The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-02-22
A Carefully Compiled Measure by
the Mcpherson County
Superintendent.
rHE HOUSE is INDEPENDENT
1t Has Way of killing Schemes to Gre
ate New Jobs-Rcports VIII BE
Filed on Time In the
Future.

Pierre, s. D., Feb. 16.-The seneral
educational bill is on it's passage in the
senate and will be up for it's third read
ing next Wednesday,. 1t as the product
of months of hard wark by Superin-
tendent Foncanon of Mcpherson county
and has been given great deal of at
tention by both committees on educa-
ton. having been printed three times.
Finally both committees adopted it
unanimously and Will stand upon it.
Ihe bill does not greatly change exist
ing law, but does codify, revise and i'm
prove them In some particulars. There
Is one provision which will please the
printers of the state. The clerks of the
various school districts are required
TO print annually statement of the
condition of district finances in a news
paper. The bill will doubtless meet
with some attempt at amendment in
the senate, where it is understood the
fusionists will seek to have free text
book provision inserted in lieu of the
uniformity law now prevailing. This
has been a hobby with the populists
for several years, attempts having been
| made four years and two years ago to
! pass bills for free text books fashioned
after the Nebraska and Indiana laws.
1t is claimed that an immense saving
to the state can be effected by the adop-
ton of the system.
The failure of the bill providing for
a chaplain at the state penitentiary can
be ascribed to the fact that the bill
provides for an annual salary of $1,000
for that officer and board at the insti-
tuition. The disposition of the house is
against the creation of any new jobs.
Indeed the independence of the house
has been the one redeeming feature of
a
since the session opened when it could
be truthfully said that the machine
controlled that body The bill is up on
reconsideration now, but there is talk
that when it comes up again an amend
fnent will be offered providing that a
Catholic clergyman shall also be ap-
pointed as chaplain at a salary equal
to the one which is to be paid to the
other This will have support in the
house If it comes up as has been threat
ened. The house members are on their
metal and thus far every job has been
killed. The negotiable instrument bill
still turks in committee, the pushers fo1
1t being afraid to trust it on the floor
In the present temper Of the popular
branch of the legislature. 1t may be
brought out at the last moment, but not
If there is any danger of defeat. 1t has
passed the senate and it's promoters
would rather not press the bill at all
than have it fail in either branch.
Bills have been introduced with the
purpose of remedying the preparation,
filing and printing Of official reports.
This Is a matter that has been the
source of a great deal of trouble in past
years. The heads Of departments have
filed their reports with the governor
when they saw fit and the printing has
been done at the leisure of the contrac-
tor. One year ago the report of the au-
ditor was not printed till April, al
though due in November. Reports have
been late this year, notably that of the
superintendent of public instruction.
The new bill provides that state reports
must be filed with the governor on the
18th of November, either in printed or
manuscript form-and If in manuscript,
then in duplicate-and 1t is made the
duty Of the governor to have the re-
ports printed. 1t is also made his duty
to certifytto the state auditor the name
of any officer or board which is behind
with report, in which case the auditor
is to hold the salary voucher of the de-
linquent till the report is made. The
governors office has had d great deal
of trouble with such delinquencies in
the past. The governor Is expected to
make his report to the legislature ev-
cry two years on time, but he has been
unable to rely on reports for his infor-
nation because they have usually been
late.
A bill passed the senate Tuesday
which makes change in the manner
of selling property on mortgage fore
closure. Heretofore the mortgagor has
where the property should be sold In
the event Of seizure, but under this bill
he may designate the place at the time
he makes the mortgage. AS Senator
Martin explained, he will without doubt
designate such place as the money
loaner may demand at the time the
mortgage is executed. The tendency Of
the measures this winter has been in
the directionof giving the money loan
ers greater advantages on every point
which has been the subject OF legisla-
ton.
The passage Of the bill to enforce the
constitutional provision against fee TAX
Ing by state officers will probably end
that practice. There have been special
laws of that character but none of q |
general application, though the constitu-
tional provision is plain. The secretary Of
state has been getting rake-oR from
the brand fees under a decision Of the su-
preme court In the case of Secretary
Roddle, whose duties as brand commits
sicner were said to be q character which |
did not come under the constitutional |
provision prohibiting state officers from
accepting perquisites. This new law will |
compel the payment Of the brand fees
into the state treasury, except the fees
which are paid to the commissioners
who do not enjoy q salary. These fees
amount to about $500 per year.
Senator Martins bill providing i tag i
on the product of mines Is likely to have /
q great many supporters among republic
ans who believe that something should be I