Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-07
NEARING THE CLOSE.
THE PIERRE LEGISLATURE IS AP-
PREACHING ADJOURNMENT.

There Is a Consequent Hustle to Get I'M
portant Measures Throu:h-No Reap
~pOrtionment-A Bad Clerical Example
What Has Aroused Feeling-Bills Passed
"A Forecast, Etc.
Especial Corrssuondence.l
Both branches of the legislature begin to
realize that tho time for adjournment is
near at hand. Everything 10 being done to
rush important bills through the commit
tees and place them on their final passage.
Each house has a calendar committee
whose daily duty is to arrange bills
in their proper order, giving preference
to those most important. All meas
ures made necessary by the
constitution are given the right-of-way.
This is to guard against their being lost IN
the grand shuttle of the last days. Each
house has already passed a large number
of bills. but as yet only q few of them have
reached the executive for bis approval. 1t
is believed that Gov. Mellette will not be
as eStravagant with his veto as was Gov.
Church last winter. A good spirit seems
to prevail between the legislative and the
executive branches of the government, and
while the governor has pet measures that
pass, still he is not going to sulk if the
lawmakers fail to agree with him.
Bills have been introduced to divide the
state into congressional districts, but they
are not we'll received, perhaps for the
reason that they are drafted in the inter-
est of some aspiring candidate who sees
strength in the grouping of certain coun-
ties. 1t is also stated that II reason of
districting the state is to send one anti
prohibition congressman to Washington
| next fall.
There was an honest desire on the part
of both branches of the legislature to re-
duce the size of each house. Committees
have been working On bills with this OBJ
| ject in view. The question US 10 whether
a reapportionment could be made at this
session was referred to the Acknowledgement
for an opinion, and that official has
declared that IN ap%portionment must be
based on a state Or a federal enumeration.
There never has been a state enumeration
and it would be unjust to turn buck to the
census of 1880. Therefore in the house
the members have about made up their
minds not to disturb the size of the legis-
lature. This can be done next year with
more Justice than now, and will then COM
ply with the constitution. Public opinion
has demanded q reduction, but public
opinion must wait. Many a member who
expects to be returned heaved a sigh of re-
lief when the attorney generals opinion
was made known.
The lower house is fortunate in having
among its members five clergymen. These
gentlemen, in the absence Of the chaplain.
sometimes do the praying. An amusing
scene took place in the house last week. It
seems hat the Rev. Cummings is the
editor of a paper, and in q recent issue O
his paper he took occasion to score one Of
his brother Inv makers of his profession.
Rev. Powells attention was called to tho
attack, and he rose to q question of priv
lege, and for about ten minutes the clerical
fur began to fly. These sedate members
called each other liars, and used other
Language that is not usually heard in theo-
logical circles. The sinners did all they
could to encourage the sport, and the
crowded lobby enjoyed the fun.
The omnibus land bill introduced in
10th houses has been the principal topic
Of conversation in legislative circles during
the past week. The bill c%ontemplates the
establishing at some future time in the
northern portion of the state of educa-
tlonal and charitable institutions. and pro-
vldes that q certain portion of the lands
granted by the government to the state
shall be now set aside as an endowment
for these institutions. The members who
represent districts that contain public in
stitutions, fearful lest their locality may
suffer the loss of some land
as a gigantic land steal, and are branding
the friends of the measure as thieves and
~scoundrels. 1t is doubtful if the bill will
pass this session, but the bad blood it has
caused shows itself everywhere. 1t would
not surprise Your correspondent to see the
northern half of the state making this
question an issue in party politics this
coming fall.
The farmers in the destitute counties
who have no seed grain to SOW this coming
Season may rest assured that if this leois-
lature can provide anything for their relief
It will be done. Bill after bill has been in
PRODUCED, but the constitution raises OBJ
!ectlons against every remedy that has
been suggested. Last week both houses
passed joint resolutions empowering the
governor to appoint an executive commit
seed grain for the needy, and if the
committee fails to secure the required
amuont i'm the state, then the governor is
apthorlzed to make ar appeal to the
nhtion for help. The cry of the real estate
boomers that there is no restitution or
want in the state is certainly not based on
accurate information. At q meeting called
Of the members from counties that asked
fpr help the fact developed that thirty-two
COUNTIES had been su,itten by the drought
ot last season, and it would reouire over
$1,000. 900 to provide what was asked for.
Gov. Mellette has already formed his COM
mittee and has placed at its head Hon. H. H.
Sheets, OF Edmupds. 1t is expected that
tSe work of gathering cash and grain
donations will commence at once.
The Rudd exemption bill and the Hon.
kips usury bill are two of the most impor-
taht measures that have passed the house
diving Che past week. The usury bill for
feis interest and principal and is sweep
Ing in all of its features. 1t is claimed bv
gei t!emen WHO ought to know that if the
Hopkins bill becomes q law all the farm
loap companies in the state will retire
frotl business.
Regulators Indicted.
1Pe grand jury at Lafayette, La, re-
turied indictments against twentv-one
perApns charged with conspiracy in conneo