Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-03-24
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WOAAAA Va AAx4 AANxS1Jn O4N0s
Hon. E. III. Warren, editor of the
Spearfish Mail, who was a valuable
member of the recent legislature, sums
up the work of the session in the fol-
, lowing interesting manner:
"Something like six hundred bills
were introduced in the two branches
of the late South Dakota legislature.
Less than $50 of these ran the gaunt-
let of both houses and reached the
governor. Several were not approved
by his excellency, a few we're passed
over his veto, and some we're vetoed
after the close of the session. About
forty of the bills carry appropriations
ranging from a few dollars up to the
general bill with nearly 100000. The
total appropriations are approximate
ly S1,25O,OOO. This is of course largely
in excess of any previous legislature,
but the conditions were such that it
seemed impossible to cut the grand to-
tai much below the figures named. No
doubt the legislature will be subjected
to much adverse criticism, but as One
of the active members of that body.
the writer hereof is not afraid to face
those critics who viewed the situation
at long range and formed their opin-
ions without u correct understanding.
Insufficient appropriations two years
ago caused large deficiencies which
had to be met. Added to this, the
growth of the various state institu-
as to necessiate more room. An abso-
lutte refusal would have subjected the
legislature to greater and nor de-
served critism than can possibly be
the case at present.
MANY of the bills which became
laws were more or less local in there
bearings, and consequently are of in
terest only to those individuals or
communities affected. Among those
measures of state interest which be-
came laws may be mentioned the hog
cholera act: the wolf bounty: reducing
interest to Z per cent after foreclosure
on judgment; to prevent payment of
taxes with warrants except from the
party to whom the the warrant was is
sued; authorizing the mourning of adj
ditional Indebtedness by towns for Sc
curing water supply: classifying cities
according to population; increasing
numbers of justices of the peace in
counties of over 10000 population; for
submission of constitutional amend
ments on separate ballots; changing
terms of office of supervisors in civil
townships; to enable county treasur-
ers to collect taxes against transient
herds of cattle; to allow taxes to be
paid in two annual installments in
ance of honorably discharged soldiers
and sailors and their orphans at STATE
educational institutions; preventing
service on jurors oftener than once in
two years; restoring the circle at the
top of the ballot; empowering school
!, districts having outstanding overdue
bonds to issue interest cupons OF
same; repeating law providing for in
spection of cattle in transit coming in
to the state: to prevent adulteration OF
3 food products: providing for registra'
ton of all voters in the state; rcquir,
!, ing state and county officials to pur
r chase supplies in county and state
providing for carrying into effect the
Initiative and referendum; legalizine
the practice of ostcopathy; providing
for sale of dead and down timber; gen
! eral revenue law to secure assessment
1 of all taxable property; prescribing
: what shall be due diligence in collec
f ton of checks and drafts; to preven'
3 moving of buildings off lands unit
taxes are paid on same; general game
law; to apply provisions of initiative
and referendum to towns and munich
= palities; to prevent timber lands from
being denuded without paying take
S thereon; establishing industrial schoo
i at Aberdeen and donating 10000 acre
f of land for that purpose. This is, o
course, only a brief review of some o
the more important bills which hav
become laws. Nearly every membe
was q sponsor of some pet measure
: which in a. majority Of cases WAS NOR
: or less. local in its application, an
a many of which. would not stand tn
Q test of constitutionality. The defea
4 of the dispensary bill was. briefly out
= lined in a letter from the capital, ant
not much more a be said ut thi
4 time. South Dakota has the reputs
n ton of being a sort of experiments
station for all the fads and fancies G
is every class and party. It was nc
20 deemed best to foist upon the peopl
such a law as the Sites bill conten
plated. 1t came to the house at S