The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-01-01
SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE.

the result.
SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE.
The State Treasury Is Depleted-Some
Very Knotty Problems to Confront.
PIERRE, S. D., Dec. 26.-The state
legislature will meet at Pierre Jan. 6.
That the legislators will have a vast
amount of fine figuring to do to meet the
exigoncies of the hour there is no doubt
in the minds of those well posted regard
ing the states affairs. The state treas
ury is utterly depleted and has reached
the constitutional limitation as to the
raising of revenue. The present year
the taxes of South Dakota were
raised under the 3-mill levy
made under the territorial law
made last year, and in addition bonds to
the amount of 500, O0O-the constitu-
tional limit-were issued and sold; and
yet within much less than a year the
treasury has been cmptied, and a stop
page and closing of every public institu-
ton is threatened. These things were
made plain to the legislature last winter
in a message from the governor, but no
heed was given. That body went ahead
in a reckless manner, creating new Off
GERS, making large appropriations, and
opening new channels for the state funds
to escape.
Of course hard times and a failure to
collect taxes has had something to do
with the states financial condition, yet
the fact remains that if all the taxes
we're collected the amount would be still
far short of enough to cover the deficit.
There is but one temporary cXpedient at
hand, which is a constitutional provision
allowing the legislature to order an ex-
ira levy to meet casual deficits and fail
ure in revenue, but even that is not
readily available.
The amendment voted On 1t the late
election to Increase the bonded Hdebted=
ness to $500, 900 was defeated by a large
majority. If this had carried the legis-
lature would have easily found a way to
solve the problem; but the voters of the
state did not seem to understand the
states financial straits.
From different parts of the state come
rumors of proposed new legislation, such
as radical railroad legislation, including
d 2-cent fare, fines for the acceptance Of
passes by public officials, taxation, etc.
Then there are those who will urge o re-
duction of the membership of the lcgis-
lature-the house to s~eYenty-five men,
bers and the senate to twenty-five mem
bers, the membership in the two houses
now being double that number. There
will probably be an amendment to the
constitution proposed relative to aid
for irrigation, a bill looking to this
object having been vetoed by the gov
ernor last winter on account of it's being
unconstitutional. Then there are those
who will urge the rosubmlssion OF the
prohibition amendment, and there is
talk that Huron will cndeavor to have
the constitution amended so that the
capital location may again be voted
upon.
Redfeld News.
REDFIELD, S. D., Dec. 24.-Special:
Tom Walsh, an attorney and politician
Of prominence, left to-day for Helena,
Mont, where he intends to, reside in the
future. He gained notoricty as one of
the two delegates sent to the st. Louis
democratic convention in 1888 by the
boiling Day faction. He made a mas
terly plea before the committee on Gre
dentials for his. delegation, but they did
not get admitted, as Gov. Church had
everything his own way. 1t Is q notice
able fact that a large number Of the old
line democratic politicians have followed
Gov. Church's example and gone west.
The cells have been placed in position
and the new SIS, 900 Jail is ready for occu-
pancy. One solitary horse thief will be
the hoaEder, while awaiting a motion for
9 new trirl. He was found guilty at the
last term of court and sentenced to nine
months Imprisonment In the peniten-
tiary, but his attorneys put in an appli-
cation for a new trial. The motion has
not been heard yet.
Lee Beecher, of New Ulm, MIMI, is
spending the holidays with his parents
in this city.
4! farmer living ncar Frankfory, while
driving across Timber creek, narrowly
escaped death by breaking through the
ice. The valuable team he was driving
was drowned, but by the timely arrival
of help his life was saved,
Dakota News.
w. s. BRIsoN, an old and esteemed
citizen OF Deadwood, is dead.
The Fountain Touring mill at Yank.
ton will begin running by artesian waite,
power next week.
A YANKToN gambler was once a reg.
ularly ordained preacher. He declares
himself a reformed preacher"
SEARCH parties arc still out from
Yapktpr hunting for John Hobson, who
mysteriously disappeared last week.
THE jamestown insane hospital las
year reduced its bill onc-third by using
Ignite coal mined on the Missouri.
COMMENCING on Feb. 1, q per cent
penalty will be added to all delinquent
taxes in South Dakota. This penalty
was repealed by tho legislature for the
faxes of the year 1889, but will be ir
force on those of 1890.
MRS. DANIEL AUSTIN saw q mirage a.
Dpland the other day in which Groton
Condo, Oak dulch and all the towns
north were visible. She could see PEG
Pile walking In Grotnn, Groton1s thirty
five miles as the crow files from Doland
DAVID SIMMONS, of Nebraska City
Neb., and his brother Curley, met a
Lead the other day for the first tim,
after o separation of thlrty-one years. 3
The Elkhorn locomotive, the first t,
enter the city limits of Deadwood on {
standard guage track, was received
with joyful acclaim last Friday. "Hun
dreds of citizens, afoot, on horseback
and in carriages, waited thp lpWer limits
Of the City to Witness the spectacle
says the Times. s'The moment the loco
motive arrived within tho city limits
the hu5zas OF the assembled people, the
heavy bass roar Of the whistles Of the
smeltere and ohlerination works an.
pounced the welcome Of the road, which
was again answered by the shrill tones
OF the locomotives responding to the
weioeme OF the great wealth producing
ore reducers of Deadwood and the Joy.
tul welcome Of Its people"
A