St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-02
These Two Questions will Be
Given Much Attention
at Pierre.
Probability That Resubmis-
sion Will Carry by a
Small Majority.
The Prohibition Law Openly
Violated All Over South
Dakota.
Three or Four Hundred Dr.
vorces Granted During
the Past Year.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
SIOUX FALLS, S. D., Jan. 1.-The
state legislature meets on Tuesday at
Pierre. Never before III the history of
the state or territory, even i'll Sensa-
tional year, was more interest feltin the
probable action of the Legislature. The
questions of resubmiSSlon, divorce and
railroad legislation have been largely
and generally discussed, and much in
terest is felt in all circles over the out
come. There are those who claim to
have learned from a canvass of each
member, that the state senate is In ia
vor of resubmission by one majority,
and that the house is one or two votes
the other way. The fact is that enough
are nOn-committal to throw the vote
enc way or the other, but the outlook is
for the resubmissionists to prevail by
small majority. Generally speaking.
the people, aside from the Prohibition
enthusiasts, are anxious for change in
this law. After a four years test the
law must be pronounced
ADlsmaI Failure.
In this city there are at least thirty
FIVE saloons, many of which are upon
the main streets and run openly. There
is no pretense at observance OF the
law. The saloons are fined $50 month,
and an ordinance is now pending to
raise the fine to S75. There is not
town in the county where the law is
observed. There is not a con-
siderable town in the state
where 1t is observed. In several places
the actual license system prevails, In
which the system OF fines through the
police courts is the rule. Other places
have allowed saloons to run openly, and
without getting revenue from them, but
are now getting ready to adopt the Il
eense system. The writer is reasonably
posted on affairs in the state, but can
not recall single town OF more
than 800 inhabitants where the law is
faithfully observed. In this city the
Sioux Falls brewery has been running
night and day for the last year, though
the institution, worth $4,000 has been
enjoined. 1t employees forty-four men,
and evidently expects to run right
along, as it Yesterday gave an order for
$4,000 Worth of Ice.
When the law went into effect Sioux
Falls had two wholesale liquor houses;
she now has six. Salem. Mitchell, White
Lake, Yankton, Madison and all such
places have wholesale depots. In Yank-
ton may be mentioned case in point.
That place had two breweries before
the law was enacted. These are owned
by two widows. who closed when the
law was passed. One OF these women,
who has plant worth $4,000.
takes in washing to support ner-
self. The rub of it is here. Although
the breweries are closed, the town has
four wholesale beer depots, which re-
ceive beer by the carload from Milwau-
kee and Chicago. Thousands of dollars
have gone out the past year from Yank-
ton which otherwise would ana should
have remained here. Not only this, but
that enterprising place has from TWEEN
ty-fiVe to thirty saloons, which run with
the knowledge and cOnnivance
of the city officials and citizens
generally. The Stone Lolls brewery
had made plans to enlarge to six times
it's present capacity when the law was
passed. The prOprietorS have now
changed their plans and will not enlarge
until the law is changed. Another re-
markable feature of the case is that the
wholesalers are very we'll satisfied with
the law as it is. They now have an
Almost Complete Monopoly
as outside houses cannot do cash bust
ness, and do not dare to do d credit bust
ness, not knowing to whom they con
give credit. they could not sue on a
bill, as the trade is contraband. The
local dealers have closer acquaintance
and are safer in doing credit business.
The saloonkeepers also are not bowling
for change, as they pay smaller Ii
law. Another important matter to come
ND is the proposal to change the divorce
law. The fight on the law is instigated
by the ministers and the W. G. L. u,
which latter organization will have
a committee at Pierre to buttonhole
for change of the law. A member of
the legislature who did not care to have
his name used, today informed GLOBE
correspondents that he had sent letters
to the clerk of every county in
the state to find out how many
divorces have been granted in the
state since Jan. /. This matter has
been so much exaggerated that
it was thought best to get at the exact
facts. He has secured returns from
about half the counties in the state, with
the following result: Clay 8. Codington
Is, Dawson 10, Dey 4; Edmunds, Buffalo
and Mcpherson none, Fall River IL,
Faux 5, Grant none, Hand s, Hanson
2. Hutchinson 4, Jerauld |, Kingsbury 5,
Lawrence 16. Marshall 5, Mead l,
6; Moody, 2; Potter, L; Spink,7; Mime
haha, 1902; Walworth, l; Yankton. Is.
This makes a total of 22S divorces. |
Judge Andrews has granted just about |
hundred DEGREES. Deducting from his
total those already enumerated in the |
list given, and
The Total Becomes 306
The member who is looking up the
matter thinks that the grand total of |
divorces granted in South Dakota since |
Jan. will reach 400, or possibly 425. |
Probably 80 per cent of these have been |
granted to parties who are ninety-day |
residents. This puts the imported |
divorce figure at SS5, which is probably |
about as near as can be estimated until |
all the figures are in.
"The lawyers are generally favorable |
to the retention of the law. The lawy- |
ers of the state have made large money |
out Of the divorce business the lastyear.
The fees run from $500 to $1,000, and the |
amount of work in proportion to the |
fees is small The presence of the |
colony in = the state has been |
a good thing financially, as most |
of the clients are wealthy and spend |
money freeiN One lawyer estimates |
that divorce people have spent |
500, 900 in cash in the state this year.
This hasgone to the lawyers, merchants, |
hofelkeepers and newspapers, and has |
helped omake times easier. The law |
does not differ materially from the laws
in other states, except as to the time of |
residence. A change in the |
law would simply drive the |