents 81 mile, it is made profitable for
THESE officials to travel. The more
travel the more state money diverted
INTO their pockets.
Inc report of the state auditor for
iSl" shows that some members of the
board OF health drew 10 cents a mile
Tor travel. AS a sample of the profit
IN TINS mileage system, it is noted that
l,r; II: x: kenaston, In July, 1912, was
pald 5000 for sos miles and Park b.
jenkins $3.50 for 25S miles. These
names are selected at random from
the report, and the board Of health is
GIted simply as II Of many others.
Inc mileage system makes it profit
able Tor members OF boards to travel
as much as possible. 1t places temp
tation in their way.
some OF the officials and boards are
required TO turn, in vouchers for only
lhe actual money spent for railroad
iare n this plan should be followed
m the case of every person travelling
at state expense, In the opinion of
those who are behind the bill that has
peen introduced and others that viii
FOLLOW before the session is over. When
an official can make two trips within
a few days OF each other and make
y neat little profit for himself by Sc
doing, the temptation is to make the
two trips when the business might be
transacted in one.
Whole System Faulty.
The attorney generals office has been
one OF the most expensive for the state
IN the matter of mileage cost, but hat
the whole mileage system is at fault
ana contrary to good public policy will
be argued when the bills to correct the
abuses come before the legislature.
1t is understood that the present at
torney general is in favor of abolish
ing the mileage graft and is assisting
In the preparation of bills hat will do
away with it. When the state mileage
system is corrected there will remain
much to do along the same lines in
nti where physicians are paid
mileage for establishing quarantine
and other officials are paid so much
per mile. which yields them a profit,
instead of being reimbursed for the
actual amounts expended in travelling
Tor the state.
Members Who are going after the
mileage graft say it is one of the things
that causes the people to reject pro
posals for paying better salaries. They
believe that salaries are too low but
80 long as it appears large profits are
made in mileage. they will not vote to
Increase salaries. When expense &C
counts are brought down to an actual
expense basis as is the ease with the
board of regents and the board of
charities and corrections, it is believed
;alaries may be adjusted to d more
equitable standard.
Checks New Authority.
The tendency of boards to be coatin-
tally reaching out for new authority
received a check in the House., when
the new sanitary regulation" bill of
the food and drug department was de-
feated by a vote of 81 to IL. The mea-
sure had previously passed the senate,
with some of the departments requests
stricken, but it carried d number of new
restrictions against hotels, including
the abolition of roller towels and com
mon drinking cups. Several of the
house members expressed objection to
uciesdlllS loo nuch supervisory au-
thority to one man. Debate on the bill
was cut off by a motion for the pre-
vious question n the bill was showed
under" on roll call.
More Elimination.
An attempt is being made to work up
a sentiment for the wiping out Of The
immigration department OF the state,
which was created four years ago. Just
how far this will go is not vet shown
or the surface, but that there is a
sentiment for the introduction of a re-
peal act Is shown by the rumors and
suggestions that such a measure would
meet with favorable support in some
quarters.
The bill to allow verdicts of three
fourths of a jury in civil cases will prob.
ably be out in the open for this session
in a few days. The bill met defeat by
a narrow margin in the session of two
years ago. and will he tried out agai,
at this session.
A resolution for short annual sessions
of the legislature. with a senate Of /:
and a house of 80, is the purpose of a
resolution for a constitutional amend
ment offered yesterday by Weller. OF
Dawson. in the house.
1,~ tAiI ANr e-@nr ~