The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-07
BASIS Of TAXATION
Gov. BYRNE ASKS THE LEGISLA-
TURE To PASS \ CONSTITU-
TIONAL. AMENDMENT.

Pierre. Jan. THE annual mess
age of Gov. Byrne. a document of
about $4,000 words, was presented
to the legislature Yesterday. The
governor laid considerable stress on
the need for a more equitable taxa
ton system which he said could not
be put into effect without a change
in the constitution of the state. That
provision of the constitution which
requires that all property be taxed
on an equal basis. the governor de
clared has resulted in a taxation sys-
tenn which does not meet modern re-
uuirements. He favors a different
basis of taxation for land which he
SAYS is not a product of human effort,
and improvements which he believes
should not be penalized by bearing a
large share of the burden of taxation.
He asks the legislature TO submit TO
the people an amendment giving the
tax commission power to employ q
different basis of taxation for differ
ent kinds of property. The work OF
the commission. he declares. has full
liz justified its existence.
A large part of the message is de
voted TO the question of railroad
rates and the railway commissions
part i'm regulating the transportation
business OF the state. Gov. Byrne
Mainly takes no stock in the claim
of the railroads that regulatory laws
BY state and federal governments are
running their business. He believes
the railroads to be prosperous and
doing a good business. He calls at
tention TO the part the state railway
commission had in blocking the eff
forts of the western classification
railroads to put into effect a general
| advance in freight rates. He favors
| enlarging the powers of the commits
| sion TO include control of light anc
power plants.
On the question of state finances
| the message sounds a note OF salts
| faction with what has been accom-.
| plished. There is no bonded state
debt and the warrant Indebtedness
II is pointed out. is almost identical
i'm amount with the money loaned &c
| he capital building fund which VIII
| all be returned to the state when the
capital lands are sold. The reducing
of the state debt by 100000 while
| maintaining the low state levy OF
| mill is especially gratifying 10 the
governor.
The message urges the maintaining
of the high standard of the state In.
| stitutions together with economical
administration. Ii fixes the state in
come for the next two years at about
| SO. 100000 and declares expenditures
must be kept well within this amount
TO leave funds for reducing the state
debt.
SUPERINTENDENT Mead of the Yank-
ton hospital for the insane. Is highly
commended and his recommendation
that provisions be made for a second
hospital at some suitable point in the
| state, is Endorsed.
Reformation of prisoners is declar-
/ ed to be the object to be sought IN
the state penal institutions. hoau
| and farm work for convicts is rec
commended and the enlargement OF
the Irvine plant, while the prison
contract labor system is denounced
Agricultural extension work In
connection with the State college Is
favored. to replace the present sys-
tenn of farmers Institutes.
Other recommendations are for
better salaries for teachers; renewed
campaign to collect interest from for
mer state t~reasurers; improvements
in public printing law which the gov
! ernor says has already saved the
state 800, 900; a bank guaranty
law: more money for the highway
commission; adjustment OF the
death penalty; strict economy in the
administration of state affairs.