Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-03-09
LEGISLATIVE NEWS.
What our Representatives are Doing at
Pierre, as Reported by Chron-
icle Correspondent.


PIERRE, S. d., March This week
closes the legislative session. While the
past two months have been full Of stir
ing incident and general disquietude due
to the Taylor default, the legislature
has shown commendable attention 10
business. The state treasurer has sue
ceeded in bolstering up the credit of the
state and has obtained all the money
needed to carry on the state govern
ment The appropriation bills have
not yet passed and may not do 80 in the
shape presented, but if the senate APP
preparation committee has its way the
commonwealth will make a marked
saving over two years ago. The bill
presented by the senate committee car
ries with it for the two years 100000 Of
general appropriations, which means
cut Of Sl50.000 over two years ago.
Nearly every Office and every institu
tion has been compelled TO come down
to a hard time basis in the interest of
the tax payer. The house bill is some
what larger but the senate measure is
defended by some Of the ablest republi-
cans and is quite likely to pass.
The investigation into the Taylor
fraud has resulted i'm a criminal prose-
cution of Lawyer Tenney, Bondsman
McChesney and Charlie Mccoy who the
state claims were guilty OF conspiring to
force Taylor to rob the state and 10
divide the money among them. The
evidence upon which this prosecution
is based must be credited to the Taylor
investigating committee which has now
completed its labors.
The Ruth committee has inquired
thoroughly into the management Of the
Office Of Commissioner Of Schools and
Public Lands and has drawn out much
valuable evidence. The republican
members of the committee have been
particularly vigilant and anxious to
clear the party from any imputation Of
whitewashing. The party has shown q
commendable effort to carry out the
fankton platform.
Recognizing the fact that there is a
demand for railroad legislation, com
mittee Of thirteen republicans was APP
pointed TO draft railroad law, and the
bill is now pending before the body
with every prospect of passing. II gives
the commissioners power 10 examine
the witnesses under oath, to compel
the railroads to testify, and it makes it
a misdemeanor for the commissioners
to neglect to do their duty.
About one hundred new laws have
passed, most Of them correcting errors
in previous statutes and making the
book OF the law more complete and
binding. Mr.. Aplin's big irrigation bill
is the most important measure Of the
session. 1t makes irrigation In the ar
tesian basin practicable by permitting
lie townships to take hold OF the mat
ter. sink wells aud give the individual
farmers the chance TO cultivate their
lands. The legislature is to be com.
mended probably more for what il has
not done than for affirmative legislation.
vast pumber of vicious bills have been
introduced and have been knocked ont
one by one. The easy divorce bill is
one Of these. and this was put to sleep
by decisive vote week ago. A large
number of other measures tending 20
weaken the credit of the state. to ma K e
the collection of taxes difficuJ', to
hamper the ballot, to throw the door
open to fraud and vice have been de-
feated.
The treasurer's Office henceforth will
be subjected to very much closer scrutiny
than heretofore. and there will be no
opportunity for the recurrance of such
crime as that perpetrated by Taylor.