Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1905-03-11
THE WORK OF THE SESSION
Resume of Most Important Laws Enacted
by the Legislature

Resume OF Most Important Laws Enacted
by the Legislature.
Among the most important measure.
at the legislative session were those
dealing with revenues. At the opening
of the session both the outgoing and in.
coming governors called attention to the
growing needs Of The state in the way OF
revenues, and of laws to bring in the
needed funds. In this line several laws
have been enacted, the principal ofwhich
is to provide for annual meetings Of
county auditors with the state board OF
equalization before beginning the assess
ment work each year This is intended
to provide an assessment over the state
which will not have so wide a range oil
difference between counties, and it il
hoped TO by this means secure much
larger general assessment than under
the old law. Other measures are for the
taxation of inheritances and the em-
ployment of tax ferrets by the county
boards, to search out property which has
escaped the tax lists, on percentage OF
his finds. With these different meas
ures, il is believed that the revenues of
the state will be largely increased in the
next year.
The livestock interests have been well
taken care of in the different bills which
have become laws. The leading one be-
ing the dipping bill, which is intended
to eradicate the scabies which prevail
over the state, and which law is drawn
to cover the government regulations for
shipment of cattle out of the state
Other laws Of interest to this industry
are those which increase the annual
wolf bounty appropriation to $4,000 !;
and one to allow counties to offer boun-
ties for the conviction of livestock
! thieves.
The matter Of changing the oil law Of
the state to different gravity test to al
low Western oils to be brought in was
one which was not taken until thorough
investigation Of the situation had been
made by the authorities of the state, and
on their report the gravity test was low
cred from 46 baume, to AZ, as the West
ern oils cannot be made to comply with
the original requirement.
In insurance matters the principal
laws Of the session are those which pro-
vide for the organization and control of
old line life insurance companies, and
several companies are already being
formed to operate under this law. The
old line companies of the east take about
a million dollars year out of the state,
aud with the new companies t is hoped
that some OF that money will be left in
the state. The fire insurance law of the
session was to provide a state standard
policy form, which while following the
New York standard policy in general
use, incorporates the provisions of the
valued policy" law of two years ago,
and other measures covered by state
laws. Besides these several minor bills
were enacted into law, covering the
management and control of mutual com
| panieS operating in the state.
Frauds received their share of atten
ton from the session, laws being passed
| to prohibit the operation of bucket shops;
and defining swindler and providing
| penalties for his actions. Others were
to provide on-negotiable provisions for
notes given to lightning rod men pat
ent right dealers, and mutual insurance
notes and travelling doctors. In all these
cases notes so given are to bear the
words uon-negotiabie across their face,
and failure to so do carries a penalty,
and in most cases the fact proven that
the note was given for any of these pur-
poses is defense if the paper is found
in the hands of an innocent purchaser
While the irrigation and drainage
codes cover antag gonislic principles, they
were classed together through the most
of the session. The one is to provide
the necessary legislation for the carry
ing on of the irrigation projects of the
government in the western part of the
state, and is drawn largely from the
codes Of other western states governing
such matters. The other is for the pur-
pose Of getting ride of surplus water in
the southwestern part of the state and
is framed largely on the Iowa code, to
cover the needs of another section ofthe
state
| The caucus law which was framed af-
ter the failure of the primary election
law was sought through the provisions
of the initiative, is one which allows
challenge for party reasons as we'll as
for reasons which apply in general cleo
tions. Its intent is to prevent fraud in
nominations, but to do this it has been
made cumbersome in many of its parti.
culars, and some Of the smaller precincts
Of the state will no doubt find it so be-
fore they get through with it.
The Parmley parole law is one which
is framed from the statutes Of different
states using the system, with the better
features of all retained, and the objec-
tionable ones stricken out. 1t is believed
that it will be effective in its workings.
and show itself to be a good measure
when its workings are known.
The twine plant proposition was one
which the farmers particularly wanted
and the building has been provided for
in a special appropriation, but the fund
for securing the stock to put it into
operation is to be provided by a special
tax levy which will be voted for in a
constitutional amendment which will be
submitted at the next general election.
That places the matter up to the farmers
Of the state TO say whether they want
! the plant in operation, by their votes al