Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1891-02-12
STATE .l.I'..ll,i,IEoSLiliil'lUIN. 81 !.
RECORD or WORK DONE BY SOUTH
DAKOTA SOLONS.

A C3mp1ehensive Summary of the Pro-
sngs for the Week, Giving List Of
ii, bortant Bills Introdaced. Referred
and Passed.
Wednesday. Feb. 4.
This was Hugh j. CampbeIls day in
the Legislature. He recG1ed 50 Inds-
PENDENT votes, while Moody held hi
own at 81, Tripp "a, Melville 80, Van
Epps, of Sioux Falls, 5; e. B. Martin,
of Deadwood, 4; balance scattering.
A bill became . law b qaiet title %
land by ten years occupancy, except On
school lands or reserves set aside by the
government, also bin defining ailul-
terry, and fixing the term of imprison-
mont and penalty therefor. Both houses
adjourned to allow the worlds fair con-
vention the use of the representatives.,
hall during the afternoon, the Legislature
being present and participating. The
gether Ssand was in session the greater
part of the day, with every board Of
trade and other associations from every
part of South Dakota represented BY
delegates, numbering about 100, inclad-
ing the worlds fair commissioners,
Ra42eey and Buuard, Congressman
Pu Senator Moody and other nota-
blf Great enthusiasm has been dis
played, and all seem to think that the
state will have an exhibit doing full JUS
tce to her resources. The following
resolutions, embodying the sentiments
of the convention, were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas The commonwealth of South
Dakota has been invited to join in the
worlds Columbian exposition to be held
in Chicago in the year 1898, and believing
this offers this state an opportunity to
place South Dakota before The world in
her true light, equal to all and surpassed
by none in agricultural, stock and mineral
wealth; now, therefore be it
Resolved, That such action be recon-
mended and asked of the legislature as
sembled that shall enable commission
to he appointed to make a creditable show
ing ut such exposition.
Resolved, That it is the sense of the con-
be recommended to pass.
Here the bill was read, which appro-
PIRATES $40, 900 and authorizes counties
and towns to levy mill tax to raise the
amount. A committee on legislation
was a4Qoipted, consisting of Commis-
sioA 1lard of Pierre, Hon. Harry
Hun ~ Of Menette, J. A. Crane Of
WATERFOWL, Hon. Sol Starr of Dead
wood, and Hon. Abe Vanoodel Of Yank-
ton.
The house in the morning engaged in
routine business. A motion to mdefi-
nitely postpone the bill abolishing the
Office OF oil inspector was lost.
The senate received a report from the
committee on apportionment bill, which
p1aces the senate at SO members and the
house at 70. A bill was introduced au-
thorizing the state board to levy mill
tax for this year and as much additional
asnecessary to cover the deficiency.
Thursday, Feb. 8,
There were rumors that Campbell
would receive enough Republican votes
to elect him, but they were il-founded.
On the other side there were rumors
that Melville would receive enough In
dependent votes with Republicans to
elect him. As the ron was called the
votes all seemed going for Melville and
Campbell, and there was much, excite
ment. Stearns, senator from BroOkings
county. was the first Independent to 70
to Melville. Next was Bowel, of Lake,
and then Knipe, of Brookings. The
other two Brookings county members
were paired. Campbell received the rest
Of the Independent vote, except Con-
verse and Horton, and on the second
ballot Horton went to him. The first
ballot stood:
den /, nI2ille Il, Mellette 5, Martin i,
Errss Gp q, Fowler 2, Mathews 1.
~ The second ballot gave Campbell one
more, Melville six more, and Tripp,
Nellette and Fowler one more each.
Horton went to Campbell from Harden;
Durham. Colley. Schmidt, Davis, Kline,
O'Dell and Putnam went to Melville,
and Beuchler Rep.) voted for Trip All
the Black Hills Republican members,
except Moore, Putnam and Way, who
voted for Fowler, were for Melville.
Congressman Picker and President
Loucks left and Senator Moody expects
to start for Washington. The Melville
men claim that as soon rs Melville can
receive the full Republican vote enough,
of the Independents will go to him to
elect him. The Moody men say that it
was MelvAle's lightning rod that killed
Moody, and that they will vote for
Trip.
The senate received the report of the
election committee ON the Lawrence
county contest cases. A minority report
will be submitted. Pease, contestant
for the seat of Preston, of Dawson, fail
ing to appear before the committee, the
case was dismissed. A bill passed pro-
viding for the publication of 10000 cop
les of the session laws, to be let to the
lowest bidder. These laws, in supple
ment form, are to be circulated by two
papers of the largest circulation in each
county.
In the house the following bills were
passed oviding that fire insurance
COMPANY shall pay the full face of
policies Tin case of loss, except where
there is gross fraud OF negligence; the
senate bill fixing terms for the circuit
court of the first circuit. Mr.. Barlow
introduced bill for the organization of
Lyman and Preston counties.
Friday, Feb. 6.
Little in the way of legislative busi-
ness was done during the day, but the
political atmosphere has been lurid.
Early in the morning it was alleged
that discovery had been made to the
effect that Melville had entered into a
written agreement with the Independ-
ents by which they were to largely con-
troll the political patronage Of the state,
as well as have an advocate in Melville
for their peculiar measures. Both morn
ing papers came out demanding an in
vestigation. Many prominent Republi-
cans said that Melville could never have
their votes until they were satisfied as
to the falsity of the charges. Melville,