Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-08-18

A correspondent of the Sioux City
Journal calls attention to a circular
issued from Woonsocket, Dakota, which
is being generally distributed through.
out that section. The circular aims at
an improvement in the exemption laws
of the territory and reads as follows:
We desire briefly IN this letter to call
your attention to the object OF the asso.
citation and to earnestly ask your coop.
Grafton and support. Several recent dis.
astrous failures in Dakota, and the futile
efforts of creditors to collect have forced
the conviction home to us that we are
cursed by the most disgraceful exemp-
ton law ever put upon statute book.
The object OF this association is to use
all possible effort and influence to bring
about a repeal of this law, as it now
stands, or at least such material modi-
tication that the rights of creditors will
be somewhat protected, and our CONNER
cial credit restored
The wholesale houses of the northwest
do not regard Dakota as a favorable field
for business.
To certain extent the trade here is
regarded with distrust and suspicion,
and for good reason. The exemption
law, as it now exists, is curse to the
territory. It. places upon the honest
man the ban of suspicion and pave
premium on rascality.
The original intention OF an exemp.
ton law is to reserve to the head of a
family, for the benefit of wife and chill.
dren, moderate amount of property
that could not be imperilled in the course
OF business, but our laws go beyond that,
beyond all sense of right and justice,
and give to each man, whether married
or single, $1,000 in personal property
that his creditors cannot reach, more
than the average man in Dakota is ever
worth, and an open bid to dishonesty.
AS consequence this territory is q
rich field for the swindler and the dead
beat. The commercial interests of the
country suffer, while the Wholesale
houses are robbed. To redeem the terri
tory from such questionable reputation
to restore her credit, to give her the place
in the commercial world to which her vast
native resources entitle her, to again win
back the trade she has lost by her poor
laws can only be done by removing that
blot on her statute book, that stain on
her credit, the exemption law. And to
you who seek to gain footing in this
young vigorous growing country, that a
great business may be established when
she takes her place among the states of
the union, to you do We look for that
encouragement and support which your
great interest and the merits of the cause
will warrant. Thousands of dollars in
worthless paper can thus be redeemed
it we succeed IN our object.
1t is now nearly ten years since the
effort to reform the exemption laws was
instituted. At every session of the
legislature during that period modifca.
tions have been proposed and bills in.
troduced conforming to such PROPOSE.
tions. In every instance they have beer
slaughtered without mercy and in 6
manner SO summary as to carry discour.
agement to the hearts of the reformers
During the session Of 1876, bill wal
passed which was supposed to seriousl,
affect the exemption laws, although i
related to another subject and its au
thor had no intention of meddIing will
the pet statute of the Dakotaians. Th,
legislature had adjourned before th,
horrible discovery was made and tht
territory was the scene of one genera
indignation meeting. A messenger wa,
dispatched to Washington and congress
induced to undo the work of the legisla
ture which was supposed to accomplish
a modification of the exemption laws
Since then our statesmen have beer
careful to keep their hands off the meas
ure. What will be the fate of the reck
less Woonsocket law tinkerers is {
problem for the future to solve.