Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-01-31
HARD ON RUSTLERS.
Stookmen Want to Make Stealing Of
Single Head Of Stock Grand
larcenv.

Larceny.
Pierre, s. D., Jam. 22.-The adjournmel.
today and the senatorial election makei
the work of this week simply formal
There is q general expectation that the
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 I'm the state, has a bill TO
absolutely protect Them from March ]
next until March /, 1908.
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
not able TO show that more than the sim
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 thievlng. Bromley's objection is the
one which has always maintained the
distinction between grand and petty lar
ceny.
Under the general municipal incorpora-
ton act village Justices are permitted TO
impose fines for the violation of ordi-
nances I'm 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 a 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 "a per week for each patient. This
produces a fund of about 100000 per year.
For care and maintenance proper 1t costs
the state about 10000 per year, but the
pay roll n fuel bill brings the total up
TO about the amoun 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-
! celvcd from the counties, as well as all OF
| the earnings Of the hospital, shall be set
aside for the care and maintenance or the
| insane and shall be diverted to no other
use. The question Of how this shall be
Interpreted Is vital. If II 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 it is pointed out that the in
stitution Is now being conducted and the
insane are comfortably and healthtully
! maintained for a considerable less sum
! and that 1t 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
ulation than o~thers-should contribute
something to the large sums annually ex-
pended for additions and repairs. But II
IL is construed hat the bill means care
and maintenance" in the sense of the for
mer appropriation bills then 1t VIII be
strongly opposed and defeated.
Shall the school lands be sold or leased?
This Is one<f the burning questions which
IS likely to become a real Issue. The old
plan of long time ~lcases-from twenty to
forty years-is' again being agitated. The
| safety Of the plan, the rapid growth In
the price OF land, the steady flow of rev.
cnue from IT,, the constant and perma-
nent investment Of all the school money
all OF the time, are some OF the argu-
mcnts 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 1t out In the con-
stitutional convention of 1885. Land Com
! missioner Bach is inclined to favor 1t. Ii
may any day take tangible form in a bill
before the legislature.
The biennial meeting Of the State His
torical society Will be held at the capitol
| this evening. Bishop O'GOrman VIII de-
liver an address upon the life and ac-
complishment of the grand old mission
ary, Father De Smet, who worked sc
long and faithfully in the Dakota field In
| the early 4Os. The society is prospering
| and doing excellent work.
The difficulties between WATERFOWL anc
Huron rels ting to the permanent location
! of the militia camp are likely to be nap
PLY, adjusted by giving WATERFOWL the
camp and Huron the state fair for q
! period 10 begin after the expiration OF
Yankton's contract I'm 1908.