The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-09
PIERRE POrPURRI.

The closing scenes Of the legislature
bring little startling or .redeeming. The
senate with it's ]proverbial stolidlty and
mechanism kept q. work until it had
cleared its calendar of everything on it
more than "a hours in advance
OF adjournment. This is an un-
heard of state of affairs and a proper
proceeding; but with q body of men, in
ventive in and bent on passing
some great measure for the good Of the
people it never could have happened.
The house has shown more intensity Of
purpose, whether good, bad or lnditfer-
ent, and has been mor busily engaged
up to h end.
The DAILY LEADER's criticism that
the railroad law passed is a farce, is sup
ported by no less al authority on legal
matters than the opinion OF Attorney
General Crawford who says, sit is not
only a transparent fraud on the people
but will be found an utter failure in
practice" MI. Crawford came again be-
fore the Taylor investigating committee
to explain a rumor to the effect that he
had said that if he had been let alone he
would nave caught Taylor. He denied
positively that he had ever made any
such remark.
In regard to the third page of the
letter from Senator Pettigrew, he de-
clined to put itin evidence. because ithad
nothing, either directly or indirectly, to
do with the Taylor defalcation, but a
on an entirely different subject.
In speaking of McCoy's hearing, Craw-
ford says the state made a very strong
case, so much 80 indeed that he would in
great confidence send the case t the
jury On the evidence there presented.
Bills have passed both houses and
gone to the governor to abolish grand
juriss at the option Of the county COM
missioners; to repeal the commercial
agency law, also a bill to allow guaranty
companies to furnish officers bonds, a
stubborn fight was being made to in
crease the salaries OF judges by a bill to
allow $500 each for expenses. The bill
appropriating 5000 for state fair deficit
in premiums was ;aiso killed. The Sec
ond last day Of the house was taken up
mainly in u jangle over the YaLkton re-
servation and appropriation bills. When
the senate appropriation bill came to
the house the latter substituted for it
the house bill, this raised the issue be-
tween the W houses and a conference
committee was appointed.
On the reservation question the fight
was to authorize the CONT missioner of
school and public lands l. cancel selec-
lon Of government lands already made
in other parts OF the state for state pur-
poses and substitute therefor lands &C.
lected in the Yankton reservation. This
was stubbornly fought by representa-
tives OF counties which will profit by the
immediate statement OF these lands, and
the bill had to go over.
In it's cleaning up, the senate passed
the following bills:
Providing that in classification of
sites the population shall be found by
multiplying the vote for governor by
eight.
Asking congress to donate certain lake
beds TO the state.
Requiring railroad companies to make
report to railway commissioners.
Allowing residents Of organized coun-
ties TO vote at general elections.
Allowing cities of first class to reas-
sess for certain improvements.
Allowing commissioner to rebate
taxes on property destroyed by tire or
cyclone il 0 insured.
Calling on congress for an appropria-
ton to extermiuate the Russian thistle.
Giving priority to mortgages running
to building and loan associations.
Preventing prize fighting.
Limiting city taxes to ~ mills.
Reducing the time limit for entering
action OF judgment from 20 to 10 years.
Requiring monthly settlements be-
tween county treasurers and auditors.
Approving the boundary line between
North and South Dakota.
The house steering committees rail
road DILL.
The census bill appropriating $500
and requiring the work to be done by
the COMMISSIONS Of labor and statistics,
Limiting county superintendent's sal.
aries to $500.
South Dakota might as we'll drop out
OF the race. Oklahoma bids literally
fer the divorce colony Industry. A resi-.
dence OF only ninety days is required and
1t need not be more than constructive
Suit may be begun by advertisement in
any newspaper in the territory and pro.
ceodings are to be in the ordinary pro
bate courts where secrecy may be assur.
ed. A aOOn m nod hotala ara o,octo1