The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-02-28
NEARING TIE CLOSE.
THE PIERRE LEGISLATURE Is AP-
PREACHING ADJOURNMENT.

THE PIERRE LEGISLATURE IS APP
PREACHING ADJOURNMENT.
There Is q Consequent Huste to Get I'm
portant Measures Throush-No Reap.
~portionment-A Bad Clerical Example
What Has Aroused Feeling-Bills Passed
"A Forecast, Etc.
Especial Correspondence
Both branches of the Legislature begin to
realize that tho time for adjournment is
near at hand. Everything ie being done to
rush important bills through the commit
tees and place them on their final passage.
Each house has q 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
reached the executive for his approval. It
is believed that Gov. Mellette will not be
as e1travagant 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
he strongly limited he would like to see
pass, still he is not going to suik 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
est OF some aspiring candidate who sees
strength in the grouping of certain coun-
ties. II is also stated that one 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 rs 10 whether
a reapportionment could be made at this
session was referred to the attorney-general
for an opinion, and that official has
declared that an ap~portionment must be
based on a state or o federal enumeration.
There never has been o 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 q sigh of re-
lief when the attorney generals opinion
was made known.
The lower house is fortunate in having
among its members five clsrgymen. These
gentlemen, in the absence of the chaplain,
sometimes do the praying. An amusing
scene took place in the house last week. It
seems that 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 law makers of his profession.
Rev. Powelrs attention was called to the
attack, and he rose to a question of privi-
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 ia 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
both houses has been the principal topic
of conversation in legislative circles during
the past week. The bill contemplates the
establishing ut some future t me in the
northern portion of the state of educa-
tlonal and charitable institutions, and pro-
vides that a 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
situations, fearful lest their locality may
suffer the loss of some land
grant. are loudly ~denouncing the bill
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 IN 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 leeis-
lature can provide anything for their relief
it will be done. Bill after bill has been in
troduced, but the constitution raises OBJ
j~ections against every remedy that has
been suggested. Last week both houses
pissed joint resolutions empowering the
governor to appoint an executive commit
tee to make a canvass of the state to secure
oCCb RiaAu u VIZ uctuy, huu IL Lu6
committee fails to secure the required
amuont in the state, then the governor is
authorized to make an appeal to the
nation 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 a meeting called
Of the members from counties that asked
for help the fact developed that thirty-two
counties had been snitten by the drought
Of last season, and it would require over
ST, 1000, 900 to provide what was asked for.
Gov. Mellette has already formed his oom-
mittee and has placed at its head Hon. H. H.
Sheets, of Edmunds. 1t is expected that
the work Of gathering cash and grain
donations will at once.
! The Rudd exemption bill and the Hop.
kins usury bill are two of the most impor-
tant measures that have passed the house
during the past week. The usury bill for
feits interest and principal and is sweep
ing in all of it's features. 1t is claimed by
gentlemen who ought to know that if the
Hopkins bill becomes a law all the farm
loan companies in the state will retire
from business.