Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-02-23
|WOLF BOUNTY THE
PARAMOUNT ISSUE
Fate Of Every important Measure
in South Dakota Legislature
Is Closely Involved.
. SPIRITED FIGHT THE WEEK
McDougall OF Marshall County Is Deter.
mined That the Record OF Last
Monday shall Not lie
Expunged.

Pierre, s. d., Feb. 19.-The fight on
the wolf bounty question is Tie issue
If surprising interest in the legisla-
ture. 1t Is conceded that everything
on the settlement of the matter In the
house this week. The mere question
whether there shall or shall not be a
specific bounty paid on the scalps OF
grey wolves and coyotes Is not impor-
tant. There Is a fight on which has
Involved every other measure of I'M
portance now or the calendar or IN
committee. 1t Is one OF those bitter,
uncompromising struggles which be-
interesting not so much because
Of the original cause as for the strug-
gle itself and It's collateral conse-
guences. The e~xpunging OF the record
showing the killing OF the wolf boun-
~ repeal bin has caused most OF The
difficulty. McDougall OF Marshall,
chairman OF the house committee on
correction OF the permanent journal,
swears that he will not expunge that
part OF the journal OF last Monday
showing hat Sweets bill was taken
from the committee and indefinitely
postponed. He declares that the con
~stitution gives every member n rignt
to have his motions extended upon the
permanent journal and hat the house
cannot constitutionally expungc any
record which II has once made. The
fight Is so hot that McDougall, Bene-
diet and Goddard, who are on the in
vestigating committee, will return from
Yankton Tuesday night In order to be
here for the fight over the reconsidera-
ton OF the question OF ~expunging.
Appropriations, the dairy bill. the
Ninth circuit bill, the codiflcation bill,
negotiable instrument bill, the oil bill
and n dozen other matters which
should be disposed OF by the house
during the next two weeks all await
the settlement OF the wolf bounty
%squabble. On Wednesday the speaker
was not able TO call the house together
till 2:20 because Of the wordy riot on
the floor between the wolf bounty men
and their opponents. The lie was
passed freely and at one time II looked
as though there might be n general
hsticuf contest. The strictly agri-
cultural element Is against the bounty
bill. These men say the cattle Inter
est OF the range which for thirty years
has escaped taxation can take care
Of itself and they point to the recent
exposure OF fraud made as evidence
that such a law Will constantly bcar
such fruit. The feeling has row so
intense that whichever way II lis set
tied by the legislat Ire an appeal Is
likely to be made to the people through
The referendum.
The probable early passage through
the house of the amended bill regulat-
Ing mutual insurance companies has
created a stir among those who have
had a notion Of organizing such com
panies. Within the last few hours a
mutual company, organized for the
purpose OF taking commercial risks
has been formulated at Pierre. Elk
Commissioner Of Insurance Frank q.
King is the promoter OF the enterprise
and VIII be secretary OF the new com
while John ID. Hilger, one OF the
foremost capitalists OF this part OF the
will be It's president. The inCor-
porators are among the heaviest cap
Of Pierre, b.. A. Cummins OF
the First National ank, G. l.. Hyde and
Ewert OF the National Bank Of Com
merce, being the leading men who have
taken q hand in the new organization.
the new law II will be necessary
FOR mutual companies to have 5000, 900
Of risks before engaging In business.
This will be we'll nigh prohibitive and
will give the several companies now
doing business a monopoly of the field.