The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-02-17

PIERRE, Feb. l3.-Nothing has been
done since Friday night, when the
legislature adjourned. The legislature
will convene tomorrow morning and
work until the close.
One of the most pretentious and mer-
itorious measures considered by
South Dakota legislature was that of
the game law, which passed the house
last week, after amending it in few
particulars it will no doubt pass the
senate. This bill is very much like the
North Dakota law after which it was
shaped. Outside hunters must pro-
cure a license, costing s25 for the sea-
son, before they will be permitted to
hunt game birds and animals. The
open season for chickens, grouse,
quail, etc., is from Sept. to Jan. l.
Ducks, geese and other water fowl can
be shot between the first of September
and the first day OF May. Nets, snares,
traps and other devices are strictly
prohibited. There are provisions re-
specting the shipping or selling out OF
the state, forfeiture and confscation of
hunters outfits, appointment, jurisdic-
tion and duties of wardens, and manner
OF prosecutions, penalties, etc. Per-
sons afield in the closed season with
gun, ammunition and dogs shall be pre-
sumed to have violated or to have at
tempted to violate the provisions of the
law. Any attempt to violate provis-
ion is deemed violation. The house
considered the bill section by section.
Austin, of Minnehaha, offered an
amendment which practically empow-
cred the farmer to shoot birds on his
own land the year round. Some OF the
farmer members thereupon leaped to
the bait, but whom it was pointed out
that the amendment would virtually
destroy the interests which the bill was
intended to promote, and that farmers
and land owners should not be regarded
as privileged classes, Mr.. Austin and
his amendment were speedily laid
away. Sportsmen who are fair-mined-
ed are strong indorsers of the bill and
many letters have been received urg-
ing the passage of the measure. In
case the bill becomes law it will end
all dispute as to when the game law ex-
pires, rs it has been doubted question
every year whether chickens were
"ripe" on Aug. Is or Sept. l.
On account of the increase in ex-
penditures and extraordinarily large dc.
mand new bill for an increase in rev
enue seems almost an absolute neces
sity, and the one now under considera.
tion will alone increase the state rev.
enues from $3.50, 1000 to $4,000 The
provisions of the bill are fashioned
after the Indiana law, and if enacted
and enforced it is asserted that the
revenue derived from merchandise
moneys, credits, stock and bonds
will be more than trebled. The
state assessment returns at the
capital show, for instance, that Clay
| COuuby, OuS vi Gu0 Oluo6L 6uQ rlC00Nl
counties in the state, was assessed lasl
year upon only $40, 900 of merchandise
Governor Lees stock al Vermillion ir
Clay county was assessed at $4,000
while his insurance upon the came
goods is said to exceed $50, ,000 Outside
of the banks Lawrence county in the
Hills pays taxes upon only 50, 900 ir
moneys. Credits, stocks, etc., yield
little or nothing. There is no dispo
sition here to increase the burdens O
the struggling settlers, but rather tt
make the citizen of means and the
corporations of larger interests con
tribute their just proportion of the
revenue. Another bill is aimed es
] pecially at the big mining companies
and will enlarge the state income from
. source which has heretofore enjoyed
remarkable immunity and forbearance
~ CoDetnuad m Etfeh pape