The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-03-09

lnSIOn. ana, UeSplte the present low
condition of the sockeye salmon gen
orally conceded to be the best food
fish in the Pacific waters, the work
of the state department will bring
back a normal supply within a few
years.
This varied interest taken by the
state in industrial affairs has brought
about a peculiar condition in the
political aspect Of the people Of the
state, in which industry plays an i'm
portant part, and many strange new
laws passed far in advance of other
states have been the result. The
industrial insurance law designed tC
protect in all hazardous occupations is
the result Of this interest. And the
outcome Of that interest has been the
establishment under a new administra.
tive code Of a department of Labor
and Industry designed to handle labor
disputes, the regulation of women in
industry, the safeguarding of the
plants in which men and women work,
and practically every line of endeavor
touched by labor in hazardous and
other occupations.
The expense of keeping up various
activities outside those usually en-
gagged in by state governments
mounted to a place where taxation
has become almost unbearable. At
a special session of the legislature
in 1920, as governor of the state, |
was given the power to have drafted
what afterward became a law,-the
Administrative Code The state
has been functioning under the new
system, whereby numerous boards and
bureaus were either abolished or con
solidated, for but four months. but
already the Code" has justified it.
self and the confidence Of the legis-
lature in its passage by showing saw
ings in practically every line of en-
deavor in which the state operates.
Some idea of the many functions car
ried on by the state may be had by
the following names of the Code de-
partments; the department of public
works, the department Of business
control, the department of efficiency,
the department of health, the depart
ment of taxation and examination,
the department of conservation and
development, the department of la.
Dor and industry, the department of
licenses and the department of fish
cries and game.
1t is hoped that under the Admins
trative Code that the business of the
state will be carried on much like
that of any large industry and that
a great savings to the taxpayers will
thus be made, and that under this
system the state will find it's fullest
development in industrial, agricul.
tural and civic lines.
The great problem of the state of
Washington today is to carry on the
functions which are necessary for it's
industrial and agricultural advance
ment without burdening property to
a point where it cannot stand the
IA plo blCIlo CONSUMES a
major portion Of the constructive
thought in the state today, and with
a mind to reduce if possible the bur
den now bourne by property, a tax
men from nearly every walk of life
are now Investigating tax laws and
conditions with the idea of revision
through the state legislature, thus
respect the state of Washington is
probably in no different condition thar
any other state, except that steps are
being taken for a possible remedy.
Politically the state of Washington
has had a stormy career and has
tried most of the cure-alls hat have
emanated from the human brain in
the last so years, to- say nothing of
The initiative. referendum and right
Of recall are all in vogue, and every
election sees the former two play an
important part in affairs Of state. The
~ iilIdiy CICtIloii III" SINCo thO pew
pie the direct power to nominate can,
didates, and whether for the best or
not is seemingly here to stay.
Washington has made rapid strides
in industrial lines in the 80 years
that she has been a state, and with
an unlimited amount of water power
that remains to be developed, there
is little cause to worry about her
future development. 1t is not a ques
ton of development but of how rapid
that development will be, and not the
least factor in this development has
been and will be a far-sighted policy
on the part of her state government
COURT IN SESSION