The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-23
HARD ON RUSTLERS.
Stockmen Want to Make Stealing Of g
Single Head of Stock Grand
arcenM

Larceny.
Pierre, S. D., Jan. 22-The adjournment
today and the senatorial election nakes5
the work of this week simply formal.
There is a general expectation that tho
real life will begin next week.
The onslaught which has been made up-
on quail during the last three years has
aroused the apprehension of sportsmen
lest the little birds become extinct Koe-
mig of Bon Homme, which is the best
quail grounds in the state, has bill to.
absolutely protect then. from March
next until March /, 1905
3 The bill presented by Mr.. Hale of
Meade on behalf of the stockmen's associ-
alton, making it grand larceny to steal
any single head of live stock, regardless
of the value of the animal, is being OPP
posed by Bromley and Others The stock
men want the bill because they frequent-
ly are able to prove the theft of a single
animal against some one of the band of
thieves which infest the range; but are
r9t able to show that more than the sin
gle beast was taken and upon conviction
can only impose nominal punishment.
With a grand larceny definition of such
crimes they hope to break up much of
the thieving. Bromleys objection is the
one which has always maintained the.
distinction between grand and petty lar
ceny.
Under the general municipal gincorpora
ton act village justices are permitted to
impose fines for the violation of ordi-
nances in sums not exceeding $40. Allen
of Moody has a bill to remove the limit
and permit fines in the discretion of the
court
Dillon Bill Under Consideration.
The Dillon bill for creating special
maintenance fund for Yankton asylum,
which passed the senate without dissent
is being stood up" in the house The
counties pay for the maintenance of the
insane 81 per week for each patient. This
produces a fund of about 100000 per year.
For care and maintenance proper it costs
the state about $4,000 per year, but the
pay roll and fuel bill brings the total up
to about the amount of the counties
contributions. The appropriations bill has
always distinguished between "care and
maintenance . fuel and lights and "sal-
aries of officers and employees The Dill
Ion bill provides that all the money re-
ceived from the counties, as well as all of
the earnings of the hospital, shall be set
aside for the care and maintenance of the
insane and shall be diverted to no other
use. The question of how this shall be
interpreted is vital. If it is intended and
construed that the maintenance fuel and
| lights and pay roll shall be paid from this
special fund there will be little objection
! although 1t is pointed out that the in
| stitution is now being conducted and the
| insane are comfortably and healthfully
maintained for considerable less sum
and that it is only fair that the coun-
| ties, which enjoy the benefit of the hos
pital in disproportionate degrees-that is,
| some counties have much greater num-
| bers of insane there in proportion to pop
1 ulation than others-should contribute
something to the large sums annually ex-
! pended for additions and repairs. But if
I it is construed that the bill means care
1 and maintenance in the sense of the for
| ,~ioti 1,fl
strongly opposed and defeated.
| Shall the school lands be sold or leased !?
| This is one of the burning questions which
| is likely to become real issue. The old
plan of long time leases--from twenty to
! forty years-is again being asitated. The
safety of the plan, the rapid growth in
the price of land, the steady flow Of rev.
1 enue from it, the constant and perna-
nent investment of all the school money
all of the time, are some of the argu-
ments for it. A state tenantry, living in
| cheap, Inadequate and temporary homes
unattached to the soil, a consequent low
ering standard of citizenship are the argu-
| ments against. The subject has been de-
bated here since Charley Mcleod and
General Beadle fought it out in the con-
stitutional convention of 1885. Land Com
missioner Bach is inclined to favor it, 1t
may any day take tangible form in bill
before the legislature.
The biennial meeting of the State His
torical society will be held at the capitol
this evening. Bishop O'Gorman will de-
liver an address upon the life and ac-
| complishment of the grand old mission
ary, Father De Smet who worked SO
long and faithfully in the Dakota field in
the early 40s. The society is prospering
and doing excellent work
The difficulties between Watertown and
| Huron relating to the permanent location
of the militia camp are likely to be hap
PLY adjusted by giving Watertown the
camp and Huron the state fair for a
period to begin after the expiration Of
Yankton's contract in 1905