Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-02-01
EXECUTIVE IDEA
IS TURNED DOWN
Commission Plan Of Budget Pre-
walls in Legislature.
IMPROVE CAPITAL GROUNDS
superintendent Asks Legislature for
Sufficient Funds to Garry Out
Original Program.

Original Program.
Pierre(SpeciaD-The severe storm
during the legislative recess delayed
the return OF some members, SO that
1t was not until Thursday that it was
safe to consider emergency and APP
preparation measures. The budget
bill, which carries an appropriation.
failed on Wednesday by vote and
was reconsidered to be passed later
when o members were in their
seats. There has been a prolonged
contest between those favoring an
executive budget" and the friends of
a Commission budget" the former
eignifying a budget to be prepared
and recommended by the governor
alone, and the latter providing for a
budget commission to consist Of the
governor, auditor, treasurer, chair
man Of the tax commission and the
representative chairmen of the SEN
ate and house appropriations commit
tees. The latter plan prevailed.
+ + +
Two ear age the eugeHics bill
prepared by the Aberdeen Social Sci
ence club, which provided for a YER
strict physical examination Of candi-
dates for marriage, created a great
interest and was defeated with great
glee. 1t is back again in this session,
backed by the efficient Swanson, and
Is being very seriously considered.
Mr.. Swanson declares his intention to
stay with it" until it gets the con
s%ideration it's Importance demands 1t
shall receive.
The superintendent OF the capitol is
urging the legislature to give him suf-
ficieRt funds tx finally complete the
plans for the capitol grounds. These
plans contemplate the purchase OF
about $4,000 worth OF additional
land, the projection of Broadway (the
north boundary street, across the
north side Of the lake, which involves
a heavy grade with q bridge over the
inlet and a dam across the inlet to
form q catch basin to protect the lake
from filing, the whole proposition to
cost about $S5 200. With the excep-
ton OF the additional land these
plans weres5n contemplation from the
beginning. Cooperation Is now err
pented with the city Of Pierre and the
Northwestern Railway company to
landscape all of the region in front
of the capitol grounds down the Mis-
souri. Many years 6 congress grant
ed to the city for park purposes Farm
island, a tract Of about 1000 acres
lying seven miles down the Missouri.
It is now proposed to dispose Of Farm
island, which has become valuable,
and devote the proceeds to the de
veiopment OF the Getty Beautiful
plan above suggested in connection
with the capitol grounds. It is an
ambitious scheme, but susceptible o.
the most alluring possibilities. God
dard island lies in the Missouri di
rectly In front OF the capitol and the
suggestion is to extend the park te
the island, with connecting bridges
1andscaping, etc.
+ +
The supreme court building hal
been turned down by the house com
mittee. Every one admits the desir
ability OF additional room at the CAPT
aol, but the pressure for educationa
and institutional buildings is 50 grea
that 1t is felt the latter must be frs
provided that Il that is done the prob
able revenues will be exhausted. It I
the fixed policy of the state to buil'
only fi%reproof structures. This polio,
was adopted eight years ago and it
not likely to be altered. AS a col
ralary the state is carrying It's oWl
Are insurance. Prior t o1909 the stat
had paid about $4,000 for fire insul
ance. had suffered three disastrou
fires, but had never received q doila
Of insurance money for its fire losse:
Now we have a standing approprii
ton Of $4,000 in the hands Of To
governor as an emergency fund whic
he may use to repair fire losses y an
occur and there is not q dollar
worth of fire insurance upon an
state property
ANr NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sHIFS 49,
South Dakotas tax levy for sta,
purposes Is d mill on the dollar, q
lowest Of any state. The state rev
nue. from taxation last year am0un
ed to ~31,41s,0s7. Other revenue
from fees, inheritance taxes and 4
come from endowment lands sWells
the total to $2,s73, $50. That 4. Y
miscellaneous revenues exceeded Y
taxes by $127,0oo. The people q
pronnd and Jealous Of the q a
levy and state oficiass and the les
tature have earnestly endeavored
maintain that maximum, but Il
dc,btful II the building program p
ID to this Legislature BIZ the regen
and board Of charities and c9rrectiol
can he carried out without an inerea
Id tiieg4ate of state taxes. Indeed
Is conceded that IL cannot be done.
81. IL ~f,af4rasffn0 also III know Stil