Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-01-18
DAKOTA LAWMAKERS
FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
IN BIENNIAL SESSION..
Pett.rrcw is Renomlnated For senator
without Any Opposition-Gov. sheldon's
Message Is Read to both B~ranches-Re-
view of State Departments.

Message Is Read to both B~ranches-Re-
Wow Of State Departments.
Legislature In Session.
Pierre Correspondence:
Pierre, Jan. Z: This was a busy day at
Pierre. The Republican caucus nominated
Pettigrew by unanimous. vote for United
States Senator. There were n%inety-One
members in the caucus, eleven being alb
sent. The absentees were all radical Pet
tigrew men. One hundred and two votes
OH joint ballot is assured in q total vote of
126. Gen. Silsby had no one to nominate
him. Some Populists will also vote for
Pettigrcw.
c.. I. Howard of Sphinx was nominated
for speaker of the House: III. +. Hopkins
for chief clerk; v. C. Wass, first assistant,
and ID. H. Hawn, second assistant; Henry
Harnhart, sergeant at arms: II. I. Sedan,
messenger; c. f. Hayward, %engrossing
clerk; Paul butcher, bill clerk; Rev. e..
w. Austin, chaplain.
In the Senate S. f. Filson was nominated
for 'sident pro tem.: II. $. Person, Sec
rcta.. (: j.. +. Pitcher, first assistant: j.. r.
Halliday, second assistant: c. $. Kelsey.
cngrossing clerk; ID. Eastman, sergeant at
arms; DIR. Blackburn, chaplain.
1uC lOliON III OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES uIV uSSuIcu
in the House:
Judiciary-W. S. Glass of COdington.
ApprOpriatiOns-Mr. Gould of Grant.
Railroads-Mr. Leach of Bon Homme.
Ways and Means-Mr. Hcrrick of .Au-
FORA.
|. lnsurance-Mr. DickOvcr of Fall River.
lrrigatiOn-Mr. Lucas of Charles Mix.
The chairmanshipS of the Senate will go
in part as follows:
Judiciary-tien. Peasc of Roberts.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Kingsbury of Yank-
ton.
Ways and Means-Senator Bennett of
Hughes.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOOte of Brulc.
The Railroad Committee will be largely
made up of farmers and the railroads nave
none the best Of it so far, although cOnser-
vativc action in all directions is the gen.
cral sentiment. a caucus of old soldiers is
being held in which it is expected that good
sense will prevail.
The Governors Message.
The semi-annual session of the South
Dakota State Legislature was commenced
promptly on time on the afternoon of the
9TH. The two houses met and were organ
lied in accordance with the caucus agree
ments made in advance and then they were
ready for business. The members of the
House were sworn in by Judge Fuller
and the Senators by Judge Kcllam, of the
supreme bench. The state officials were
sworn in by Judge Corson. There was a
large crowd present at the inaugural cere-
monies and everything passed off smoothly.
Gov. Charles III. Sheldon presented to the
Legislature his s%emi-annual message,
which was read in both houses:
Gentlemen nf tho Sanato ond VIo,,,o nc
Representatives: In obedience to the con-
stitution, l have the honor to submit for
your consideration the condition of the
state as shown by the reports of the heads
of the several departments of the state gov
eminent, together with such recommends
lions as are suggested by experience.
Tho provision which the state must make
to meet its expenses is, and will continue to
be, the question of greatest importance UNI
til increase of taxable property under our
present system of assessment and taxation
furnishes sufficient revenue, or some very
radical changes are made in our laws and
their enforcement. The time has come
when this question must be seriously con-
sidered, and your acts as our lawmakers,
and those having immediate charge of the
interests of the people, must be guided as
existing conditions demand.
The levying of taxes to meet deficiency
when it exists is non the less a disagree
able duty because the necessity is plain.
The trainers our constitution very proper
ly sought to provide against extravaganza
which has been so often common to new
states, and limited our power to levy taxes
to 2 mills to defray the estimated ordinary
expenses of the state for each year. but an
ticipating a possible failure, they provided
that "whenever it shall appear that such
ordinary expenses shall exceed the income
Of the state for such year, the Legislature
shall provide for levying a tax for the ensu-
ing year sufficient with o her sources of i'll
come to pay the deficiency of the preceding
year, together with the estimated expenses
of such , suing year."
outgoing treasurer, is entitled to the thanks
of the people for the zeal and energy which
he has has at all times displayed in the
management of his Office.
The treasurer's report shows the total re-
ceipts for the two years ending June 80,
1894, to be $1,257, $500, of which $780, 600
is for warrants sold, and not entitled to be
counted as revenue. Disbursements for
the same period were 81, LIP, 691. "a, of which
amount $S15, 600 was for funding warrants.
The report of the Secretary of State
shows So, 1862. 20 collected in official fees and
$149.95 from the sale of laws, making &c.
417.15 which has been turned into the state
treasury. 1t also shows that there have
been incorporated during the lasttwo years
under the laws of the state 1913 domestic in
corporations, 146 of which were for benev-
olent and charitable purposes and 2s2 for
profit.
Your attention is respectfully invited to
the full and comprehensive report of the
State Auditor. His recommendations as to
reducing the number of funds OH which
warrants are to be drawn, also fixing a
time after which no warrants should be
drawn upon any appropriation, also for
the approval of vouchers, and the provid-
ing for certain expenses are worthy of
careful consideration. Your attention is
especially called to the part of the audi
tors report relating to county t%reasurers,
and their accountability to the state for
state funds which they have collected. 1t
is earnestly hoped that inyour wisdom you
will frame a law that shall in some way
give greater security that taxes collected
for the state shall he paid to the state. Onr