Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-03-15
WORK OF LEGISLATURE
What south Dakota Lawmakers Accomp-
lislied at Recent SessiOn.-All
Business Cleaned Up.

Pierre, S. d., March lO.-Special to
Sioux City Journal.-The legislative
session which has just closed here
made several new records for legisla-
tive bodies. While there has been
considerable antagonism between the
two houses, which on some points has
been open hostility, there has been no
delay in pushing business even on the
measures in which they could not
come to an agreement.
While large number of minor bills
have been enacted into law, several inn
portant general laws have been created
Among the most important OF these
are tho law reating a food and dairy
commissioner, with extensive powers
in regard to looking after the adult
Grafton of food products and the dairy
interests of the state. This bill failed
two years ago. and was pushed early in
the session, and was enacted in time to
allow the appointment of the commits
sioner to begin his duties at once. The
wolf bounty law was entirely changed
in its provisions, and as it now stands
the total amount which can he used
for that purpose in any one year is
$1,000. and this is to he held until the
close of the fiscal year and then pro-
rated on the number of scalps present.
edforthe bounty. The educational DILL
which passed is one which, while in
the main is copy of the old law. con-
tains several new provisions, whic h it
is believed will make it more effective.
Another general law enacted is Il
change in the license for selling liquor,
one of the main provisions of which is
to prevent druggists from handling
liquor for any purpose, and place the
sale of it entirely with licensed saloon
! keepers. The bill as passed was Il
comprise measure. and while it does
not satisfy practically any interest
concerned, it is in the main good
measure. The bill for reorganization
Of the state militia under the title OF
! the South Dakota State Guard, will, it
is believed. bring out good organiza-
zion, IS the state has large amount of
Equipment on hand, and Il state appro
p 'iation of $4,000, besides paying the
adjutant general IA salary sufficient to
allow him to devote his time to the
work of thorough reorganization.
The bill wEch sought to curb the
building aud AN associations passed
!. the senate, but failed of passage in the
house. The measure was intended to
more thoroughly define the powers and
duties of such associations.
The matters of taNations and assess
ment have taken up considerable of
\ the time of the session. and among the
many measures introduced probably
the most important one to pass has
been the one to provide for cleaning
up of all old taxes prior to last year.
1t is estimated that there are at least
:,i.GOQO0O of old state. county and dis
trict taxes outstanding, and that this
bill will bring at least a million dollars
of this into the various treasures, and
at the same time clear up large
amount of tax from the records. which
probably never would be settled in any
other way. Besides this, acts have
been passed to allow the county treas
urer to employ a man on commission
to search out property which mas
escaped, which will go by the name OF
the tax ferret bill, name which it has
e.. :,, hill lie
were passed tending toward securing
greater revenue for the state, which
will all be needed on account of grow
ing expenses of government, and tc
male up the loss which will accrue to
tie state revenues by the change in
the liquor license law.
The matter of libraries has received
\ great deal of attention, and two laws
have been passed on that subject, one
= to provide for the construction of Ii
brary buildings and maintaining libra
ries in cities: and the other to provide
fund for libraries in country schools
q The bill for revision and codificatior
s of the laws, which was passed on the
through the hands of conference
committee, is one which the attorney
Of the state will hail with joy, and on
in which they were deeply interested.
q Gov. Herreld feels that the ses
sion has treated his recommendation
with great deal of consideration, a
1i1tput of the sixteen recommendations il
is message for needed reforms an
1Rislation, all but three have bee
aopted. Those which were lost wer
= Recommendation for chaplain q
penitentiary: II commissioner Q
migration, and farmers institutes
Those which were carried out were tn
d aSfreconhmendatio of no sitting commit
~ tee; manner of marking ballots: to pre-
~ - ,,n,,,o frn,n appaariuO mora tina