The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-07-02

1t the opening Of the special session
OF the South Dakota legislature out
tined the conditions which caused the
calling Of the session and pointed TO
matters that he believed should have
the attention OF the Legislators.
His message, in part, Is as follows:
prevailing conditions-unusual cir
cumstances-have forced us into an
acute situation. 1t is impossible for
our state institutions to get along un-
til the next regular session with the
funds available; u service men and
their dependents should have imme-
date recognition: the hydro-electric
survey has been made, the report com
~pleted-the project is OF such proper
tons that 1t should have action by the
peoples representatives.
Interest rates have advanced to the
point where it is impossible to sell
school or municipal bonds, for the
limits fixed by law were based upon
previous conditions. An acute condi-
ton exists in many places where it is
impossible to provide for the neces-
Sary repair to Waterworks and light
plants. Recent floods nave caused
olSot dCoLlu VI DiIuSeS dilu hiSa
ways. Many counties are unable to
secure funds for rebuilding, owing to
limitations in the law. The housing
situation is acute in every town and
village; relief is important, Further,
very many of our employees find they
are absolutely unable to live on the
salaries provided by the legislature.
More Pay for Teachers.
This last condition is felt most
acutely at the state educational insti-
buttons. Many good teachers are leav-
ing the profession to enter private bus
mess or other employment. They go
to the institutions of other states and
in many cases even to village schools
where they can get positions much
more remunerative than those they
are now holding at our higher institu-
tons of learning.
1T is now plain to be seen that the
last legislature made a mistake in not
providing better salaries. | share fully
the responsibility. but now urge that
the error be corrected without further
delay. We should also endeavor to
prevent such conditions developing in
the future.
LiiC IC4utSlCu ny INK
board Of regents are granted, would it
not be a good plan to ~inaugurate a
contributory teachers pension-a plan
for creating a fund to which the state
and the teacher each make a material
contribution? This fund would-if
placed at interest-increase rapidly.
Payments could be made to the teach
er in a lump sum or in installments,
when their services are discontinued,
or when they reach a certain age
say .65 years.
Il deem it important that this legis-
lature readjust salaries to meet exist
ing conditions: but | also deem it Of
equal Importance that some plan be
worked out SO that a full days work
can in all cases be secured In return
for a full days pay.
Favors Soldiers Bonus.
in my opinion, it is right and prop
er to compensate our service men in
some substantial manner for the sacri-
flee they made during the world war.
Men serving in the front line trenches
were getting 81 a day, while their
brothers at home were drawing wages
Of S. to SO a day.
ANOAN 1ah w III ~ d
constitutional amendment approved by
the voters, permitting the state to in
cur the necessary indebtedness with
which to make these payment. / rec
ommend that such an amendment be
submitted for their approval at the
next election.
South Dakota is the only state in
the union that has worked out a prac-
tical rural credit plan for the aid Of
It's farmers plan by which the
young man can purchase his fathers
OF %neighbor's farm and pay for the
same on the amortization plan cover
ing a 3O-year period. This has beer
or immense benefit to thousands Of
farmers and is resulting in a home
owning instead Of a tenant class.
What has been done for the farm
ers can in a large measure be done
for the home builders in the towns and
cities who are fully as much in need
Of such assistance. Governor Allen has
we'll said "A man will fight for his
home but not for his boarding house
We need home owners and fewer
transients.
Our constitution does not permit of
such a law being passed-therefore,
the first step is a constitutional
amendment. l recommend that the
necessary amendment be submitted
to the voters for their consideration
at the general election.
Backs Bond Referendum.
"The hydro-electric survey of the
Missouri river has been completed.
From the report before you, you will
see that the plan contemplates a dam
across the Missouri river at Mobridge,
and transmission lines into the nOre
thickly populated sections of the
state. passing through Aberdeen, HUI
ron, WATERFOWL, Sioux Falls, Mitchell,
YanktOn and other towns. It is sug-
gested that secondary lines be built
by the communities to be served.
"A 3O-foot dam will develop 10000
horsepower.
"The engineer finds a hydro-electric
| plant on the Missouri river to be en-