Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-02-16
SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE
Monday at Pierre.

commission went over to February IL.
There was q fight in the house over the
bill TO make void chattel mortgages
which cover property not in existence
The bill was beaten by a large vote.
The following letter vas received by
the secretary Of state:
National Linseed OH Company, Chicago,
III. Jan. ], ls9o,.Thomas Thorson' Secre-
numerous reports in the newspapers rela-
tive to the misfortune OF the farmers IN
your state, owing TO the crop failure iasl
season, we are led TO believe that they
may not be In a position to purchase nax
seed for sowing the coming season. II
we can assist you I'm relation 10 TINS mat
ter by furnishing seed to be sown ana 20
be paid for out Of the crop we would pe
pleased to do so, provided a SUFFICIENT
guarantee was given us against TOSS 10y
the state or county In which the seed was
sown. Kindly advise and oblige. yours
respectfully, A. n. Russ,.
Assistant Secretary.
Bill. No. 10. which creates the Office
OF special. collector TO collect delinquent
personal property taxes. was passed by
a small margin. The bill allows county
commissioners to pay ] to % per cent
for such collections. Old ~ex-county
treasurers are severe i'm their criticism
of the bill.
Bill No. l46, which Is aimed TO tax real
estate mortgages and deduct the
amount Of such mortgages from the
assessment of the mortgagor, was over
whelmingly defeated in the senate.
Eight new bills were introduced in the
senate, which made 1t sure that both
houses will introduce over 500 during
the session. No. 237, introduced by
Howell, makes innkeepers llable for
the loss Of property by their guests.
Railway Commission's Recommendations
The following are the recommends
lions TO the Legislature made by the
board of railroad commissioners:
Chapter l37 of the laws passed at the
third session Of the legislature OF South
Dakota. making 1t the duty OF railroad
commissioners to order all railroad com
panies In This state TO make connections
with their passenger trains where the
same can be reasonably done with other
railroads at junction points, mas been n
10 the individual citizen TO prosecute In
the name of the state 70 recover OF rail-
road companies the penalties provided for
a noncompliance with any order made by
the railway commission In such behalf.
The law should be so amended as 10 re-
quire the railway commissioner to bring
an action In the name OF the state TO re-
cover penalties as provided In said chap
ter. and require the attorney general 10
prosecute such action TO judgment, and
1 tIldl lIt - J. Sttt ois oANA
prosecution shall go TO the school fund OF
the state.
The law referred offers as an induce
ment TO the citizen TO prosecute railway
companies for disobedience OF orders OF
the railway commissioners 10 make con-
n~ections as In said chapter provided, one
ence proves what might have been well
foreseen, that the citizen does not care
20 litigate with the railroad company a,
his own expense for such consideration.
Chantpr He of the general la WIS OF 1871
I'm relation to condemnation of warehouse
sites, has been rendered imperative by the
decision OF several circuit courts In the
state. on the ground that said chapter pro-
vides for appraisers being appointed by
the circuit judge TO appraise the damage
that may be caused to railway companies
by the occupancy of their lands for sucil
purposes. Whereas, the constitution OF
the state provides that such assessment
of damages be made by a jury, the deci-
sion of the courts referred 10 Is believed
10 be correct. and no appeal has been TAX
en- fro m the several decisions SO made. We
therefore that the ture
SO amend the act referred TO as TO pro-
vide for the ~impaneling Of a jury In such
cases. We further recommend:
l. Tha the railway commissioners he
given power to fix just and reasonable
rates to be charged by telegraph, tele-
phone, express and sleeping car com
panies, and to compel such companies TO
by each respectively to such commission
ers as often as may be necessary for the
proper Of such commission;
2. That the railway commissioners be
vested with power TO compel the con-
struction of suitable buildings for the ac-
commodation OF freight and passengers
al any station or junction where. In their
Judgment, such building should be con-
structed for the convenience OF the public
and also the power to compel railway
companies TO maintain an agent at any
station or junction where. in their judg-
ment, the convenience of the public re-
quires iG.
3. That the railroad commission be vest
ed will authority 10 compel the construc-
ton of highway crossings on public high
4. That the existing laws requiring rail
state TO make reports showing the bust
ness done by them In this state, includ-
ing their gross and net earnings.
An examination of our report shows
that In certain IMPORTANT particulars thu
railway companies nave failed TO fill the
blanks furnished them: samples OF these
blanks are furnished TO the railway com
mission by the interstate com
mission, and should be filled out in every
particular, otherwise the information tina
should be furnished by our report Is unon'
some reports fail to show the itemized
cost OF equipment. In lieu OF itemized re-
ports as required, some of the roads can
not 'be supplied or separated" The
itemized statements indicates that the
roads thus delinquent might do the same.
We have been delaying IN completing
our report because OF the failure OF some
railroad companies doing business or oper'
ating roads In this state to make reports
by the time required by law: such reports
hOuld be In this office on or beforeSep'
TENDER Is of each year, whereas most OF
the reports did not reach this office unit
October or November. and the last re
port reached us December Is, 1894. Thu
penalty for failure to make such reports
as required by law Is a fine OF not less
than 1000.